Rochester, one of the core narrators of Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea, plays an important role in the progression of the plot. Portrayed as an Englishmen grown with imperialist ideals, Rochester visits Jamaica in search of a potential beloved and falls victim to tropical disease, leaving him bedridden for over three weeks. In that time his marriage with the protagonist, Antoinette, is arranged and Rochester awakes to the information that he is to wed her within the week. Without any prior knowledge or understanding of each other, we get see how two complete strangers grown in two different environments and with conflicting beliefs come to interact with one another as husband and wife.
Premature signs of a possible conflict arise just as Rochester and Antoinette travel to her estate in Granbois, as the former comments, "Everything is too much, I felt as I rode wearily after her. Too much blue, too much purple, too much green. The flowers too red, the mountains too high, the hills too near. And the woman is a stranger. Her pleading expression annoys me." (41). Having lived in England for all of is life, Rochester is not accustomed to the exquisite scenery of the Caribbean islands. Disoriented, Rochester takes his first critical look at Antoinette, his newly-wed wife. The first aspect he finds interesting enough to mention is her appearance, which offends him. His public expression of discontent acts as foreshadowing of more disagreements further in the plot, which ends up being the case.
One such instance of this can be found when Antoinette learns of Rochester's misdeeds with Amelie and in a fit of rage, she rants, "'...I loved this place and you have made it into a place I hate. I used to think that if everything else went out of my life I would still have this, and now you have spoilt it... I hate it now like I hate you and before I die I will show you how much I hate you'" (89). As previously mentioned, Rochester is unable to adapt to the sudden change in setting, so in order to compensate for the 'unenglishness' of his life, he acts as if he is still in Britain. Rochester repeatedly refers to Antoinette as 'Bertha' in an attempt to get her to conform to his ideal model for an English wife. Unfavorably for him, Antoinette is not the type of women who is willing to change for others, so when she refuses to do so he sleeps with Amelie, who is willing to obey his demands. Rochester's actions infuriate Antoinette and she expresses her anger in the most extreme of manners. Antoinette can not stand the fact that she was betrayed in her own estate, a place where she thought was one of refuge, where she could live her life peacefully and out of sight of those who would judge her. In doing so, Antoinette changes from a delicate, observant character to a untrusting, mentally-scarred one, permanently altering the outcome of their relationship.
At this point of the novel, Rochester and Antoinette's relationship is in ruins with both unwilling to trust each other, minimizing any chances to piece together what ever was left. Antoinette promises to demonstrate her hatred towards Rochester before she dies, and she does so when she burns down Rochester's estate, sacrificing herself and permanently blinding Rochester. Given that both of these characters were forced into a relationship, how do you think it would have fared if it were one of choice? Do you think that Antoinette and Rochester could have overcame their differences and lived in a healthy relationship or would it have crashed and burned just as it did in the novel?
3 comments:
The Antoinette and Rochester relationship is one filled with immense distrust, which becomes hatred, that is fueled by actions on both of their parts. If they were just able to effectively communicate their feelings to each other, especially given their similar emotions and places in society (which I explore in my blog post), I believe their relationship could have been saved.
Honestly, throughout the novel it didn't seem like their relationship was going to work out. The relationship seemed very fake with Antoinette being with Rochester because he was the only thing that wasn't bad in her life and Rochester sticking with her for the money. I don't see a world where they would be together by choice and even if they give it a shot, I don't see it happening at all. Good analysis tho!
Their relationship never looked like it would work out, and Rochester's attitude towards Antoinette wasn't something that could've worked in a relationship. Also because of his past/personality if Antoinette tried to change his views he would've lost it and gone crazy. So I don't think it could have worked out.
Post a Comment