Wide Sargasso Sea is one of the best-known literary postcolonial replies to the writing of Charlotte Bronte and a brilliant deconstruction of what is known as the author's "worlding" in
Jane Eyre.
The novel written by Jean Rhys tells the story of Jane Eyre's protagonist, Edward Rochester. The plot takes place in West Indies where Rochester met his first wife, Bertha Antoinette Mason. Wide Sargasso Sea influences the common reading and understanding of the matrix novel, as it rewrites crucial parts of Jane Eyre.
The heroine in Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea, Antoinette Cosway, is created out of demonic and bestialic Bertha Mason from Jane Eyre. Rhys's great achievement in her re-writing of the
Bronte's text is her creation of a double to the madwoman from Jane Eyre. The heroine of Wide Sargasso Sea, the beautiful Antoinette Cosway, heiress of the post-emancipation fortune
is created out of the demonc and bestialic Bertha Mason. The author transforms the first Mrs Rochester into an individual figure whose madness is caused by imperialistic and patriarchal
oppression
The vision of Bertha/Antoinette as an insane offspring from a family plagued by madness is no longer plausible to the reader.
In this essay I would like to focus the factors which led to the madness of the protagonist. Although Bertha Mason and Jane Eyre seem to be enemies and contradictory characters in the
Victorian novel, many critics find several similarities between the two heroines, their life and finally between Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea. Seeing Jane Eyre and Antoinette Cosway
as sisters and doubles is very popular with some critics who dealt with the works of Charlotte Bronte and Jean Rhys. Nevertheless, I would like to focus in this essay on Gayatri
Chakravorty Spivak's criticism on viewing and interpreting the two heroines. Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak in her essay "Three Women's Texts and a Critique of Imperialism" values also Jean Rhys for telling the story of Bertha Mason through the Creole perspective, but she criticises the author for marginalising the native inhabitants of West Indies.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Jean Rhys's attitude towards the representation of West Indian in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre
- 3. Edward Rochester- the unnamed English husband
- 4. Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak's interpretation of Wide Sargasso Sea
- 5. Summary
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay aims to analyze Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea as a postcolonial response to Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, focusing on the portrayal of Antoinette Cosway (Bertha Mason) and the critique of imperialistic and patriarchal oppression. The essay examines Rhys's re-writing of Brontë's narrative and explores the complexities of identity, colonialism, and madness.
- The representation of West Indian identity in both Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea.
- The impact of imperialism and patriarchy on Antoinette Cosway's mental state.
- A comparative analysis of Antoinette and Jane Eyre as characters.
- Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak's critique of both novels.
- The exploration of a "Creole perspective" in retelling Bertha Mason's story.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes Wide Sargasso Sea as a significant postcolonial response to Jane Eyre, highlighting Rhys's deconstruction of Brontë's "worlding." It introduces Antoinette Cosway as a reimagining of Bertha Mason, emphasizing Rhys's transformation of the "madwoman" into a complex individual whose madness stems from colonial and patriarchal oppression. The chapter sets the stage for a deeper examination of the factors contributing to Antoinette's mental deterioration and the contrasting portrayals of both women in the two novels.
2. Jean Rhys's attitude towards the representation of West Indian in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre: This chapter delves into Jean Rhys's critique of Charlotte Brontë's portrayal of Bertha Mason in Jane Eyre. Rhys's personal experiences in the West Indies shaped her perspective, leading her to challenge Brontë's representation of the Creole woman as a mere "lay figure" and a symbol of threat. The chapter highlights Rhys's desire to provide Bertha Mason with a voice, identity, and a plausible past, contrasting it with Brontë's prejudiced and stereotypical depiction of West Indians. It argues that Brontë’s portrayal reflects the prevailing stereotypes and prejudices against the West Indies in 19th-century England.
Keywords
Wide Sargasso Sea, Jane Eyre, Jean Rhys, Charlotte Brontë, postcolonial literature, Creole identity, imperialism, patriarchy, madness, Bertha Mason, Antoinette Cosway, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, colonial representation, West Indies.
Frequently Asked Questions: Wide Sargasso Sea - A Postcolonial Reimagining
What is the main focus of this essay?
This essay analyzes Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea as a postcolonial response to Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre. It centers on the portrayal of Antoinette Cosway (Bertha Mason) and examines how Rhys critiques imperialistic and patriarchal oppression through her re-writing of Brontë's narrative. The essay explores themes of identity, colonialism, and madness.
What are the key themes explored in the essay?
Key themes include the representation of West Indian identity in both novels, the impact of imperialism and patriarchy on Antoinette's mental state, a comparative analysis of Antoinette and Jane Eyre, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak's critique of both novels, and the exploration of a "Creole perspective" in retelling Bertha Mason's story.
How does the essay analyze Jean Rhys's work?
The essay examines Rhys's critique of Brontë's portrayal of Bertha Mason, highlighting Rhys's personal experiences in the West Indies and her challenge to Brontë's representation of the Creole woman. It emphasizes Rhys's effort to give Bertha Mason a voice, identity, and a believable past, contrasting it with Brontë's stereotypical depiction.
What is the significance of Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak's interpretation?
The essay incorporates Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak's perspective to provide a critical lens through which to analyze both Wide Sargasso Sea and Jane Eyre, furthering the exploration of postcolonial themes and power dynamics.
What is the structure of the provided text?
The text includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries (including an introduction), and keywords. It provides a comprehensive overview of the essay's content and argument.
What are the chapter summaries about?
The chapter summaries detail the key arguments and analyses presented in each chapter of the essay. The introduction establishes the context and main arguments. Subsequent chapters delve into specific aspects of Rhys's work and its relationship to Brontë's, focusing on the representation of West Indian identity and the critique of colonial and patriarchal structures.
What are the keywords associated with this essay?
Keywords include Wide Sargasso Sea, Jane Eyre, Jean Rhys, Charlotte Brontë, postcolonial literature, Creole identity, imperialism, patriarchy, madness, Bertha Mason, Antoinette Cosway, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, colonial representation, and West Indies.
- Quote paper
- Malgorzata Swietlik (Author), 2008, "Wide Sargasso Sea" by Jean Rhys as a postcolonial response to "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/170690
