Wide Sargasso Sea Analysis

In jean Rhys “wide Sargasso Sea examine” the themes of race and gender in the 'othering ' of Antoinette.

While exploring the concept the ‘Other’ In Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea we can begin to untangle the complexity of the forms of isolation and alienation that becomes to be considered the key characteristic of ‘the other’ and clearly represented in our protagonist Antoinette, who is perceived by her Jamaican society as not belonging. The complexities of Antoinette character comes from a culturally constructed identity that is displayed as being fundamentally different than the others around her. The Jamaican and black characters identify themselves as a majority and Rhys gives clear examples of how judgment is made to those who are lacking

Elizabeth Abel writes in ‘Women and Schizophrenia’ that Antoinette is schizophrenic because of her “obsessive thought and behaviour coupled with the inability to take real initiative”. However we can argue that Antoinette plays a part in actively seeking relief and in actual fact gains control by the acknowledgment of her mother’s madness. Antoinette desperation to avoid her mother’s comparisons in turn gives Antoinette a sense of control and power. I would argue that Antoinette uses her acknowledgment of her madness in order to gain a sense of agency. Rhys uses Antoinette Identity as ‘the woman in the attic’ to incorporate the historic discourse of madness to access power only reserved for men in the 1800’s.Phyllis Chesler who is considered a voice of the modern feminist movement states that madness can be seen as symbolic “acting out of the devalued female roles or the total or partial rejection of one’s sex-role stereotype” It is clear that Antoinette views her mother as devalued………TO BE

As we learn Antoinette is made to display the mannerism and ambitions of women in 1847 Jamaica. Women were expected to bare children and marry. The struggles to conform to social “normality” place Antoinette outside the expectations of others .We learn that Annette never fulfils the “normality” of motherhood, and despite her attempts she found it near enough impossible to love or be loved by Mr.