Wide Sargasso Sea: Difference between revisions
c-e Tag: Mobile edit |
|||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
| followed_by = |
| followed_by = |
||
}} |
}} |
||
'''''Wide Sargasso Sea''''' is a [[1966 in literature|1966]] [[postcolonial literature|postcolonial]] [[parallel novel]] by [[Dominica]]-born author [[Jean Rhys] |
'''''Wide Sargasso Sea''''' is a [[1966 in literature|1966]] [[postcolonial literature|postcolonial]] [[parallel novel]] by [[Dominica]]-born British author [[Jean Rhys], who had lived in obscurity after her previous work, ''[[Good Morning, Midnight]]'', was published in 1939. ''Wide Sargasso Sea'' 're-noticed' Rhys, and became her most successful novel. |
||
The novel acts as a [[prequel]] to [[Charlotte Brontë|Charlotte Brontë's]] famous 1847 novel ''[[Jane Eyre]]''. It is the story of Antoinette Cosway (known as [[Bertha Mason]] in ''Jane Eyre''), a white [[Creole peoples|Creole]] heiress, from the time of her youth in the [[Caribbean]] to her unhappy marriage with Mr Rochester and relocation to England. Caught in an oppressive [[patriarchal]] society in which she belongs neither to the white Europeans nor the black [[Jamaica]]ns, Rhys's novel re-imagines Brontë's devilish madwoman in the attic. As with many postcolonial works, the novel deals largely with the themes of racial inequality and the harshness of displacement and [[cultural assimilation|assimilation]]. |
The novel acts as a [[prequel]] to [[Charlotte Brontë|Charlotte Brontë's]] famous 1847 novel ''[[Jane Eyre]]''. It is the story of Antoinette Cosway (known as [[Bertha Mason]] in ''Jane Eyre''), a white [[Creole peoples|Creole]] heiress, from the time of her youth in the [[Caribbean]] to her unhappy marriage with Mr Rochester and relocation to England. Caught in an oppressive [[patriarchal]] society in which she belongs neither to the white Europeans nor the black [[Jamaica]]ns, Rhys's novel re-imagines Brontë's devilish madwoman in the attic. As with many postcolonial works, the novel deals largely with the themes of racial inequality and the harshness of displacement and [[cultural assimilation|assimilation]]. |
||
Revision as of 12:04, 20 November 2013
 First edition cover | |
| Author | Jean Rhys |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Eric Thomas |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Postmodern Novel |
| Publisher | André Deutsch (UK) & W. W. Norton (USA) |
Publication date | October 1966 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 192 pp |
| ISBN | 0-233-95866-5 |
| OCLC | 4248898 |
Wide Sargasso Sea is a 1966 postcolonial parallel novel by Dominica-born British author [[Jean Rhys], who had lived in obscurity after her previous work, Good Morning, Midnight, was published in 1939. Wide Sargasso Sea 're-noticed' Rhys, and became her most successful novel.
The novel acts as a prequel to Charlotte Brontë's famous 1847 novel Jane Eyre. It is the story of Antoinette Cosway (known as Bertha Mason in Jane Eyre), a white Creole heiress, from the time of her youth in the Caribbean to her unhappy marriage with Mr Rochester and relocation to England. Caught in an oppressive patriarchal society in which she belongs neither to the white Europeans nor the black Jamaicans, Rhys's novel re-imagines Brontë's devilish madwoman in the attic. As with many postcolonial works, the novel deals largely with the themes of racial inequality and the harshness of displacement and assimilation.
Plot
The opening of the novel is set a short while after the 1833 emancipation of the slaves in British-owned Jamaica. The protagonist Antoinette conveys the story of her life from childhood to her arranged marriage to an unnamed Englishman (implied as Mr Rochester from Jane Eyre). As the novel and their relationship progress, Antoinette, whom he renames Bertha, descends into madness.
The novel is split into three parts. Part One takes place in Coulibri, Jamaica and is narrated by Antoinette. Describing her childhood experience, she includes several facets of her life, such as her mother's mental instability and her mentally disabled brother's tragic death.
Part Two alternates between the points of view of her husband and of Antoinette following their marriage and is set in Granbois, Dominica. One of the likely catalysts for Antoinette's downfall is the suspicion with which they both begin to view each other, fuelled by the machinations of a supposed relative of Antoinette's, Daniel Cosway (Boyd). Antoinette's old nurse Christophine's constant mistrust of the husband and Rochester's unwavering belief in Daniel Cosway further aggravates the situation, added in when he becomes unfaithful to her. This increased sense of paranoia tinged with the disappointment of their failing marriage unbalances Antoinette's already precarious mental state.
The shortest part, Part Three, is once again from the perspective of Antoinette, now known as Bertha, as she lives in Thornfield Hall, the Rochester mansion, which she calls the "Great House". It traces her relationship with Grace, the servant who is tasked with "guarding" her in England. It also traces her even more disintegrating relationship with Rochester as he hides her from the world. Making her empty promises to come see her more, which only become less as he adventures off with relationships with other women, eventually with Jane Eyre. Narrating in a stream of consciousness, Bertha decides to take her own life as she believes it to be her destiny.
Major themes
Wide Sargasso Sea is usually thought of as a postmodern and postcolonial response to Jane Eyre.[1][2] Rhys uses multiple voices (Antoinette's, Rochester's, and Grace Poole's) to tell the story, and deeply intertwines her novel's plot with that of Jane Eyre. In addition, Rhys makes a postcolonial argument when she ties Antoinette's husband's eventual rejection of Antoinette to her Creole heritage (a large factor in Antoinette's descent into madness). As postmodern and postcolonial literature have taken a greater place in university curricula, the novel has been taught to literature students more often in recent years.
Awards and nominations
- Winner of the WH Smith Literary Award in 1967, which brought Rhys to public attention after decades of obscurity.
- Named by Time as one of the 100 best English-language novels since 1923.[3]
- Rated #94 on the list of Modern Library's 100 Best Novels
- Winner of Cheltenham Booker Prize 2006 for year 1966.
Adaptations
- 1993: Wide Sargasso Sea, film adaptation directed by John Duigan and starring Karina Lombard and Nathaniel Parker.
- 1997: Wide Sargasso Sea, contemporary opera adaptation with music by Brian Howard, directed by Douglas Horton, produced by Chamber Made.
- 2006: Wide Sargasso Sea, TV adaptation directed by Brendan Maher and starring Rebecca Hall and Rafe Spall.
- 2011: "Wide Sargasso Sea", song written by rock 'n' roll singer Stevie Nicks about the novel and film; it appears on her 2011 album In Your Dreams.
See also
References
- ^ "Wide Sargasso Sea at The Penguin Readers' Group". Readers.penguin.co.uk. 2000-08-03. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
- ^ "The Empire Writes Back: Jane Eyre". Faculty.pittstate.edu. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
- ^ Lacayo, Richard (2005-10-16). "Time magazine list of All-Time 100 Novels". Time.com. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
External links
- From Antoinette to Bertha: the process of 'colonising' within the marriage in Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea
- Wide Sargasso Sea study guide, themes, quotes, & teacher resources
- Review at JaneEyre.net