The Piano The Awakening of Women’s Subjectivity

Alice, Christine, Claire, Denise, Julia, Rose, Tina

Outline I. Main ArgumentII. Plot SummaryIII. Background Information i. Women’s status in 19th century ii. Family relationship iii. Comparison between Stewart & George

IV. The Process of Ada’s Self & Social Change: i. piano daughter George ii. The Process of Awaking Subjectivity: the ending

V. Ada’s Overall Changes & Sacrifice VI. Conclusion

Main Argument

How to define Subjectivity?

Freedom of choice In “The Piano,” women are constrained

by the patriarchal society. While in Ada’s case, her self-awareness awakens and finally she gets her subjectivity back and makes her own choice.

Is it possible?

Plot Summary It is the mid-nineteenth century. In an arranged marriage, Ada leaves

Scotland, accompanied by her daughter, Flora, and her beloved piano.

She cannot adapt to new life in the forest of New Zealand, nor with her new husband George.

Stewart sells her piano to a neighbor, George. Ada suffers torment and loss.

By giving lessons and with other conditions attached, she earns back the piano.

However, she feels lost even more, since the relationship with George is the experience that she did not have ever.

At the same time, Stewart cannot bear it, so it happens horrible things.

In the end, she decides to choose the life she wants, and gets her own happiness.

Historical Background: Women’s status in 19th century Victorian Women…

1. Had no choices i. obey to men, who held all

the resources

ii. remain single→

social disapproval & pity

iii. no profession, most were

in working class

2. Lived in inequality

i. inferior to men very much

ii. as his property

iii. had no legal rights

iv. received less education than boys

v. the only purpose: marry & reproduce

3. Were firmly constrained: Women’s clothing symbolized their

constricted lives. All this was assured by law, church,

custom, history, and approved of by society.

Family relationship Absent Fathers (1)

Ada’s father

[Quote]

Ada: Today he married me to a man I’ve not yet met.

→ Women as an object in 19th century.

Absent Fathers (2) Flora’s father1. Flora often apotheosized or created

imagination about her father. ex. Her father song with Ada in forest and was

struck by a great bolt of lightening. (18:15)

2. His absence intensifies the relationship between Flora and her mother.

3. After Flora had a new family, she gradually identified Steward as her father.

The Family of Steward, Ada, and Flora (1) Husband-wife relationship

1. Steward came forward but Ada withdrew

ex. Cold response to Steward and turning him down when he wanted to touch her.

2. Steward saw the sex scene of Ada and George (1:16:47)

Raping her (1:22:00) was the only way he could get her body.

3. Chose to trust Ada betrayed chopped her finger

[Quote]

S: You pushed me too hard. You can’t send love to him. You cannot do that. Just…even thinking of it makes me very angry. I meant to love you.

4. Steward’s concept of capitalism leads to his fail of establishing a happy family.

[Quote]

S: We’re a family now. We all make sacrifices, and so will you! You will teach him. I will see it. (32:05)

The Family of Steward, Ada, and Flora (2) Mother-daughter relationship1. Intimacy separation

2. Process of separation: 1st separation— Flora wanted to see her mother but was

refused. [Quote] F: I don’t want to be outside. I want to watch. A: No, you must calm down and play outside. 2nd separation— Flora didn’t let her follow her because

she was going to George’s. [Quote] F: Blast and Damn! Bugger her! Bloody, bloody! Bugger

her!

The Family of Steward, Ada, and Flora (3) Father-daughter relationship

1. Refuse to accept this father.

[Quote] (8:38)

F: I’m not gonna call him papa. I’m not gonna call him anything. I’m not gonna even look at him.

2. Flora’s feeling of the appearance of father when she was punished to scrub the trunks. (1:04:15)

3. Identified with Steward, the father a. Start to call him papa. (1:23:16) b. Question her mother: [Quote] After seeing Steward locked them F: You shouldn’t have gone up there, should you? I don’t like it and nor does papa. c. Refuse her mother: [Quote] Ada wanted her to give a key to George F: No, we are not supposed to visit him. d. Thinking that father should be informed One the way to Goerge’s, she changed her direction to go to Steward.

Comparison between Stewart & George

George 1. live with the Maoris more

straightness, wild, direct 2. Cares more about

senses (touching, feeling…)

Steward 1. A well-trained gentl

eman believes in and a

ct with patriarchy 2. Focus a lot on poss

essions

Their different attitude toward Ada--first ashoreGeorge Steward

Attitude Care about her as a person

Care about what she gets

Quote “ She looks tired.”

“I see you got a good many boxes. I’d like to know what’s in each…”

Their different attitude toward Ada

--what to do with her pianoGeorge Steward

Attitude Respect her, see her as a human being

Command her,

see her as his possession

Quote “Do what you like,

play what you

like.”

“You will teach him. (George) And I will see to it!”

Their different interaction with Ada

George Steward

Interaction Closer to her (through trade)

touching, sex

Not able to touch her at all

raping

Example

Their different attitude toward

Ada’s pianoGeorge Steward

Buy (& invite a tuner to tune up the key)

Gently touch, wipe it with his clothes

Sale (trade it with a land, not care at all)

Beat

Steward—more civilized? The stage play : Bluebeard The Maoris

trying to stop Bluebeard from

Killing his wifeIn the stage play

Steward punish Ada with a savage way (like Bluebeard)

Their actions & the meaning of them Steward

(after cutting off Ada’s finger):

“I meant to love you. I clipped your wing, that’s all.”

He wants to stop Ada from developing her subjectivity. He wants cut off the phallus and wants it back to his hand.

George:

standing naked in front of her Giving up the phallus (men are most powerless without clothes)

What do they want from Ada?

George: her love

“My mind has seized on ya and can think of nothin’ else. This is why I suffer. I’m sick with longing…”

Steward: an obedient wife

“You can’t go on like this. We are a family now. We all make sacrifices, and so will you!”

The Process of Ada’s self & social change:Breaking through the restrains of patripotestalsociety 1st stage: the Piano

2nd stage: the daughter

3rd stage: George

One-sided (self- centered)

Solitary, isolated, passive

Mutual

Active, passionate,

act on her own

The first stage: the Piano

Piano’s function: release her emotion (one-sided)

sense of security

meaning: Ada’s Inner self “We can’t leave the piano!”

“The piano is mine. It’s mine.” (written)

“(The playing) Like a mood that passes into you.

… A sound creep inside you…”

“…(Ada) play a kitchen table like it was a piano.”

The first stage: the Piano (2)

Social Contact:

Mute/silent to others,

only reveals her feelings through the piano. “I don’t think myself silent, that is because of my piano.”

closed, separated from society “Who’s bloody coffin is this?”

“It’s a coffin, let the sea bury it.”

2nd stage: The Daughter

Growth On Both Sides

The process of the daughter’s awareness of separation with Ada as well as Ada’s own development imitates the process of Imaginary Symbolic

Lacan’s Oedipal Complex: “According to Lacan, the mother is characterized by 'lack'

of a phallus. The pre-Oedipal child tries to make good the lack. But the mother desires the phallus that will cover over her division in language. The child then realizes its own lack, or 'castration' and seeks to speak or use words such that it can stand in for that which is missing….” (“Oedipus Complex”)

In other words…

The daughter tries to be Ada’s phallus, but fails because she is not a man. She becomes neglected while her mother is busy discovering herself. In the end the girl is forced to recognize the separation between mother and child. As Ada slowly discovers her subjectivity, the child is also pushed toward the route of independence and socialization.

Different identification of fathers led to destruction.

Parallel of mother & child’s developmentFirst: Mother & daughter

as a symbiotic being Mother & Daughter are always

together, and cannot do without each other.

Example: Acts as mom’s literary communication to the outside world.

Defense against intruders (or the Other): “I’m not going to call him papa, I’m not going to call him anything. I’m not even going to look at him”

Second: Separation First partition: photo shoot

(“I want to be in the photo”) Second Partition: Being

shut out of the hut

Ada Forced to separate with daughter in order to earn back the piano

Daughter Sense that the mother desires something beyond her, and so feels abandoned (Relate to dog)

Third: Physical Awareness

(Having sex vs. watching sex)

Ada Acceleration of self discovery through physical means

Daughter Father steps in (different from Ada) Ex: Scold by Stewart for imitation of sex act (“you put shame on me, you put shame on these trunks”)

Hints adultery to Stewart

Forth: Different routes Ada Gaining subjectivity Ex: Confess love to George

Deliberately cuts off from daughter recognize of her “other” through the mirror.

Daughter Confining to social norms & identification with father role

Ex: Knowledge of mother’s affair “where’s your mother going?” “to hell!”

Helps Stewart imprison mother, wear angel wings

disapprove mother of adultery

Tells on mother’s unfaithfulness to Stewart. “ I don’t know whether it’s a proper thing or not”.

In the end …

Stunned by the tragedy she provoked

Angel wings rinsed Returns from little devil back to little child (purification)

Accept George as the father Triangle formed

Still speaks of mother’s mind. Ex: tells George for mom to throw away the piano.

George-A Man Who

Inspires Ada’s Subjectivity George- the only person tha

t Ada can really communicate with.

Interaction process: Trade (one black key per cla

ss) Body touch (neck, feet…) Sex relationship (totally connected without distance)

George desire raises

George falls in love

with Ada

Adaunwilling

Adawithout protest

Ada’s desire raises

restricted

reacts against Stewart

splits with Flora

goes to George again and shows

her love

Ada’s Subjectivity

awakens

George gives his phallus to Ada nak

ed

In the interactionGeorge Gives Ada right to cho

ose and make decision

the trade Observes Ada actively Ada’s arriving & her melodies. Wants to know what

Ada thinks and says. when having sex.

The Body Touch (sex) inspires Ada’s physical desire and need. to have deeper interaction with other people. George the key opens Ada’s

heart, which replaces the piano in the end.

The Ending

Ada’s throwing the piano into the sea A big decision: Put away her past. Give up her previous interact way wi

th the world. Begin a new life.

The Ending

Sinks herself into the sea (accidentally or intensively)

Possible reason: Gets used to her

previous living way. Afraid of this loss

and new way of living Knows nothing

about future Sink into the sea an action that

shows her fear of change and her will.

Ada’s will-her subjectivity.

∵Feels discontented with her situation.

Her possibility to break it away.

change her communication method and start new life with George.

The Ending

Decides to swim up and live a new life

with George, and learn to speak in the end

Balance between her aspiration and her

fear to the unknown future

The Process of Awaking Ada’s Subjectivity

Ada interacts with George (less socialized)

the other (mirror image)

George himself & Ada’s Self-image

Ego Ada’s will-subjectivity

the Other(Father) (socialized situation, new life)

Imaginary re

lation

The unconscious

The Sinking Piano & the Silent Sea The piano

a part of Ada’s past.

still lives in Ada’s unconscious (dream) The sea her silent world. The land (the boat) her new world. “What a death, what a chance, what a surprise, had

my will chosen life?”

Ada’s Changes:

1.Clothing

2.Facial expression

3.Attitude toward the piano

4.Attitude toward physical touch with George

5. Subjectivity: from repressed (obedient) making her own decision.

Overall Change & Sacrifice

Clothing

Facial Expression

Attitude toward the piano

Attitude toward physical touch

Sacrifice

Sacrifice:

1.Her piano=part of herself

2.Her finger metal fingertip

Conclusion

Through Ada’s story, we get to see a woman who bravely makes her own choice and gets happiness. Though she sacrificed something in the process, she puts her subjectivity into practice in the end.

Works Cited

“Oedipal Complex”. ChangingMinds.org.http://changingminds.org/disciplines/psychoanalysis/concepts/oedipus_complex.htm

http://members.lycos.co.uk/HastingsHistory/19/overview.htm