This paper deals with the effects of multiperspectival narration on the representation of Christophine in Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea.
Besides Antoinette and her husband as narrators Rhys also mentions another “I” that talks in the novel. The author very likely refers to Christophine, Antoinette’s black nurse, a Martinique obeah woman who provides a third viewpoint on the action in this multiperspectival narration. However, as multiperspectivity
“shift[s] the reader’s attention from the events recounted on the level of the characters to the subjectivity of each of the presented perspectives” (Neumann/Nünning 102),
Christophine rather appears as a minor character in Antoinette’s and Edward’s narration. Still, she seems to be an important and influencing person for Antoinette, and she also is a character Antoinette’s husband is very much concerned with and concerned about.
In literary criticism there has been a lot of controversy concerning the representation of Christophine in Rhys’s novel. The debate circles around the question in how far the character is significant for the action taking place in the narrative and in how far the woman contributes to the meaning of the novel. Whereas Gayatri Spivak sees Christophine as “tangential to this narrative” (246), Benita Parry regards her as an important source of “counter-discourse” against the colonial authority (cf. 249). Carine Mardorossian argues that by Antoinette’s and her husband’s cultural and racial presumptions about Christophine and the other black characters as racial Others the white protagonists are themselves being debunked of their imperialist, stereotypical thinking (cf. 1071-1090).
The paper contains analyses of
- the novel’s multiperspectivity,
- the perspectives and attitudes of the narrator-focalisers Antoinette and her husband (Rochester)
-Christophine’s function for the development in the plot.
The results of these analysies will be used to discuss the multiperspectival effects of the novel and to interpret Christophine’s role in the narrative by discussing Spivak’s, Parry’s and Mardorossian’s opinions about this character.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- General Aspects of Antoinette's and Edward's Narration and Focalisation in Rhys's Multiperspectival Novel
- Antoinette's and Edward's Narrator/Character Perspectives
- Antoinette's Narrator/Character Perspective
- Edward's Narrator/Character Perspective
- Résumé and Interim Conclusion about Antoinette's and Edward's Narrator/Character Perspectives
- The Representation of Christophine from Antoinette's and Edward's Perspectives
- Antoinette's Representation of Christophine as a Surrogate Mother
- Antoinette's Representation of Christophine as an Obeah Woman
- Edward's Representation of Christophine as a Lazy Servant and Intimidating Woman
- Edward's Representation of Christophine as an Obeah Woman
- Analysis of the Effects of Multiperspectivity on the Representation of Christophine
- The Function of Christophine for the Development of the Plot
- Christophine's Role in the Plot in Terms of Her Influence on Antoinette in "Part One" and "Part Two"
- Christophine's Role in the Plot in Terms of Her Influence on Edward
- Christophine's Role in the Plot in Terms of Her Influence on Antoinette in "Part Three"
- Interpretation and Discussion of Christophine's Representation in Wide Sargasso Sea
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to provide a close textual analysis of Jean Rhys’s novel Wide Sargasso Sea. It investigates how the multiperspectival narration shapes the depiction of Christophine, a significant character in the story. The paper will explore the representation of Christophine by the two main narrator-focalisers, Antoinette and Edward, and examine the effects of their diverse perspectives on the reader's understanding of her character.
- The role of multiperspectival narration in shaping character representation
- The contrasting perspectives of Antoinette and Edward on Christophine
- The significance of Christophine's character in the development of the plot
- The interpretation of Christophine's role in the narrative, considering diverse critical perspectives
- The exploration of themes of colonialism, race, and gender in the novel
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction presents the novel's multiperspectival narrative structure, focusing on the conflicting perspectives of Antoinette and Edward, the two main narrator-focalisers. It highlights the crucial role of Christophine, Antoinette's black nurse, in the story, despite her limited voice. The chapter explores various critical interpretations of Christophine's character.
Chapter 2 delves into the general aspects of Antoinette and Edward's narration and focalisation. It analyses the novel's unique narrative structure, characterized by alternating perspectives and the absence of traditional exposition and transitions. The chapter examines the fragmented narrative, emphasizing the gaps and silences that challenge the reader's understanding.
Chapter 3 focuses on Antoinette and Edward's individual perspectives. It explores the nuances of their narration, including their "levels of knowledge," "psychological dispositions," and "values and norms." The chapter argues that their distinct perspectives shape their representation of Christophine.
Chapter 4 examines the representation of Christophine from both Antoinette's and Edward's perspectives. It analyzes their contrasting portrayals of Christophine, highlighting the influence of their cultural and racial biases. The chapter explores the implications of their perspectives on the reader's understanding of Christophine's character.
Chapter 5 delves into the effects of multiperspectivity on the representation of Christophine. It investigates how the multiperspectival narration obscures Christophine's true significance in the narrative. The chapter examines the potential consequences of the narrators' biases on the reader's perception of Christophine.
Chapter 6 explores the function of Christophine in the development of the plot. It analyzes Christophine's influence on both Antoinette and Edward, emphasizing her potential as an advisor and mediator. The chapter explores the reasons why her attempts to help are often ignored or misunderstood by the protagonists.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary focus of this paper is on the representation of Christophine in Wide Sargasso Sea, exploring the interplay of multiperspectival narration, character perspectives, and the development of the plot. Key themes and concepts include multiperspectival narration, narrator/character perspectives, cultural and racial biases, colonialism, race, gender, and the representation of marginalized characters within a narrative. The paper aims to understand the significance of Christophine's character and her influence on the novel's themes and development.
- Quote paper
- Christina Gieseler (Author), 2010, The Effects of Multiperspectival Narration on the Representation of Christophine in 'Wide Sargasso Sea', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/176870
