Guide to the Analysis of Jean Rhys’ ​Wide Sargasso Sea ​from an Ecocritical

Perspective

1) How would you describe Antoinette’s relationship with the Caribbean

environment? What about her husband’s?

Antoinette Husband

She feels attached to the Caribbean It is an unknown environment for him.

environment.
He doesn’t feel at ease /he is restless. It
It is her place in the world. She has a is unpredictable. he cannot control it.
sense of belonging.
The wilderness makes the Caribbean a
She appreciates the variety of wildlife mysterious and dangerous place. This
and how exotic it is. She is respectful makes the Caribbean a place of
towards nature. ugliness in Rochester’s eyes.

Nature is a place for resting her It is an unfamiliar place, he rejects it. he

thoughts and feelings (a shelter, a safe never tries to learn, understand the
haven). people/ways of the people there.

Close bond with nature: “nature is It’s a place of despair, misery and
kinder than people”. misfortune.

Even though she is attached to the

Caribbean, she still has some issues
with it. (a dichotomy in her feelings) She
feels she belongs but not quite.

2) Are there any similarities in the way Rochester perceives Antoinette and the
Caribbean?
two others

The Caribbean Antoinette

It is unpredictable. He cannot He cannot force Antoinette to

control it. behave as he would like to.
He cannot change her nature or
roots.
Rochester
The wilderness makes the Her exotic roots make her to
Caribbean a mysterious and have the tendency to wilderness
dangerous place. (madness).
He feels threatened by her
 sensuality.

The Caribbean is a place of Antoinette’s creole descent is

ugliness in Rochester’s eyes. “ugly” in Rochester’s eyes. It is
the part of Antoinette that has to
be erased, hidden.

It’s a place of despair, misery Her marriage to Rochester brings

and misfortune. him unhappiness. He feels his life
and future is put on jeopardy by
Antoinette.

3) Discuss the parallelism between “Rochester”’s relationship with Antoinette and

the relation between European colonizers and the Caribbean islands.

Rochester & Antoinette European colonizers & the Caribbean

Islands

Antoinette is perceived as an The Caribbean is an exotic and unknown land

exotic and mysterious woman that need conquering /domination.
that needs the “guidance” of a
man.

Rochester tries to control Colonizers take control of the natural

Antoinette’s nature.(her resources of the Caribbean.
personality, her temperament)

Rochester marries Antoinette Colonizers make us of the Caribbean’s natural

because of her wealth (for his resources indiscriminately.
own benefit).

Rochester turns Antoinette into Colonizers shaped the Caribbean in the way
Bertha (identity change). they wanted /was beneficial for them
(transformation of the environment).

Rochester feels the need to Cultural imposition. Colonizers imposed

constantly remind Antoinette of European culture with the justification that it
European supremacy. was superior.

4) In what ways does the novel promote ecological awareness?

● Question economic and social issues: problems.

● Promotion of nature: two different views and empathy towards Antoinette’s view.
● Rochester’s aversion towards the Caribbean environment may be a way to make
people aware of the negative impact that human population has on nature.
● Antoinette’s sense of belonging to the Caribbean may promote nature appreciation.
● Through Rochester’s relationship with the Caribbean we can see human beings’
desire to control and dominate nature (nature as a possession/ object to possess):
Problematization of the colonial enterprise. harmful consequences through
Antoinette’s hardships.
● Title of the novel: nature is given importance through it.