Comparison of Jane Eyre with Wide Sargasso Sea Essay Example

all times when she was mentioned in the novel. 'Jean Rhys' wanted to correct this and justify her actions when she was locked up with Grace Pool in the Thornfield Hall.She wanted to portray her as a normal human being, rather then the image created of the same character in 'Jane Eyre' of a 'clothed hyena' and a 'wild mare'. She often defended her actions, and helped us sympathise with her. In Jane Eyre she is described negatively from the start, when we learn that Mr Rochester was already married we feel sorry for Jane and Rochester both as Bertha is the one responsible for stopping their marriage and depriving Jane of happiness, Bertha shatters every dream Jane has and therefore this intensifies the hatred created for her.

Even before Bertha was introduced fully, she was often described as a ghost or an evil spirit that lurked in the great mansion. We learn this when we read about her of wandering in the passages and the floorboards creaking, which frightens Jane. Also in the incident when Mr Rochester's bed was set alight, this terrifies Jane. She starts feeling insecure in the Thornfield Hall. In chapter twenty bloodcurdling cries awaken the household.

Rochester assures the guests that all is well, and asks Jane to come to the attic. She finds Mr Mason badly wounded. Jane is again horrified by another attack; she describes the scream as 'savage', 'sharp' and 'paralysing'. This incident occurs just after the description of moonlight, this adds Gothic atmosphere. Mr mason describes Bertha as a "bloodsucking vampire", this contributes to the overall portrayal of Bertha and creates extreme dislike for that woman in the

reader's mind.

We can conclude that the overall portrayal of Bertha Mason in Jane Eyre is exaggerated; she is depicted as a violent, screaming women with evil intensions who is also responsible for the destruction of the Thornfield Hall, and disabling Mr Rochester as a result of the fire which devastated the Thornfield Hall. I believe 'Wide Sargasso Sea' was written to present other facets of Bertha, and give a more rounded picture of her. The author has given the character credibility and respect; she has described Bertha with a different angle.She has justified her actions and told us the history of who was a mysterious character; Bertha who was a minor character in Jane Eyre is now the main character in 'Wide Sargasso Sea. ' In 'Jane Eyre' the writer uses the name Bertha instead of Antoinette, the name Bertha sounds very ugly compared to Antoinette, which sounds pleasant.

Unlike in 'Jane Eyre' she is given a family background this destroys the image of an animal, created in 'Jane Eyre. ' Now we can understand that she is no other but a normal human being.We learn in the novel that their family was ostracised from the community as they were once slave owners and so the black community hated them and eventually they revolted. They were also excluded from the English community, as Antoinette's mother was French. In addition to that Antoinette was even rejected by her own mother. As a result of this isolation and rejection from the society Antoinette's only friend was Tia who also betrayed her, by stealing her clothes and taking her valuables.

This seclusion may have been the important factor

in her madness.This helps the reader sympathise with Antoinette and we feel she was treated very unfairly this seclusion and rejection might have been an important factor in her madness, in 'Jane Eyre' no explanation was given for her madness. In 'Jane Eyre' the first person narration helps us sympathise and empathise with Jane. We understand her when she describes her fear of Bertha with outstanding graphic description in conjunction with animal imagery.

When she saw Bertha she was 'chilled with fear' this suggests terror. And we feel hostile towards Bertha. 'A murderess hardly separated from me by a single door'- Richard Mason attack.We see Bertha as a monster, fearful and ghastly when she enters Jane room at night.

We believe Bertha is evil. However, her madness is justified in 'Wide Sargasso Sea' and we sea things from her point of view. We get a chance to listen to Bertha's story. I personally believe that the victim is Bertha not Jane. She has gone through a lot in her life then Jane, if she had a better childhood she would have not gone mad.

And if Rochester had treated her properly she would be a completely different person altogether. 'Wide Sargasso Sea' helps us realise this by the first person narration of Bertha/Antoinette.Also the first person narration accentuates her rejection from the society. We start feeling sorry for Bertha when she is rejected by her love-Rochester, we never felt sorry for her in 'Jane Eyre. ' At this point we see Rochester as the villain, as he tries to prison and abuse the innocent Antoinette as she makes endless efforts to break out of the

hell she is trapped in. However our hatred for Rochester is heightened when he says, "she will not laugh again," (referring to Antoinette) in 'Wide Sargasso Sea'.

Here we learn about Rochester's cruel intentions towards the woman who did the crime of loving him.We are disgusted with Rochester as he tries to marry another woman, with his first wife kept locked up in the attic. In 'Jane Eyre' we did not see Rochester as a villain at any point in the novel, however in 'Wide Sargasso Sea' I believe he is portrayed as a villain. One other differences in the novel is in 'Jane Eyre' we hear a biased opinion from Rochester, and other sources, while in 'Wide Sargasso Sea' we hear a variety of opinions about the same person, e. g.

we learn in the novel Daniel Cosway suggesting Antoinette "is of low moral.This makes us 'Wide Sargasso Sea' more realistic and it sounds fair rather then the exaggerated picture of Bertha in 'Jane Eyre. ' I believe themes and imagery play an important role in both the novels. In Jane Eyre throughout the novel Bronte explores the difference between what seems real, and what is actually real. For example, she uses the way people dress to show how this plays a large part in determining how other people see them. She also shows how physical beauty can be a great asset in society.

The novel sometimes uses the appearance in a dramatic way.A good example of this is Bronte uses mirrors. Mirrors can symbolise the contrast between reality and appearance. The author neither suggests that mirrors show us things the way they really

are nor that they necessarily distort things. Rather she suggests that things seen in ordinary mirror are subtly reversed. For instance, the author uses the idea to suggest the reflection - contrast - between different characters.

St john is a kind of mirror image of Mr Rochester, Blanche Ingram is in the same way a reflection of Jane; Mr Brocklehurst is in the same way an echo of miss Temple.This idea of reversal or opposites is used when Bronte uses images connected with darkness and light to symbolise goodness and despair. I very much appreciate this technique as it cleverly not only portrays the character but also highlights the difference between its opposite. Descriptions of birds are frequent in the novel.

References to them are always used very carefully, especially when describing Jane and Mr Rochester. Possibly she has associated Jane with birds to emphasize her delicacy and gracefulness. Books are very cleverly used as a symbol of inspiration and comfort.They help to show the contrast between Jane and Helen.

References of books underline the way imagination is seen as a means of escape from reality, offering refuge and shelter from a hostile world. Dreams play an important part in the structure of the book because of where they appear in the action of the story. What the dreams reveal about the future adds to the feeling of suspense, which is an important feature of Jane Eyre's structure. Very often in the book you will find a vital link between the mood of a character and its surroundings.

These links include references to the weather and the seasons of the countryside. For example in Jane Eyre

Bronte uses description of the wind , not only to suggests wild surroundings or storms but also to represent mental agitation in some of the characters. It is thought that the world of nature had moods like a real person. The supernatural aspects of Jane Eyre are linked to other more general aspects of the novel's style. The novel uses a strong gothic imagery, with special emphasis on strange wild creatures and vampires.

For example Bertha's laugh is described as a 'demonic laugh'.I don't think these imageries and themes were used in 'Wide Sargasso Sea', instead the main imagery was flower imagery and colour imagery. The delicacy and the vulnerability of Antoinette is symbolised by flowers and when Rochester crushes them it reminds us of her being ill-treated and crushed by Rochester just like the flowers. The flowers also symbolise Antoinette loving and caring for the nature.

The flowers also represent Antoinette's childhood being spent in a very beautiful place compared to her being locked up in the attic.The flower imagery intensifies the cruelty to Antoinette. Finally, I would like to take a look at the ending. In Jane Eyre Bertha deliberately sets fire to the Thornfield Hall hoping to murder Rochester and Jane subsequently she jumps from the blazing roof and commits a suicide in the mean time Rochester makes endless effort to save her. This action of Rochester shows how caring and kind he is even to the person who tries to kill him.

Unlike in 'Wide Sargasso Sea' where the reality in 'Jane Eyre' is just a dream, in the dream it is an accident and she remains vulnerable, innocent victim.I think

the portrayal of Antoinette in 'Wide Sargasso Sea' is more effective then the one in 'Jane Eyre' because Antoinette's actions are justified in 'Wide Sargasso Sea' she is the victim. Also we empathise and sympathise with her because of Rochester's cruelty, also because she is rejected and isolated from many sides of the society, even from her mother and her only friend Tia. That is why I believe the portrayal of Antoinette in 'Wide Sargasso Sea' is more effective then the one in 'Jane Eyre'.