“Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte and “Wide Sargasso Sea” Essay Example

Bertha. Bertha possessed both beauty and a provocative nature, which overwhelmed and aroused his senses. Due to my naivety and lack of experience, I was captivated by her, believing my feelings for her were love. This dynamic between Rochester and Bertha played a significant role in the failure of their marriage. Their relationship was solely built upon lust and sexuality, which not only meant they knew very little about each other and had few common interests, but also went against the moral code imposed by Christian doctrine at the time. According to these beliefs, Rochester would inevitably face punishment for such behavior.

During Victorian times, Christianity was the dominant religion among the Victorians, with strict rules and severe punishments for those who did not adhere to its teachings. This societal influence deeply affected Rochester, who was raised in this environment. Upon meeting Bertha, he finds her contrasting perspective on religion intriguing. Despite living in a convent, Bertha appears to hold agnostic or even atheist beliefs and shows little interest in Christianity.

In "Wide Sargasso Sea," when Rochester asks Bertha about her beliefs in God, she dismissively replies that it is irrelevant because neither of them can change anything about it. To emphasize her point, she nonchalantly flicks a dead moth off the table. This interaction demonstrates Bertha's perception of life as it is, while Rochester seeks explanations for the unexplained and uses religion to justify his hierarchical worldview. Consequently, they are unable to connect through a shared belief system. Furthermore, the influence of Christian doctrines in Victorian society restricts their relationship, as sexual desire was strictly forbidden and only sex for procreation was deemed acceptable.

Rochester internalized these

teachings deeply and when he experiences desire for Bertha and lets go of his inhibitions, he experiences guilt for betraying his religious and societal beliefs. He attributes this guilt to Bertha's beauty. During this era, men were not expected to surrender themselves to women, however, Rochester continually finds himself doing so. Consequently, both Bertha and Rochester engage in a power struggle within their relationship, where one person must dominate. Furthermore, Rochester holds resentment towards Bertha for depriving him of the power that he believes should belong to him in a relationship where he must be in control.

In "Wide Sargasso Sea," the failure of Bertha and Rochester's marriage can be attributed to power dynamics. Throughout their relationship, Rochester treats Bertha as an object to possess and control, often referring to her as a "doll" or "marionette." This demonstrates Rochester's desire to manipulate her as a means of asserting his power. Furthermore, this foreshadows Bertha's fate when she is taken to England - once he no longer needs her, Rochester hides her away like an old toy in the attic.

The powerful imagery and symbolism of Coco the parrot in Bertha's story depicts her inability to escape both her marriage and the oppression she faces from Rochester. In an attempt to exert control, Mr Mason clips Coco's wings, limiting the bird's freedom. Yet, when the House is engulfed in flames, Coco is unable to fly away, serving as a representation of Bertha's oppressive situation and the failure of her marriage. Furthermore, this foreshadows Bertha's eventual demise in a fiery manner. Additionally, their marriage was also destined to fail due to their stark differences in upbringing, attitudes, and beliefs.

Bertha,

a French Caribbean woman from the West Indies, embodies the Colonial perspective, while Rochester, an upper-class Englishman, represents the Empire. This parallel signifies Rochester's desire to dominate Bertha in a similar manner as the Empire controlled its colonies. Notably, England and the West Indies vastly differ in both physical surroundings and the attitudes of their inhabitants. The contrasting landscapes of Britain's cold and grey terrain and the West Indies' vibrant greenery and scorching heat emphasize the stark disparities between these two regions.

Rochester despised the West Indies' landscape and believed he could never find happiness there. He described the air as resembling sulphur, finding no solace anywhere. These descriptions portraying the West Indies as unbearable include terms like "Sulphur," "Fiery," "Red," "Hell," and "Heat." Such words evoke thoughts of demons and inferno, giving the impression that the West Indies are hellish. Additionally, Rochester expresses his affection for Britain, as he appreciates the ocean's breeze blowing from Europe, rushing in through the open casement. The storm that followed unleashed streams, thunder, and blazes, eventually purifying the air.

The symbolism of the pure wind in Europe reflects Rochester's belief in the triumph of good over evil and mirrors his own destruction in the fiery West Indies and subsequent rebirth in Britain. It highlights the inability of Rochester, symbolizing the Empire, and Bertha, representing the colonial "other," to coexist harmoniously. Rochester perceives Europe as pure and good, while viewing the West Indies as a fiery and demonic place where evil must be overcome by good. Meanwhile, Bertha resides in a decaying society with untamed and extreme surroundings.

In "Wide Sargasso Sea," Rochester describes his struggle to absorb the unfamiliar landscape of

Jamaica, which is vastly different from what he is used to in Rochester. He finds the colors too vivid and overwhelming, with "too much blue, too much purple, too much green." These vibrant hues and extreme terrain not only depict the passion and vibrancy of Jamaica but also serve as a stark contrast to the reserved British attitude. Similarly, Bertha feels incapable of envisioning what England would be like and thus believes she would not find happiness there. She compares it to a dream-like city, emphasizing her detachment from it. This inability to imagine England suggests that she would not have been content living there. Consequently, the failure of Rochester and Bertha's marriage was inevitable, as he would never have been satisfied in the West Indies and Bertha would never have been content in Britain. Therefore, they could never coexist in a place where both felt truly happy. In conclusion, there were multiple reasons that led to the inevitable collapse of their marriage.

Firstly, Victorian society disapproved of the union between Rochester and Bertha due to their stark differences. Bertha's overwhelming beauty clashed with Rochester's uncontrollable lust for her. Additionally, their disparate backgrounds further hindered their relationship. Rochester detested the West Indies, finding it excessively extreme, while Bertha despised Britain. Consequently, Rochester could not find happiness in the West Indies and Bertha could not be content in England. Moreover, during this era, Caribbean society embodied a passionate and adventurous spirit, whereas British society remained more reserved. Opposites did not attract in Victorian times.

Thirdly, according to Christian Dogma, sex was intended solely for procreation and both husbands and wives were not meant to feel lust. Consequently, Rochester

and Bertha defied this belief by experiencing lustful desires. Rochester resented Bertha because she was too attractive for him to resist. Additionally, Rochester and Bertha were in a relationship where neither had any power, despite both desiring a power hierarchy. Therefore, it was inevitable for their marriage to fail, and it was not solely because of Bertha Mason's madness or fate.