Turning Tides in Antoinette's Sargasso Sea

Antoinette is the protagonist in Jean Rhys’, Wide Sargasso Sea, whose life drastically changes during her marriage to a young English man. As I will discuss in this post, Antoinette was driven mad by the progression of her marriage, seen for instance in her violent reception of her visitor at the house where she was held as a patient.

Her breakdown is reasonable considering her situation: a loveless marriage to a stranger and adulterer, who consistently entertained rumours about her and now legally owned all her assets.

No, he was not her husband but her handler. Like her mother who watched her whole house, and hope for a new life, burn because of her husband's neglect, Antoinette's life and hope for a loving marriage was consumed by hatred set on by her husband's misdeeds.

Reading this novel in the 21st century, there are some things that do not resonate with me, like the seemingly strained, overbearing manner of dress with petticoats and such (in a warm climate) or the blacks’ extreme poverty. Many of us today have and may never see such abject poverty. However, I connect with the maturing Antoinette at Mount Calvary Convent who resided in her own thoughts and who effortfully hid her emotions from her face. This reminded me of my own teenage years when conversations were rare and precious because I distrusted most people, and when my emotionless face was my defence against those who sought to hurt me or use my own hurt against me.