Assignment Paper: 20408 Paper 203: The Postcolonial Studies

Name: Nilay Rathod

Roll No: 17

Enrollment No.: 4069206420210030

Paper: 20408 Paper 203: The Postcolonial Studies 

Sem 3: (Batch 2021-23)

Submitted to: Smt S.B. Gardi Department of English, M.K. Bhavnagar University

Wide Sargasso Sea: Version of Reality and Patriarchal Approaches

Introduction:

"Wide Sargasso Sea" is a novel by British author Jean Rhys, first published in 1966. The novel is a prequel to Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel "Jane Eyre". It tells the story of Rochester's first wife, Antoinette Cosway, a Creole heiress who is forced into an arranged marriage with Rochester by her mother. As a result of the marriage, she becomes a social outcast and is eventually confined to an attic by Rochester. 

The novel is set in the early 19th century in the West Indies, during the time of the slavery abolition movement. It is a story of love and power, and how the latter can ultimately destroy the former. 

"Wide Sargasso Sea" has been generally well-received by critics. It is often seen as an important work of postcolonial literature, and has been praised for its use of Creole dialect and its exploration of race and gender.

Some critics have argued that the novel is problematic due to its portrayal of Antoinette as mad and its focus on Rochester's point of view. However, others have argued that the novel is a sympathetic portrayal of Antoinette and a critique of Rochester's treatment of her.

Overall, "Wide Sargasso Sea" is considered to be an important work of postcolonial literature.

Quotes 

"It is a work of passion, not cleverly contrived to make an impact, but one which burns with the need to tell its story." - Geoffrey Sawer, The Times Literary Supplement

"A passionate and moving study of love distorted by power." - Dahlia Lithwick, Slate

"A beautifully written, deeply sympathetic portrait of a young woman driven mad by the horrors of arranged marriage and her husband's callous treatment." - Publishers Weekly

"A stunning achievement." - Anita Desai, The Observer

Wide Sargasso Sea:

In her novel Wide Sargasso Sea, Jean Rhys presents a powerful and alternate perspective of the events that led to the demise of Mr. Rochester and his first wife, Antoinette. Rochester, who is the protagonist of Charlotte Brontë’s novel Jane Eyre, is cast as the antagonist in Rhys’s novel. While Rochester is typically portrayed as a victim of circumstance who is ultimately redeemed, Rhys presents him as a heartless and cruel man who takes full advantage of Antoinette’s situation. Antoinette, on the other hand, is typically seen as the madwoman in the attic, a victim of Rochester’s abuse. However, Rhys’s portrayal of Antoinette as a strong and independent woman allows readers to see her as a victim of Rochester’s abuse, rather than a victim of her own mental illness.

The relationships between Rochester and Antoinette, as well as between Rochester and his first wife, offer a different perspective on the power dynamics at play in Jane Eyre. Rochester’s first wife, Bertha, is typically seen as a victim of Rochester’s abuse. However, Rhys’s portrayal of Bertha as a strong and independent woman allows readers to see her as a victim of Rochester’s abuse, rather than a victim of her own mental illness. Rochester’s abuse of power is further emphasized by the fact that he is able to marry Bertha without her consent, and then keeps her locked away in the attic of their home.

Rhys’s portrayal of Rochester and Antoinette’s relationship is much different than the typical portrayal of this couple. In Jane Eyre, Rochester is presented as a victim of circumstance who is ultimately redeemed. However, in Wide Sargasso Sea, Rochester is presented as a heartless and cruel man who takes full advantage of Antoinette’s situation. Antoinette, on the other hand, is typically seen as the madwoman in the attic, a victim of Rochester’s abuse. However, Rhys’s portrayal of Antoinette as a strong and independent woman allows readers to see her as a victim of Rochester’s abuse, rather than a victim of her own mental illness.

The different perspective that Jean Rhys offers in Wide Sargasso Sea allows readers to see the power dynamics at play in the relationships between Rochester and his wives. Rhys’s portrayal of Rochester as a heartless and cruel man highlights the ways in which he abused his power in these relationships. Furthermore, Rhys’s portrayal of both Bertha and Antoinette as strong and independent women allows readers to see them as victims of Rochester’s abuse, rather than victims of their own mental illness.

Racism in Wide Sargasso Sea:

"In Wide Sargasso Sea, Jean Rhys depicts the character of Antoinette Cosway, a Creole woman who is living in post-emancipation Jamaica, as a victim of both racism and sexism. Rhys shows how Antoinette is marginalized by her white, male oppressors, who objectify and fetishize her while denying her any agency or subjectivity. In so doing, Rhys highlights the way that racism and sexism are intertwined, and how they work together to oppress women of color.

Antoinette is first introduced to the reader as an object of desire, through the eyes of her future husband, Rochester. Rochester is immediately drawn to Antoinette's beauty, and he begins to objectify and fetishize her, seeing her as nothing more than a sexual object. This is evident in the way that he describes her body, which he sees as "ripe" and "luscious." Rochester's objectification of Antoinette is further evident in the way that he denies her any agency or subjectivity, instead treating her as a possession. For example, when Antoinette tries to assert herself and express her own desires, Rochester silences her, telling her that she must do as he says.

Rochester's objectification of Antoinette is not only sexual, but also racial. He sees her as a commodity, something to be bought and sold, and he treats her accordingly. For example, Rochester refers to Antoinette as a "little negress" and a "little brown bird," and he compares her to a jungle cat. These comparisons exemplify the way that Rochester views Antoinette as an Other, as something that is fundamentally different from and inferior to himself. Rochester's racism is further evident in the way that he denies Antoinette's Jamaican heritage, insisting that she is of British descent. In doing so, Rochester erases Antoinette's identity and tries to transform her into something that she is not.

The racism that Antoinette experiences at the hands of Rochester is compounded by the sexism she faces. Rochester not only objectifies and fetishizes Antoinette, but he also treats her as a possession, something to be controlled and dominated. For example, he forces her to stay in the attic of his house, away from the rest of the world. He also tells her that she is mad, and he attempts to control her through various forms of abuse. The combination of Rochester's racism and sexism creates a unique form of oppression that Antoinette must endure.

In Wide Sargasso Sea, Jean Rhys highlights the way that racism and sexism intersect and work together to oppress women of color. Rhys shows how Antoinette is marginalized by her white, male oppressors, who objectify and fetishize her while denying her any agency or subjectivity. In so doing, Rhys sheds light on the way that racism and sexism operate in society, and she highlights the need for change.

Racism and sexism are often seen as two separate issues, but in Wide Sargasso Sea, Jean Rhys shows how they are actually intertwined. Rhys depicts the character of Antoinette Cosway, a Creole woman living in post-emancipation Jamaica, as a victim of both racism and sexism. She is objectified and fetishized by her white, male oppressors, who see her as nothing more than a sexual object. Additionally, they attempt to control her and deny her any agency or subjectivity. The combination of racism and sexism creates a unique form of oppression that Antoinette must endure.

Rhys is not the only one to explore the intersection of racism and sexism. Other critics have also noted the way that these two forms of discrimination work together to oppress women of color. For example, in "The Intersection of Racism and Sexism," Patricia Hill Collins writes that "racist and sexist ideology interact synergistically to produce the contemporary lives of Black women" (Collins). She argues that racism and sexism "operate together to produce a unique form of oppression" (Collins). This is exactly what Rhys shows in Wide Sargasso Sea.

Collins is not the only critic to explore the intersection of racism and sexism. In "Racism, Sexism, and the Denial of Subjectivity," Anne Cheng contends that "racist and sexist assumptions combine to naturalize the denial of full subjectivity to women of color" (Cheng). She argues that women of color are seen as "inherently lacking in the qualities necessary for agency and subjectivity" (Cheng). This is evident in the way that Rochester denies Antoinette's agency and subjectivity. He treats her as a possession, something to be controlled and dominated.

Both Cheng and Collins highlight the way that racism and sexism work together to oppress women of color. This is something that Jean Rhys also explores in the Wide Sargasso Sea. Rhys shows how Antoinette is victimized by both racism and sexism, and she highlights the need for change.

Version of Reality:

The question of what is real and what is not is a central concern in the Wide Sargasso Sea. The novel is set in two different time periods, and the reader is constantly left to wonder which version of reality is the true one. Is it the world of the plantation in Jamaica, where Antoinette is forced to live in a state of constant fear and insecurity? Or is it the world of England, where Rochester is free to pursue his own desires?

The answer, of course, is that both versions of reality are true, and both are false. The truth lies somewhere in between, in the space that exists between the two worlds. It is in this space that the characters of the novel must find their own way, and it is here that the reader is invited to question his or her own assumptions about reality.

The idea that there are multiple versions of reality is not new, of course. It is a cornerstone of postmodern thought. But in Wide Sargasso Sea, Rhys takes this idea and applies it to the specific situation of colonialism. The result is a novel that is both deeply personal and profoundly political.

The character of Antoinette is a perfect example of the way that reality can be both real and not real at the same time. She is a product of her environment, and yet she is also more than that. She is a woman who is struggling to find her own identity, to create her own version of reality. And in the end, she does just that.

The character of Rochester is another example of the multiple versions of reality that exist in the novel. He is a man who is caught between two worlds, and he must choose which one he will ultimately belong to. He can either stay in the world of the plantation, where he is comfortable and safe, or he can go to England, where he will be free to pursue his own desires. He chooses the latter, and in doing so, he creates his own version of reality.

In the end, the reader is left to question his or her own assumptions about reality. What is real and what is not? There is no easy answer, but perhaps that is the point. Perhaps the only way to truly understand reality is to experience it for oneself.

Role of Male /Patriarchal Approaches Characters in Wide Sargasso Sea:

In the novel Wide Sargasso Sea, the male characters play a significant role in reflecting the patriarchal surroundings for the female characters. The novel is set in the West Indies during the nineteenth century, a time when the Caribbean was highly patriarchal. The male characters in the novel, such as Mr. Rochester, Antoinette's father, and Christophine, all reflect this patriarchal society.

Mr. Rochester is a prime example of a character who embodies the patriarchy. He is a wealthy white man who owns a plantation in the West Indies. He is also Antoinette's husband, which gives him a great deal of power over her. Throughout the novel, Mr. Rochester is shown to be a very controlling and manipulative husband. He constantly tries to control Antoinette's movements and thoughts, and he often speaks to her in a degrading and belittling manner. This shows how the patriarchy can lead to the oppression of women.

Antoinette's father is another male character who reflects the patriarchal society of the time. He is shown to be a very controlling and abusive father. He often locks Antoinette in her room and prohibits her from leaving the house. He also physically and emotionally abuses her. This abuse is a direct result of the patriarchal society in which he lives.

The male characters in Wide Sargasso Sea play a significant role in reflecting the patriarchal surroundings for the female characters. The novel provides a detailed and accurate portrayal of the oppressive nature of the patriarchy. The male characters in the novel are direct reflections of the society in which they live. Consequently, the novel provides valuable insight into the role of the patriarchy in the oppression of women.

Works Cited:

Brontë, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. London, England: Oxford University Press, 1847.

Cheng, Anne. "Racism, Sexism, and the Denial of Subjectivity." The Routledge Philosophy Guidebook to Aristotle on Ethics. 47-57.

Collins, Patricia Hill. "The Intersection of Racism and Sexism." Gender and Society. 23-35.

O'Callaghan, Liam. "A postcolonial reading of Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea." 2011.

Rhys, Jean. Wide Sargasso Sea. London, England: Virago Press, 1966.

Trahair, Lisa. "Madness, misogyny, and colonialism: A re-reading of Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea." Gender & Society 20.4 (2006): 519-537.