Wide Sargasso Sea and Jane Eyre

Abstract

This paper reviews the literature which relates to experience of womanhood in the 18th and 19th century in two novels: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brönte and Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys.

The research will examine the feminist themes present in both novels by comparing the two female protagonist, Jane in Jane Eyre with Antoinette in Wide Sargasso Sea. The novels will also be compared and contrasted with each other, as each presents a unique female perspective. Brönte’s treatment of the character of Jane as a wild thing unduly tamed by society contrasts sharply with Rhys’ treatment of Antoinette as wildness unbridled— a woman whose own wildness brings about her destruction.

The equation between feminity and madness as well will be explored. In Jane Eyre, Rochester’s first wife Bertha is the model of the ‘Mad Woman in the Attic’. She is described as sexual, unchaste and rebellious and refuses to conform to codes of acceptable feminine behaviour. As a result she is locked away, out of sight, condemned as ‘mad’.

In conclusion, the research will demonstrate that both novels have differing, but similar themes such as isolation and identity, male dominance, madness, religious belief and spirituality. But both novels are also confined by their time period and culture, in that their female heroines are forced to occupy traditional female roles.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 LITERATURE REVIEW 3

2 INTRODUCTION 6

2.1 PLOT OVERVIEW OF JANE EYRE 7

2.2 PLOT OVERVIEW OF WIDE SARGASSO SEA 8

3 WOMEN IN THE 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY 9

3.1 THE FEMININE IDEAL 9

3.2 FEMINISM IN WIDE SARGASSO SEA AND JANE EYRE 10

4 PORTRAYAL OF JANE AND ANTOINETTE 10

4.1 ISOLATION AND IDENTITY 11

4.2 RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND SPIRITUALITY 11

4.3 MALE DOMINANCE 13

4.4 TREATMENT OF SEX 15

4.5 NATURE 16

4.6 REVENGE AND REDEMPTION 17

5 SEXUALLY DEVIANT WOMEN SUFFER FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS 18

5.1 THE FEMALE MALADY 18

6 EMOTIONALLY ISOLATED AND IRRELIGIOUS PERSON...