Reclaiming Bertha: Wide Sargasso Sea as a Postcolonial and Feminist Prequel to Jane Eyre
Table of contents
- Personal Information
- Assignment Details
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction to Wide Sargasso Sea
- About Jean Rhys
- Introduction to Jane Eyre
- About Charlotte Brontë
- Character Analysis
- Postcolonial Context
- Narrative Structure
- Conclusion
- References
Personal Information
Name - Bhumiba Gohil
Batch - M.A. Sem 3 (2023-2025)
Enrollment Number - 5108230016
Email Address - bhumibagohil333@gmail.com
Roll Number - 4
Assignment Details
Topic - Reclaiming Bertha: Wide Sargasso Sea as a Postcolonial and Feminist Prequel to Jane Eyre
Paper - The Postcolonial Studies
Paper Number - 203
Subject Code - 22408
Submitted to - Smt. S.B. Gardi Department of English M.K.B.U.
Date of Submission - 9 November 2024
Abstract
This assignment explores Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys as a postcolonial and feminist prequel to Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. It examines how Rhys reimagines Bertha Mason as Antoinette Cosway, providing her with a backstory that critiques colonialism, racial prejudice, and patriarchal oppression. By juxtaposing the rich, fragmented narrative of Wide Sargasso Sea with the linear structure of Jane Eyre, the analysis highlights their thematic intersections, including identity, alienation, and cultural conflict. This study further investigates the portrayal of gender dynamics, Creole identity, and the colonial backdrop, offering insights into Rhys’s response to Victorian ideologies in Brontë’s novel.
Wide Sargasso Sea, Jane Eyre, Jean Rhys, Charlotte Brontë, Postcolonial Literature, Feminism, Creole Identity, Colonialism, Gender Dynamics, Narrative Structure.
Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea (1966) is a landmark work of modernist and postcolonial literature that reimagines the life of Bertha Mason, the “madwoman in the attic” from Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. Set in the Caribbean during the 19th century, the novel serves as both a prequel and a critique of Brontë’s classic, challenging its portrayal of Bertha and shedding light on her tragic backstory.
Through the character of Antoinette Cosway (Bertha’s original name), Rhys explores themes of identity, colonialism, racial tension, and gender dynamics. Born into a Creole family in Jamaica, Antoinette faces rejection from both the white colonial elite and the Black Jamaican community. Her struggles are compounded by her forced marriage to an unnamed Englishman (implied to be Mr. Rochester), whose betrayal and cruelty contribute to her psychological unraveling. The novel’s fragmented narrative and shifting perspectives emphasize Antoinette’s alienation and highlight the oppressive forces of patriarchy and empire.
Wide Sargasso Sea is celebrated for its lush, evocative prose and its complex portrayal of characters caught between cultures and histories. By reclaiming Bertha Mason’s voice, Rhys not only critiques the Eurocentric lens of Victorian literature but also gives life to a silenced figure, making the novel a powerful meditation on identity, power, and resistance.
(Rhys)
Jean Rhys (1890–1979) was a celebrated 20th-century writer best known for her distinctive voice and exploration of themes such as alienation, identity, and gender. Born Ella Gwendolyn Rees Williams in Roseau, Dominica, then part of the British West Indies, Rhys’s early life in a colonial setting greatly influenced her writing. Her work often reflects the struggles of dislocated and marginalized individuals, particularly women, and examines the lingering effects of colonialism and patriarchy.
After moving to England in her late teens, Rhys’s sense of cultural displacement deepened, fueling the introspective and melancholic tone of her novels and short stories. Her literary career gained prominence in the 1920s and 1930s with works such as Quartet (1928) and Good Morning, Midnight (1939), which captured the lives of women on the fringes of society. However, it was her 1966 novel, Wide Sargasso Sea, a postcolonial prequel to Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, that solidified her place in literary history. This work, set in the Caribbean, reimagines the story of Bertha Mason and offers a nuanced critique of colonialism, race, and gender relations.
Rhys’s lyrical prose, marked by psychological depth and emotional intensity, continues to resonate with readers and scholars, positioning her as a pioneering voice in modernist and postcolonial literature.
(Britannica)
“Jane Eyre” (1847), is a groundbreaking work of Victorian literature that blends elements of gothic romance, social critique, and psychological realism. The story follows the life of its eponymous heroine, an orphaned and mistreated child who grows into an independent and morally steadfast woman. From her harsh upbringing at Gateshead and Lowood School to her tumultuous love for the enigmatic Mr. Rochester at Thornfield Hall, Jane’s journey is one of resilience and self-discovery.
Jane Eyre is notable for its innovative use of first-person narrative, which allows readers to intimately experience Jane’s thoughts and emotions. The novel also critiques rigid class structures, gender inequality, and religious hypocrisy while presenting a heroine who seeks personal fulfillment without compromising her integrity. Through its vivid characters and themes of love, autonomy, and redemption, Jane Eyre remains a cornerstone of English literature and a powerful testament to Charlotte Brontë’s literary genius.
(Brontë)
Two works connected by some factors can be considered a prequel. The bridge which connects these novels is the characters of these both. Jean Rhys reimagines and expands upon the characters, particularly focusing on Bertha Mason, who is confined as the 'madwoman in the attic' in "Jane Eyre." Let’s see the main Characters who are connected between these two novels.
Antoinette Cosway -
"Wide Sargasso Sea" centers on Antoinette Cosway, delving into her challenging early life in Jamaica and her eventual marriage to Mr. Rochester. Author Jean Rhys gives Antoinette a strong voice, allowing us to understand her perspective beyond the 'madwoman in the attic' stereotype from "Jane Eyre." Unlike Bertha Mason in "Jane Eyre," who is seen from the outside with little background, Rhys explores Antoinette's life in detail. This unique perspective adds depth to Bertha's character, challenging traditional views and providing a more sympathetic understanding of her descent into madness.
Husband (Mr. Rochester) -
In "Wide Sargasso Sea," Mr. Rochester is known as Edward, a significant character involved with and marrying Antoinette. The novel explores Edward's thoughts and emotions, portraying him as mysterious and confused in the unfamiliar setting of Jamaica. Unlike the portrayal in "Jane Eyre," where he locks Bertha in the attic, Rhys presents a more complicated picture of Edward. By showing his side of the story, the author adds layers to his character, making him more human and challenging our perceptions from "Jane Eyre." Rhys provides a backstage pass to Edward's thoughts, fostering a better understanding of his complexities.
Setting -
"Jane Eyre" is mainly set in Victorian England, a period during the 19th century known for its specific rules and beliefs. The novel takes us into a world where there are strict differences between social classes, clear expectations for how men and women should behave, and specific ideas about what is considered morally right. A significant part of the story happens at Thornfield Hall, which is the estate owned by Mr. Rochester. The place reflects the typical architecture of England during that time, showing how society was organized in a way where certain people held higher positions than others. The characters in the novel, like Jane Eyre, working as a governess, and Mr. Rochester, a wealthy landowner, is influenced by these social hierarchies, shaping how they interact and form relationships.
(Thomas)
Racialism -
"Wide Sargasso Sea" takes place in Jamaica during the early 19th century when it was a colony. The story explores the complicated culture and racial issues shaped by the history of slavery and colonial rule. At the start, we see Antoinette in Coulibri, her childhood home, and later, the story moves to Granbois, an estate she inherits. These Jamaican settings have beautiful landscapes, but they also show how some people were rich while others were poor, and there were tensions between different races. Jamaica is depicted as a place with a mix of cultures, such as Antoinette's Creole culture and the Afro-Caribbean culture represented by characters like Christophine. The presence of these different cultures makes the story more intricate and interesting.
(Cappello)
Creole and English Culture -
When we try to find the word Creole means, we come across the world of Creole which is a totally different atmosphere we are living in. Creole is not merely known as these single words but it has other words tagging behind it like Creole People, Creole Society, Creole Language and also the meaning of this is changing from country to country, from group to group.
In "Wide Sargasso Sea," Antoinette's Creole identity clashes with Mr. Rochester's English culture, leading to misunderstandings and conflicts. Being a white Creole from Jamaica, Antoinette's background reflects a mix of European and local influences, shaping her language, food, and customs. Mr. Rochester, representing English society, sees himself as culturally and economically superior as we can see by what he said about Antoinette,
“Creole of pure English descent she may be,
but they are not English or European either”.
Their cultural differences create a communication barrier, reflected in their contrasting languages and values. This clash contributes to the tragic breakdown of their relationship in the novel.
(Eriksen)
In "Wide Sargasso Sea," the story is told from different points of view, and the way it's put together is a bit like a puzzle with missing pieces. This mix of perspectives and the jumbled-up way of telling the story helps us see the characters and events in a more complicated and interesting way. It's like getting different angles on the same picture, making everything more intricate. Now, in "Jane Eyre," things are a bit different. The story mostly comes from one person's view, which is Jane's. This makes it more like looking through one lens, seeing everything from her perspective. It's a bit like having only one piece to a puzzle. This way of telling the story affects how we understand the characters and what's happening because we only get Jane's side of things.
Comparing the two, "Wide Sargasso Sea" gives us a richer and more diverse look at the characters and events because we hear from different people. On the other hand, "Jane Eyre" is more focused on one viewpoint, and that affects how we see the complexity of the story. Both ways of telling the tale have their own charm and impact how we connect with the characters.
Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea transforms the narrative of Jane Eyre by shifting the perspective to Bertha Mason, now reimagined as Antoinette Cosway. This shift allows readers to reconsider the issues of race, gender, and power that Brontë’s novel leaves unexplored. Through its fragmented narrative, rich symbolism, and critical examination of colonial and patriarchal systems, Rhys’s novel reclaims the voice of a silenced character and critiques the Eurocentric lens of Victorian literature. As a result, Wide Sargasso Sea serves not only as a prequel to Jane Eyre but also as an independent work that challenges and enriches our understanding of its literary predecessor.
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