The Gaze And The Counter-gaze In John Fowles's The Collector

Literary critics tend to analyze John Fowles's The Collector from the perspectives of feminism, psychology and formalism. Few people have ever analyzed the novel in light of gaze theory. This thesis is aimed at interpreting the novel in light of gaze theory. It aims to explore how the male gaze and the female counter-gaze exist in the patriarchal society. Through the study we come to a conclusion that in the patriarchal society, though the gaze from the male is a widespread phenomenon, the counter-gaze from the female is also growing up, which forges a great challenge to the whole patriarchal society.This thesis is composed of three parts. The introduction comes first. It gives a general introduction to John Fowles, and the research findings at home and abroad to The Collector is also included. Part Two consists of three chapters. Chapter One is the theoretical bases of the thesis. At first a comparative study of the gaze and the counter-gaze will be discussed. Then it focuses on the representative theory of the gaze study---Mulvey's gaze theory. Chapter Two is entitled "Clegg's & G. P.'s Gaze at Woman". It opens with the discussion of the patriarchal mind of the male protagonists in the novel. Clegg is a product of the patriarchy and his gaze at Miranda is sexual and fetishistic. The other male protagonist, G. P., is a man with absolute patriarchy. He casts his sexual and artistic gaze on his disciple, Miranda. Through the study of these two male protagonists'gaze, it turns out that man's gaze means the objectification of woman. Chapter Three is about Miranda's counter-gaze at man. As a bodily and spiritually objectified butterfly to Clegg and G. P., Miranda always lives under their oppressive gaze. However, though her life is doomed to be sorrowful, she still counter-gazes at the male gaze bravely, making herself a brave modern girl. The study of her counter-gaze in this chapter strongly proves that woman's counter-gaze at man means a challenge to the patriarchy. Part Three is the conclusion of the whole thesis. It reemphasizes the theme of the thesis, and invites more attention to the gaze and the counter-gaze in the patriarchal society.