This work focuses on the question of identity in the novel "Wide Sargasso Sea". Antoinette, the female protagonist of Jean Rhys’ novel "Wide Sargasso Sea", is struggling with those questions of her identity all her life. As a Creole girl, who lives in Jamaica during post-colonialism, she finds herself caught between two identities not knowing where she belongs. On the one hand, there is the black community which she knows and grows up with, on the other hand the white community which her mother tries to be a part of and forces Antoinette to fit into as well. This life between two contrasting cultures forces Antoinette into a situation of confusion and doubt which makes her question not only where she belongs but if she belongs at all. It drives her into a crisis which she is not able to escape.
Jean Rhys published her novel in 1966. "Wide Sargasso Sea" tells the story of Antoinette Cosway who is also, known under the name of Bertha, a character of Charlotte Brontë's novel "Jane Eyre". In "Wide Sargasso Sea" Rhys is giving Bertha/ Antoinette a story and a reason why she became mad in the first place. The story starts in her childhood and moves on to the marriage to Mr. Rochester. The last part is set when she is already imprisoned by her husband and is setting the house on fire which accords with the story told in "Jane Eyre".
For the background of the novel it is important to know that Rhys herself grew up in a situation like Antoinette’s. She as well had troubles with identifying herself when she grew up. So Rhys shares part of Antoinette’s history which is probably why she was that interested in telling her story which is completely uncared-for by Brontë.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Cultural Background
- Identity
- Erikson's Theory
- Antoinette's Identity
- Antoinette's childhood
- Later life /Marriage to Rochester
- Loss of Identity
- Application of Erikson's Theory
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to examine Antoinette's struggle with identity in Jean Rhys' novel, Wide Sargasso Sea, exploring the factors that contribute to her crisis and how Erikson's theory on identity can be applied to her situation. The paper will analyze the influence of the cultural background of post-colonial Jamaica on Antoinette's development. It will also examine the role of race and cultural constructions in shaping Antoinette's sense of self.
- Antoinette's struggle with identity in a post-colonial setting
- The impact of race and cultural constructions on identity formation
- The application of Erikson's theory on identity crisis to Antoinette's experience
- The interplay between the black and white communities in shaping Antoinette's identity
- The consequences of being caught between two cultures
Chapter Summaries
The paper begins by introducing Antoinette, the protagonist of Wide Sargasso Sea, and her struggle with identity as a Creole girl in post-colonial Jamaica. It then examines the cultural background of Jamaica during the period, highlighting the conflicts between the black and white communities after the Emancipation Act of 1833. The paper also explores the concept of identity and its complexities, providing an overview of different theories on the subject.
The next section focuses on Antoinette's identity crisis, starting with her childhood experiences and the role of the black community in her life. It then moves on to her married life with Mr. Rochester and the influence of the white community. The paper concludes by examining the loss of Antoinette's identity and exploring how Erikson's theory on identity crisis can be applied to her situation.
Keywords
The main keywords and focus topics of the paper are: identity crisis, post-colonial Jamaica, Creole identity, race and cultural constructions, Erikson's theory on identity, and Wide Sargasso Sea. The paper focuses on analyzing Antoinette's struggle with identity in the context of her cultural background and examines the implications of being caught between two contrasting cultures.
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- Julia Straub (Autor:in), 2017, On the Question of Identity in the Novel "Wide Sargasso Sea" of Jean Rhys, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/464328
