This work focuses on the question of identity in the novel "Wide Sargasso Sea". Antoinette, the female protagonist of Jean Rhys’ novel "Wide Sargasso Sea", is struggling with those questions of her identity all her life. As a Creole girl, who lives in Jamaica during post-colonialism, she finds herself caught between two identities not knowing where she belongs. On the one hand, there is the black community which she knows and grows up with, on the other hand the white community which her mother tries to be a part of and forces Antoinette to fit into as well. This life between two contrasting cultures forces Antoinette into a situation of confusion and doubt which makes her question not only where she belongs but if she belongs at all. It drives her into a crisis which she is not able to escape.
Jean Rhys published her novel in 1966. "Wide Sargasso Sea" tells the story of Antoinette Cosway who is also, known under the name of Bertha, a character of Charlotte Brontë's novel "Jane Eyre". In "Wide Sargasso Sea" Rhys is giving Bertha/ Antoinette a story and a reason why she became mad in the first place. The story starts in her childhood and moves on to the marriage to Mr. Rochester. The last part is set when she is already imprisoned by her husband and is setting the house on fire which accords with the story told in "Jane Eyre".
For the background of the novel it is important to know that Rhys herself grew up in a situation like Antoinette’s. She as well had troubles with identifying herself when she grew up. So Rhys shares part of Antoinette’s history which is probably why she was that interested in telling her story which is completely uncared-for by Brontë.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Cultural Background
3. Identity
4. Erikson’s Theory
5. Antoinette’s Identity
5.1 Antoinette’s childhood
5.2 Later life /Marriage to Rochester
5.3 Loss of Identity
6. Application of Erikson’s Theory
7. Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This academic paper examines the struggle of the protagonist, Antoinette, in Jean Rhys's novel Wide Sargasso Sea, focusing on her search for identity amidst post-colonial turmoil. The primary research question investigates how cultural constructions of race, the legacy of slavery, and the psychological impact of displacement influence Antoinette’s inability to belong to either the white or black communities.
- The intersection of post-colonial identity and societal rejection in the West Indies.
- An analysis of Antoinette's formative years and the impact of her familial environment.
- The application of Erik H. Erikson’s psychosocial theory of identity and identity crisis.
- The psychological consequences of marriage, displacement, and the loss of self-determination.
- The significance of racial and social labels in constructing and deconstructing identity.
Excerpt from the Book
5.1 Antoinette’s childhood
Because of the hatred after the Emancipation Act, between the black and the white population, “Antoinette’s childhood has been replete with racial violence, discrimination, anxiety, poverty and fear. All these problems affected her desire to construct her own identity or her independent self.”
Antoinette’s father passes away early in her life, so she and her mother and her little brother are on their own. As her mother cares more for Antoinette’s little brother and does not really build up a good relationship with her daughter, she is one of the reasons for Antoinette’s suffering. She cannot accept “her desire to associate herself with the black Caribbeans” as Yousef and Abu-Samra put it in their work, and therefore she is ashamed of her daughter. Even though a mother should be understanding and support her daughter no matter which way she chooses, Antoinette’s mother is not able to do so. Maybe that is because her mother has difficulties belonging herself. She is trying very hard to fit into the English society although she is a Creole. Eventually she gets married again, but that does not change the fact that Antoinette and her family are the target of the black population’s hate. When their house is burned down by the blacks and Antoinette’s brother dies, her mother withdraws herself completely from Antoinette and the rest of the world. “The mother/daughter identification is finally broken”.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the protagonist Antoinette and the core problem of her identity crisis within a post-colonial Jamaican setting.
2. Cultural Background: Details the historical environment of the novel, specifically the racial tensions following the Emancipation Act of 1833.
3. Identity: Provides a theoretical overview of the concept of identity, examining it as a socio-cultural construct and its relationship to the "self."
4. Erikson’s Theory: Introduces Erik H. Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development, with particular focus on the stage of adolescence and identity crisis.
5. Antoinette’s Identity: Analyzes the psychological development of the protagonist, focusing on her childhood and societal rejection.
5.1 Antoinette’s childhood: Discusses the influence of her mother, her friend Tia, and the racial violence that shaped her formative years.
5.2 Later life /Marriage to Rochester: Explores the impact of her arranged marriage, the loss of her name, and her feeling of displacement in the relationship.
5.3 Loss of Identity: Examines her eventual mental collapse and loss of selfhood following her imprisonment in England.
6. Application of Erikson’s Theory: Synthesizes the narrative findings with Erikson’s theories to map Antoinette's identity confusion.
7. Conclusion: Summarizes the study’s findings and reflects on the tragic outcome of Antoinette’s quest for identity.
Keywords
Wide Sargasso Sea, Jean Rhys, Antoinette, Identity, Identity Crisis, Erik Erikson, Post-colonialism, Jamaica, Creole, Race, Displacement, Psychosocial Development, Bertha, Rochester, Colonialism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this study?
The study investigates the identity crisis of the protagonist, Antoinette, in Jean Rhys's novel Wide Sargasso Sea.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The themes include post-colonial struggle, the legacy of slavery in the West Indies, racial and gender-based discrimination, and the formation of the self.
What is the main research objective?
The paper aims to examine how cultural constructions of race influence Antoinette’s struggle to find an identity and why she fails to fully integrate into either the black or white communities.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The analysis utilizes a literary-analytical approach, applying Erik H. Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development to the narrative of the novel.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The body explores the historical and cultural background of the novel, theoretical definitions of identity, and a chronological analysis of Antoinette’s life from childhood to her eventual decline.
Which keywords define the paper?
Keywords include Identity, Wide Sargasso Sea, Post-colonialism, Erikson’s Theory, Creole, and Identity Crisis.
How does Antoinette's mother contribute to her identity crisis?
Her mother, who tries to assimilate into English society, rejects Antoinette’s connection to the black Caribbean culture, ultimately failing to provide the emotional support necessary for Antoinette's self-development.
In what way does the character of Tia affect Antoinette?
Tia serves as a crucial childhood figure whose friendship represents Antoinette's potential connection to the island, while her eventual betrayal symbolizes the irreparable divide between the white Creole class and the black community.
How does the marriage to Mr. Rochester worsen Antoinette's struggle?
Rochester attempts to strip away her identity by renaming her "Bertha," isolating her from her roots, and treating her as an inferior, which accelerates her psychological displacement.
Can Antoinette's end be considered a form of resolution?
The conclusion discusses whether her final act of burning the house can be seen as a desperate, final loss of self or, alternatively, as a paradoxical attempt to reclaim agency on her own terms.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Julia Straub (Autor:in), 2017, On the Question of Identity in the Novel "Wide Sargasso Sea" of Jean Rhys, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/464328
