Wide Sargasso Sea

Wide Sargasso Sea

Introduction

The novel Wide Sargasso Sea was written in the postcolonial era by Jean Rhys in 1966 (Hulme, 1994). The novel which became one of the famous novels written by the author was inspired by the 1847 novel Jane Eyre written by Charlotte Bronte. The novel by Jean Rhys has many similarities as per the plot but equally contains differences in the central character “Antoinette Cosway”. It tells about the story of a woman who was married and went to England after marriage in Jamaica. The novel tells the story as expressed by Antoinette of the life experiences faced by due to the arrange marriage. She gets renamed to Bertha and as their marriage and the novel progresses; her mental condition becomes unstable due to domestic issues and her relationship with her husband develop insurmountable hurdles which ultimately makes her lose control of her senses. The novel is divided in three parts. Part One explains the events from the perspective of Antoinette, happened when she lived at Coulibri, Jamaica. It sheds light on several issues of life like the tragic death of her handicapped brother and the mental instability of her mother. Part Two explains the events which took place in Granbois, Dominica and provide the point of views of both husband and wife. This part sheds light on the primary reasons for their differences. It explains that that primary reason for differences among them was the development of the mistrust. This mistrust was developed due the schemes of her assumed relative which were successful as her husband fell for it. She was also polluted of her husband by her old nurse constantly. These bombardments on her martial life deteriorate her fragile mental state. Part Three describes the events from the perspective of Antoinette. It explains her relationship with her servant assigned for her safety and sheds lights on the worsened relationship with her husband. Her husband's total neglect and infidelity makes her realize that her life has no meaning left and she ultimately resorts to taking her own life.

Discussion

The central theme of the novel Wide Sargasso Sea and character Bertha dwells on the misery of the placeless nature of their being. Not only the character, but the novel itself has its birth in another novel “Jane Eyre”. The novel is limited by the boundary set forth by Jane Eyre, and its central character Bertha who is labeled as insane woman and is confined to attic of Thornfield Hall. The title itself talks about the threats of the sea journey. The novel includes the sea journey which her husband (Rochester) took by going a place which did not want him to live (Ciolkowski, 1997). Then Rochester and Antoinette travel back to England by the sea. The journey of sea changes the personalities of both of them. Antoinette receives a new name Bertha from Rochester and then later she is labeled as insane. Since the author had witnessed the slavery and exploitation of black people after they were ...