Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea is a novel that has been widely studied and analyzed for its allegorical significance. The book, which was published in 1966, is a prequel to Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, and tells the story of Antoinette Cosway, a Creole woman who becomes the madwoman in the attic in Bronte’s classic.
Many literary critics have analyzed the novel’s allegorical significance, with some arguing that it is a commentary on the legacy of colonialism and the plight of marginalized communities. Others have interpreted the novel as a feminist text that explores issues of identity and power. Rhys’s portrayal of Antoinette’s descent into madness has also been the subject of much analysis, with some scholars arguing that it is a metaphor for the psychological effects of oppression and isolation.
Background of ‘Wide Sargasso Sea’
Jean Rhys was born in Dominica, one of the Windward Islands in the Caribbean, in 1890. She was the daughter of a Welsh doctor and a white Creole mother. Rhys grew up in the final days of England’s colonial heyday, a time that witnessed the waning of an aristocratic and exploitative Creole culture. This cultural background is reflected in her novel, “Wide Sargasso Sea.”
“Wide Sargasso Sea” is a postcolonial and feminist prequel to Charlotte Bronte’s novel “Jane Eyre.” It describes the background to Mr. Rochester’s marriage from the point of view of his wife, Antoinette Cosway, a Creole heiress. Rhys’s version of Bronte’s “madwoman in the attic,” Antoinette Cosway, is the main character of the novel.
Rhys’s novel is set in Jamaica during the post-emancipation 1840s. It explores the life of Antoinette Cosway, a Creole woman who becomes the madwoman in the attic in Bronte’s classic. The book details the life of Antoinette Mason, a West Indian who marries an unnamed man in Jamaica and returns with him to his home in England. Locked in a loveless marriage and settled, Antoinette becomes increasingly isolated and begins to lose her grip on reality.
Main Themes and Allegories
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys is a novel that explores a variety of complex themes and allegories. This section will discuss the three main themes of the novel: colonialism and power dynamics, race and identity, and feminism and patriarchy.
Colonialism and Power Dynamics
One of the most prominent themes in Wide Sargasso Sea is colonialism and power dynamics. The novel is set in the West Indies during the early 19th century, a time when the British Empire was at its height. The ex-slaves who worked on the sugar plantations of wealthy Creoles figure prominently in Part One of the novel. The Emancipation Act has freed the slaves by the time of Antoinette’s childhood, but the legacy of slavery still haunts the characters. The novel explores the power dynamics between the colonizers and the colonized, and how these dynamics shape the characters’ lives.
Race and Identity
Another major theme in Wide Sargasso Sea is race and identity. The novel is a prequel to Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, and it tells the story of Bertha Antoinetta Mason, the madwoman in the attic. The novel questions the very nature of truth in its premise, form, and content. Rhys explores the racial and cultural identity of Antoinette, who is a mixed-race woman living in a society that values whiteness above all else. The novel also examines the racial tensions between the white colonizers and the black natives of the West Indies.
Feminism and Patriarchy
The third major theme in Wide Sargasso Sea is feminism and patriarchy. The novel is a powerful critique of patriarchy and the ways in which it oppresses women. Rhys explores the ways in which patriarchal society shapes the lives of the female characters in the novel. Antoinette is a victim of the patriarchy, as she is forced into marriage with a man she does not love. The novel also examines the ways in which women are pitted against each other, as they compete for the attention and affection of men.
Character Analysis and Allegorical Roles
Antoinette Cosway
Antoinette Cosway is the protagonist of the novel and is portrayed as a victim of her circumstances. She is the daughter of a slave owner and a white Creole woman, which makes her a social outcast in Jamaica. Her life is marred by poverty, racism, and sexism, which ultimately leads to her descent into madness. Antoinette’s character is an allegory for the plight of colonized people who are caught between two worlds and are struggling to find their identity.
Mr. Rochester
Mr. Rochester is Antoinette’s husband, and his character is used to highlight the power dynamics between colonizers and the colonized. He is a wealthy Englishman who marries Antoinette for her money and status. He represents the oppressive forces of colonialism and patriarchy, which seek to dominate and control the lives of women and people of color. Mr. Rochester’s character is an allegory for the exploitative nature of colonialism and the ways in which it perpetuates inequality and injustice.
Christophine
Christophine is a black servant and confidante to Antoinette. She is a strong, independent woman who defies the social norms of her time and refuses to be subservient to her white employers. Christophine’s character is an allegory for the resistance and resilience of colonized people who refuse to be silenced and oppressed. She represents the hope and possibility of a better future, where people of all races and genders are treated with respect and dignity.
Setting as Allegory
In Jean Rhys’s novel, Wide Sargasso Sea, the setting serves as an allegory for the themes and conflicts that the characters face. Rhys uses the settings of Coulibri Estate and Thornfield Hall to represent the cultural and societal clashes that Antoinette and Rochester experience.
Coulibri Estate
Coulibri Estate, the childhood home of Antoinette, represents the vibrant and colorful Caribbean culture that Antoinette and her family are a part of. The estate is described as lush and tropical, with vibrant colors and exotic flora and fauna. However, the estate is also plagued by poverty, violence, and racial tension, which ultimately lead to its destruction.
Thornfield Hall
Thornfield Hall, the home of Rochester, represents the cold and oppressive Victorian society that Rochester comes from. The estate is described as dark, gloomy, and isolated, with a strict social hierarchy and rigid gender roles. Rochester’s attempt to impose his Victorian values on Antoinette ultimately leads to her mental breakdown and the destruction of their marriage.
Symbolism in the Novel
Fire and Water
The symbolism of fire and water plays a significant role in the novel. Fire represents destruction and chaos, while water represents rebirth and renewal. The fire that destroys Coulibri, Antoinette’s childhood home, is a symbol of the destruction of her family’s wealth and power. It also represents the destruction of the old order in Jamaica, as the black community rises up against the white plantation owners.
On the other hand, water is a symbol of renewal and rebirth. Antoinette’s baptism in the river is a symbol of her rebirth and her connection to the natural world. Water also represents the possibility of escape, as Antoinette and Rochester plan to flee to England by ship.
Mirrors and Madness
Mirrors and madness are also important symbols in the novel. Mirrors represent the fragmented nature of identity and the loss of self. Antoinette’s obsession with her own reflection in the mirror is a reflection of her own fractured identity, as she struggles to reconcile her Creole heritage with her English upbringing.
Madness is a symbol of the breakdown of social and cultural norms. Antoinette’s descent into madness is a result of her isolation and her inability to fit in with either the black or white communities in Jamaica. It also represents the breakdown of the colonial system, as the old order is replaced by a new, more egalitarian society.
Narrative Structure and Perspective
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys is a novel that employs a unique narrative structure and perspective. The novel is divided into three parts, each with a different narrator. The first part is narrated by Antoinette, the second by her husband, and the third by an omniscient narrator. This structure allows the reader to see the story from different perspectives, which enhances the complexity of the novel.
The first and third parts of the novel are narrated in the first person, while the second part is narrated in the third person. This shift in perspective allows the reader to understand the different characters’ experiences and motivations. The first part is narrated by Antoinette, who is a Creole woman living in Jamaica. Her narration provides insight into her life and her struggles as a woman of mixed race in a society dominated by white colonizers.
The second part is narrated by Antoinette’s husband, who is an Englishman. His narration provides a different perspective on the events of the novel. He is an outsider in Jamaica and does not understand the culture or the people. His perspective is limited, and he often misinterprets the events around him.
The third part of the novel is narrated by an omniscient narrator. This narrator provides a broader perspective on the events of the novel. The omniscient narrator is not limited by the perspectives of the other characters and can provide a more objective view of the story. This perspective allows the reader to see the larger themes of the novel, such as colonialism, gender roles, and identity.
Historical Context and Reception
Wide Sargasso Sea was published in 1966, and it was a critical and commercial success. The novel is a postcolonial and feminist prequel to Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, and it tells the story of Mr. Rochester’s wife, Antoinette Cosway, from her point of view.
Jean Rhys, the author of Wide Sargasso Sea, was born in Dominica in the Caribbean in 1890. She grew up in a time when England’s colonial rule was waning, and the aristocratic and exploitative Creole culture was fading away. Rhys’s own life experiences as a Creole woman in a white-dominated society influenced her writing, and Wide Sargasso Sea reflects her concerns about race, gender, and colonialism.
The novel was well-received by critics, who praised Rhys’s vivid descriptions of the Caribbean landscape and her exploration of the psychological effects of colonialism and patriarchy. Some critics, however, criticized the novel for being too sympathetic to Antoinette and for not being faithful enough to Jane Eyre.
Despite these criticisms, Wide Sargasso Sea has become a classic of postcolonial and feminist literature, and it continues to be read and studied today. Its themes of identity, oppression, and resistance are still relevant in our contemporary world, and the novel remains a powerful allegory of the legacies of colonialism and patriarchy.