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An analysis of ‘Wide Sargasso Sea’ by Jean Rhys
How far is Antoinette’s story the result of colonial complexities?
Rhys’ presentation of the colonial complexities and troubles of colonisation are a key attribute to Antoinette’s story. Throughout the novel, imperialistic attitudes are particularly prevalent. Following the Emancipation Act in 1833, Antoinette grows up as a white Creole girl, positioned between both white and black communities. This results in marginalisation from both groups, and a fractured sense of personal identity. Although this is not necessarily the direct cause of her descent into madness, the ‘fragmentation of self’, clearly plays a role. In relation to The Husband, although he is presented as the oppressive force of patriarchy, his characterisation aligns both colonial and patriarchal ideas. When uttering the phrase ‘…and I can do nothing to help you’, he recasts himself as a saviour, declaring that he wishes to save Antoinette from her descent into madness, although is evidently unable to do so. From this, Rhys displays a correlation between the attitudes of both the Husband, and imperialists, as they also wish to ‘save’ the indigenous groups and countries they have colonised. Thus, the extent of the Husband’s colonial arrogance can be seen, as he too, as a reason for her madness. Antoinette’s story can largely be the result of colonial complexities, as the loss of her identity is closely intertwined with the colonial aggressions she faces from the Husband. She experiences discrimination from a young age, which she continues to experience even when moving to England, unlike the patriarchy which she only begins to face when marrying the Husband. How far is Antoinette’s story the fault of the troubles of the oppressive force of patriarchy? The main oppressive force of patriarchy that Antoinette experiences is that of the Husband, as he exercises power and dominance in their marriage. In one incident, when the two are discussing the letters of Daniel Cosway, Antoinette tries to defend her mother, but the Husband refuses to acknowledge the hardships that her mother, Annette, has had to face. Antoinette lashes out and throws a wine bottle at the Husband and, from his own perspective, “she
