Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea

1. Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea Creole Identities and Racial/GenderRelations Norton Critical Ediction. NY: Norton, 1999.

2. WSS: Settings • Part I:(Martinique), Jamaica: Coulibri estate, near Spanish TownPart II: Granbois, Dominica, Part III: “Great House” England

3. Sargasso SeaJane Erye • Why is the marriage between Rochester and Bertha unhappy? • Why is Bertha mad? Beast, madness in the family, driven mad, or not really mad? Man Women Man Women Obeah woman Race White – Creole --Black Gender – Marriage & Inheritance system

4. Rhys’s Self-Identity “Do you consider yourself a West Indian?She shrugged. ‘It was such a long time ago when I left.’ “So you don’t think of yourself as a West Indian writer?” Again she shrugged, but said nothing. “What about English? Do you consider yourself an English writer?” “No! I’m not, I’m not! I’m not even English.”

5. Rhys’s Self-Identity (2) “What about a French writer?” I asked. Again she shrugged and said nothing. “You have no desire to go back to Dominca?” “Sometimes,” she said. David Plante “Jean Rhys: A Remembrance.” 275-76 Qut in Gregg.p. 1

6. Rhys’s Self-Identity (3) • “I don’t belong anywhere but I get very worked up about the West Indies. I still care. . . .” • After reading a critique of Wide Sargarso Sea. . ., Rhys complains. . . :” Again I am in danger of really becoming a recruit. . .I think being born in the West Indies is an influence very strong but . . . “ (Gregg 2 underline added)

7. Wide Sargasso Sea: Character Relationships Spanish Town Whites p. 17 Mr. Cosway, Father E. Rochester The Masons Richard Pierre Daniel Godfry Sass Myra Aunt Cora p. 18, 68-69 • Antoinette Annette Christophine Amelia

8. Rhys on Jane Erye “The creole in Charlotte Bronte’s novel is a lay figure -- repulsive which does not matter, and not once alive which does. . . . For me . . . she must be right on stage. She must be at least plausible with a past, the reason why Mr. Rochester treats her so abominably and feels justified, and the reason why he thinks she is mad and why of course she goes mad, even the reason why she tries to set everything on fire, and eventually succeeds. . . “ (Gregg 82)

9. Rhys on Antoinette’s historical background I. Shift of dates: • In Jane Eyre -- Bertha confined in the attic in the first decade of the 19th century. • WSS’s time frame shifted to 1830’s onwards: • Emancipation Act 1833 • Antoinette -- a child in the 1840’s, with two fathers, one (Mason) coming after the Emancipation. II.“more than one Antoinette” then. Annette and Antoinette as victims of Emancipation and the gender/racial relationships then.

10. Racial Relations (1): the Whites and the Creole Backgrounds on Race: I. white masters, New & Old: • Old Masters: death of Mr. Lutrell and Mr. Cosway • New masters after the Emancipation of slaves p. 15 • [Mr. Mason – 19, 21] II. White against creole: e.g. p. 9; Aunt Cora’s husband 18 (III. Black against creole: poor “white cockcroaches”)

11. Race Relations (2): Views of the Blacks • Post-Emancipation Problems: • Recompensation, • Importation of contract laborers • Annette’s distrust of Chris., Godfry, and Sass’ leaving p. 12 • Riot: The presentation of the black mob p. 23, 25

12. Race Relations (3): Views of the Blacks • Christophine – helpful but fearful • Her room: p. 18 Combination of Catholicism and voodoo • Antoinette’s seeking for help: p. 67, 68, 70 • Put in jail once and may still be. P. 86

13. Gender/Race Relations Women (1) Marriage • about Mason’s marriage: p. 17 • Gender: Rochester’s Marriage and Inheritance: p. 41; 69

14. Race Relations Women • (2) Madness// promiscuity • Pre-Emancipation slave-owner – exploitation and distain. e.g. Mr. Cosway; calls D’s mother “sly boots” p. 74; halfway house p.57 • Annette and her need of a “horse”; gay and good dancer, concern for Pierre, Desire to leave • madness pp. 78; 81;

15. Race Relations Women 2. Antoinette • losing her mother; isolated • (relationship with Tia,) • Her trip to the convent p. 29

16. Questions: • Antoinette – • How is she different from her mother? • How does she survive? • What do her dreams mean?

17. Creole Identities and Race Relations inJean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea • Antoinette • survival methods -- reaction to the death of the horse; do and say nothing • refuge in nature 13; solitude 16 • her dreams p. 15; 27pp. 35-36 • the second refuge in the convent p. 32; 33; 34 • death impulse p. 54 • Her view of England 66-67

18. What causes the problems between Antoinette & Rochester

19. What causes the problems between Antoinette & Rochester • 1. (Race) Cultural differences -- her limited understanding of the world -- -- p. 42 “Oh England, England,” -- p. 47 her “Paris”; ”Is it true,' she said, `that England is like a dream?” -- his illness and discomfort: p. 40, 41, blanks in his mind 45; p. 55 insecure

20. Part II: Causes for the conflicts between Rochester and Antoinette: • 2. (Race) Rochester’s prejudice and racial superiority p. 39; p. 43 • 3. Gender: Rochester's motivation for getting married • Agreed to everything 39; “not yet”; • not love her; perform and hide things p. 45, 61 • P. 55 watch her die many times • 4. Race+ Gender: the letter from Daniel Rochester's suspicion of Antoinette’s madness

21. Part II: Causes for the conflicts between Rochester and Antoinette (2) • 5. Race+ Gender: Antoinette's temperament--sense of doom and insecurity • 6. Race+ Gender: 7. Antoinette’s seeking for help from Christophine

22. The Turning Point • Are Christophine’s suggestions practical? Pp. 65 - • Would their marriage have been saved without the voodoo? • 1. Pack up and leave • 2. Talk frankly • 3. Not go to England, Go to Martinique

23. 7 Gender: Rochester's self-centeredness and possessiveness: • Turning Antoinette into Bertha pp. 68, 81 • the priest's ruined house--Pere Lilievre--Pere Labat pp. 62-63; 83