Wide Sargasso Sea, section one

p 24-29

Goes to see mother, goes to school.

Passage on pg 26

Antoinnette- Quite excited about seeing her mother, -wants to see her mother, wants her to have changed- doesn't really believe that it is going to be her mother.
Mother- Harsh, confused, angry and grief stricken...crazy?

Themes

Rejection- from mother, and people looking after her mother.

Black/White- makes a point of saying what colour skin the people have, ingrained in her.

Language-
Unsure, short sentences, not certain, now that she is in a safe place, whether her mother still exists, it's like that was another world. Not much emotion behind the words, fast action. Facts not thoughts.
'Trouble' - repeated several times, as if Antionnette is evil, they are trying to indoctrinate her. Like the black/white issue.

Similarities to Jane Eyre-

Rejected, not liked, not confident, gets expectations up and then is crushed a lot.

Part one.

Lot of similarities to Jane Eyre, exotic description. Narrative voice, so that you can get inside her mind. Racism seems to be the other way round, family is at the bottom of the scrap heap. Stark contrast between the amount of description in the passive and the lack of it in the fast action. Lots of thing scare Antoinnette- action- too painfull to cunjure emotions, blank.

Status

p11
' " She grow up worthless" ' (Christophine) even though she is white she has a very low status in the West Indies, she's a 'white cockroach'

p10
argument with Tia resulting in loss of dress. Prejudices' are passed down the generations, do they know any better, do they have any idea what they are saying?

p12
'sold her last ring' all she has left that has any worth.

'all better than people' she seeks solitude, she longs for it, massive contrast with Jane Eyre.

p14
'Obeah woman' ~(Christophinhe) seen by Europeans as superstition, whitchcraft, poison. Element of the supernatural.

Contradiction, they talk of Christophine as an Obeah Woman but she is in fact a Roman Catholic, unusual for Jamaica.

p15
' " You don't like, or even recognise, the good in them." ' Anette wants to understand and know the local people, even though they hate her.

p16
'the black people did not hate us quite so much when we were poor' it is better to be white and poor than white and rich. Anntoinnette wants to be liked by the black people.

p17
'I was glad to be like an English girl' she likes to feel normal, when she's behaving how she thinks other people think she should, .

p18
Mr Mason sets himself apart from the native people, with English Decor etc.

p20
'So did Mr Mason but more slowly' Mr Mason doesn't care about Pierre, so why is he marrying Annette?

Antoinnette shows very little emotion at anything, which is a huge contrast to her mother, is she bottling it up? Is she emotionally unstable, like her mother, but in a more quiet way?

p22
Aunt Cora: ' "They are laughing at you" ' Why are the people so cruel and spitefull?

Religion
'God who is indeed mysterious' she has faith of some sort.

p23

Religion 'Bad luck to kill a parrot' but not a human?

p24
'"You cry for her- when she ever cry for you? Tell me that?"' The bitterness from the locals is really strong.

Anto about Tia 'It was as if I saw myself. Like in a looking glass' They are very similaer yet worlds apart, if circumstances were different they could be friends. It's very sad.

Motifs, snakes, evil the devil.

p25

Looks are important to Antoinnetter.

p27
She is hated by the local children, the prejudice runs deep.

p29
Similarities to Jane Eyre's life at Lowood.

p30
Antoinnettes Roman Catholic education sets her apart from the local childreen.

Helebn- Helen in JE

p31
'Would I be lonely? She asked and I said 'No' ' Like JE she has been cut off from her family.

'This convent was my refuge' a place where she can forget all about her past (JE)

p32
'Hot coffee and rolls and melting butter' stark contrast with meagre meals at Lowood

'wherever her soul is wondering for it has left her body' Her mother is dead? Or is she pretending that she is, in trying to forget, aor can she not quite beluieve that she is alive, what with her being safe.

'Everything was Brightness or dark' she likes things to be clear.

p33
Told that she's leaving with Mr Mason.
She thinks she ought to be happy, so she hides her feelings, she felt safe in the convent, set apart from the worl @(unlike JE)

p34
Dreams about a man and a dress and is worried...Hell?

p35
We learbn that the mother is dead, with very ittle emotion, as if she already knwe it.

38

Summary

Jane marries Rochester. Adele lives with them. They have a child, Mr R regains some sight. Diana and Mary get married too!

Interesting phrases/extracts

'Reader, I married him' Jabe is proud to be his wife, it is important.

THE END

37

Summary

Jane returns to Rochester.

Themes

Motherliness- Jane is motherly towards Rochester, swapping of roles, at last Jane has someone to be motherly towards.

Places

link to chapter one, lots of negative place description.

Interesting phrases/extracts

'It was my master, Edward Fairfax Rochester, and no other.' even though she calls him master does it mean that she still feels inferior? For once in her life she could be called superior, but she doesn't feel it, not really.

' "I am my own mistress" ' she is free of being dependant.

' "Ah! But Jane I want a wife" ' ... ' "Her I love best, Jane" ' contrast with Rivers (SJ) Jane loves Rochester and he wants to marry Jane.

36

Summary

Jane sets off in search of Rochester. Jane goes to Thornfiled, it's been burnt down to the ground, she enquires at the inn as the whereabouts of Mr Rochester. Mr R burnt it down and Mr R has fled to Thorndean, having been blinded and one armed by the fire.
Themes

Religion- Jane refers to Paul and Silas, coming out of the prison freed.

Entrapment- In a way Jane has allowed herself to become trapped again, trapped in her longing to do what she thinks is 'right', when all she wants to do is return to Rochester.

35

Summary

Jane hears Mr Rochester from over the moors, calling her back him, she replies tyhat she is coming.

Themes

Religion- St John.

Character
Diana, becomes somewhat of a motherly figure to Jane, along with Helen, Miss Fairfax, Hannah all in contrast with Mrs Reed.

Interesting phrases/extracts

'Not that St John harboured a spirit of unchristian vindictiveness-' St John, incapable it sweems of being unchristian, yet not many people feel comfortable in his presence.

' "I must find out what is become of him." ' no 'might' she feels she has to know what has happened to him, she still loves him very much.

34

Summary

Jane arranges Moor house with Helen for the Rvers. They return home. Rosamund is engaged to another. St John tells Jane to learn Hindustani, then he asks her to marry him and come to India. She refuses sayiong that to marry him she would have to love him and she'd have to know he loves her too.

Character
St John- so very very helpful, almost too much so.

Interesting phrases/extracts
'Since those days I have seen paysannes and Bauerinnen,' She has travelled, will do so in the future, clue about what happens next.

' "The selfish calm and sensual comfort of civilised affleunce" ' (St John to Jane) he is almost unbearable in his need and pushing for justice, helping others, being faithful in faith etc.

'I never dared complain' being in St John's company makes it uncomfortable to be yourelf, knoiwing that he does so much more and never complains.

33

Summary

Mr Rivers comes back and informs that her uncle is dead, so she is now rich, £20,000, and he is her cousin. Jane leaves the school house to return to Moor house.

Themes

'It would torment and oppress me to have twenty thousand" ' oppression.

Interesting phrases/extracts

' "You could scarcely look more aghast." ' Jane is scared by such a large amount of money.

' "So with five thousand pounds they will do very well" ' Jane's immeadiate reaction to finding out that she has money and family is to share that money with her family. She is so excited about having family, much more than the money.

32

Summary

Jane works hard at school, it gets slightly easier. She gets to know Rosamund Oliver better.

Interesting phrases/extracts

' "But you need not be a missionary" ' Jane has faith, but if she felt she were being called to do something, very strongly, that she disdn't want to do, she probably wouldn't do it. She can't understand why St John would chose God above love, (Rosamund). Yet didn't she do the same thing in leaving Thornfiled? She didn't want to live a lfie of sin, against God, but maybe that was only because she thoiught that then God wouldn't bless her, she is selfish at heart.

31

Summary

Jane becomes a teacher, in herown cottage. St John comes for a visit.

Themes

Jane is confused a depressed, because she is not with MrRochester.

Character

Jane is lonely and unhappy, -angry at herself for being a snob.

Places

Describes her cottage, nice cosy little place.

Interesting phrases/extract

'My house' Jane is free, she isn't indebted to anybody in terms of shelteredge. She owns something, it's a step up.

Response

Not much happens in this chapter, it isn't very exciting.

30

Summary

Jane's relationships with the Rivers gets stronger, St John informs Jane that he has found her a position as a school mistress. Diana and Mary set off to be governesses and Jane to be a school mistress.

Themes

Religion- St John does nothing but acty as well as he can according to his faith.

Definition by contrast- Relationship between Diana and Mary compared with Eliza and Georginas, whose is a lot lot worse.

29

Summary

Jane awakes, she talks to Hannah, finds out where she is, who she's staying with. Jane talks to the Rivers.

Interesting phrases/extracts
'Never once in their dialogues did I hear a syllable of regret at trhe hospitality which they had extended to me' they are good people, she expects herself to be thought of as a burden to others.

28

Summary

Jne wonders, isolatedly across the moors. She came across a Hamlet. Jane begs ashamedly. Jane comes across the River's house, she asks to be allowed in, is turned away at first by the servant, Hannah, but then St John comes and lets her in.

Character

Jane- alone and destitute. Faith in God keeps her going, over the moors.

Interesting phrases/extracts

'I was seized with shame' Jane stills has self-respect.

'Oh providence! Sustain me a little longer! Aid! Direct me!' when Jane sah no one else she turns to God.

27

Summary

Jane and Mr R talk about how Mr R came to be married. Jane sets off from Thornfield, vowing never to return.

Themes

'Reader' she does this occasionally, once again in the very last chapter, Bronte perhaps linking these because chapter 38 is proof to him that she has forgiven him, 'Reader, I married him'.

' "Do as I do trust in God and yourself." ' Religion- Jane's faith has made her stonger.

Character

Rochester- Telling the truth, finally? How can Jane or readers be sure? I f you've lied oince what is to say you wont again? When describing his first meetings with Jane he describes it as if it was love at frirst sight for him. How can Jane be sure that he isn't just saying all this to keep her?

Interesting phrases/extracts

'Reader, I forgave him at ther moment and on the spot.' ... 'only at my hearts core.' Jane cannot bare a grudge against a man she loves so much, yet she only thinks it she keeps it inside, is this because she keeps it inside? When he has hurt her so badly she feels that forgiving him really quickly is weak?

'it was not my original intention to decieve.' But he did, if you don't act on good intentions are they worthless? Link to not acting on faith, Eliza Reed.

26

Summary

Everything is in place for the wedding that morning, Jane is dressed and they are going to set off. They arrive at church but a man interrupts them telling them that Mr R already has a wife, Bertha Mason, he proves it and Mr R says that Bertha is mad. Jane is left feeling desolate.

Interesting phrases/extracts

‘So unlike myself that it seemed almost the image of a stranger’ Jane is changing, she has to be changed by this experience, has she lost herself?

‘I wonder what other Bridegroom ever looked as he did -so bent up to a purpose- so grimly resolute:’ he wants it over and done with, a sign perhaps that he is frightened that something may interrupt his purpose, but what?


‘my life lorn, my love lost, my hope quenched, my faith death-struck’ all of jane’s happiness has been ripped from her.


Jane’s faith shows through at the end of the chapter, she quotes psalm 169, she feels utterly alone, so she clings to God in her hour of need, there is none other.

25

Summary

Jane is prepared for the wedding. She has strange dreams about children and disaster. Then a woman, described full of darkness, tears up her wedding dress, after coming into her bedroom. Rochester tells her to sleep in Adele and Sophie’s room so that she is not attacked again, he dismisses the woman as Grace Poole disguised by Jane’s imagination.

Themes

Dreams focused on children- mentioned in an afore chapter, when after such a dream Bessie lost her sister, could this be an omen for future events?

Character

Mr R- dismisses Jane’s vision (of dark woman) as a bad dream until she comes up with some proof whereupon he changes his mind immediately, was he hiding something? Did he know more than he let on?

Jane- excited to be becoming a bride, not quite believing that it is actually going to happen. ‘ “ Everything in life is unreal.” ’. Feels like her life is moving on, she is leaving behind all the things she loves, other than Rochester, this is slightly scary as what is Mr R is not there after she leaves everything, what will she have after that?

Interesting phrases/extracts

‘ “ You cannot do without me, that is evident” ’ Mr R to Jane. Jane cannot bear to be without Rochester which builds suspense in a way…Jane has had much misfortune in the novel, could this possibly go alright?

24

Character

Jane- sees through (at the beginning of the chapter) rose-tinted glasses, she is no longer plain.

Mrs Fairfax – Warns Jane about rushing into a marriage with Mr R, IS VERY WISE AND MOTHERLY IN DOING SO, WE KNOW THAT AT LEAST SHE HAS NO OTHER AGENDA THAN Jane’s Happiness, we rebuke Jane for not properly listening to what Fairfax has to say.

Jane tries to keep Mr R’s ‘extravagances’ to a minimum. Perhaps she does not want to go back to being financially dependant on anybody, or she doesn’t really believe that this is happening to her, or her doubts (and other people’s (adele and Mrs Fairfax)) are getting to her and making her more cautious in case the wedding never actually happens.

Interesting phrases/extracts

‘ “Human beings never enjoy complete happiness in this world.” ’ Jane does not want to raise her hopes, she will not accept happiness until it is completely assured.

‘ “I knew jealousy would be the best ally” ’ Mr R is not showing himself in a good light to Jane and, rightly she asks him whether he even thought of Ingram’s heart and happiness, although this does show how desperate he was in his love for Jane, although it doesn’t make Jane any more comfortable with it.

23

Summary

Jane and Mr R meet in the garden, Mr R talks about Jane moving away (to Ireland). Eventually he proposes, she is very shocked, but accepts.

Character

Jane- confused, Mr R proposes after he has pretended to love Ingram? Why? Finally, she is very very happy, for the first time we see her truly content, perhaps.

Mr R- Insecure, needed to find out how Jane felt about him before he admitted his feelings to her. Also scared she’ll find out about Bertha.

Response

Happiness for Jane but a feeling of doubt, surely the rest of the novel can’t just be about their happily ever after??

22

Summary

Jane travels back to Thornfield.

Character

Eliza- She is nice to Jane, she comments on the fact that Jane makes a much nicer companion to Georgina, she ‘Burden’s no one’ Eliza much prefers her cousin whereas in childhood this was not the case.

Theme

Theme- Jane’s need for love. ‘There is no happiness like being loved by your fellow-creatures’.

Interesting phrases/extracts

‘A ring of golden peace’ Jane is trying very hard to ignore the supposed up-coming separation from a world of contentness, at last.

First paragraph- Bronte comments on the fact that people’s ability to ‘stand’ other people (that annoy them) is dependant on the time that they know that they will be spending with them. Because Jane can see a definite end to her stay with the Reed’s she ignores the little annoyances that were she staying with them for an indefinite amount of time she would certainly rebuke them on.

Jane speaking to Mr R, ‘ “A loving eye is all the charm needed: to such you are handsome enough;” ’ To her he is handsome.

21

Summary

Jane is summoned back to Gateshead by Bessie’s husband, John Reed has committed suicide and Mrs Reed has had a stroke. She talks to Mrs Reed.

Themes

Religion- Eliza has a strong faith. It seems to fill her days and keep her content but her faith isn’t very active, what use is faith without action?

Character

Georgina- Beauty isn’t everything. She’s completely self involved and thinks only of being popular and having nice things. She is like a spoilt child, she hasn’t grown up, she didn’t leave Gateshead, unlike Jane, definition by comparison. She wants desperately to be ‘Happy’, but, as a consequence perhaps, she is not.

Places

Jane being back at Gateshead provides the perfect opportunity for Bronte to show the reader how much Jane has changed. It allows Jane the scope to mature and rise above the things that in her childhood would have prompted her to react ‘passionately’.

20

Summary

Jane is called upon by Mr R to attend to Mr Mason, who has been hurt, Jane assumes by Grace Poole. Jane has a conversation with Mr R in the garden.

Character

Jane- Wonders why all of a sudden Mr Mason is submissive to Rochester, after all he was dismayed by Mr M’s appearance.

Mr R- He tells Jane that he is to marry Ingram. Why? He is insecure and silly? He is unsure what to do, whether to go with his head (Ingram) or his heart (Jane).

Interesting phrases/extracts

‘ “Unintentionally, he might in a moment, by one careless word, deprive me, if not of life, yet forever of happiness.” ’ Mr R has it all planned, he will marry Jane and he hopes that Mr M will not give away his secret.

‘ “Well you too power over me, and may injure me” ’ he is love with Jane but fears that she will break his heart.

19

Summary

Jane speaks to the gypsy, who asks her about love and men and in particular Mr R. The gypsy then reveals herself as Mr R. When Jane informs him that Mr Mason has come he is very alarmed.

Themes

Jane being suspicious of those she does not know, or new situations, she is pessimistic, she always expects bad things to happen to her.

Character

Mr R-He is very insecure, why would he have asked Jane about her feelings towards him in disguise otherwise?

Response

Reader’s suspicions are aroused by the fact that Mr R is alarmed by the coming of Mr Mason- why? Is there something in Mr Rochester’s past that he is afraid of /ashamed of?

18

Mr Mason arrives, Jane is suspicious of him. The gypsy woman arrives. Ingram is disappointed by her visit to the gypsy. Jane is invited to see the gypsy, she goes.

Miss Ingram- Her charms aren’t working on Rochester, Jane thinks.

‘I was forgetting all his faults’ A sign of her love for Rochester, she hasn’t managed to control it yet, like she thinks she must, for her own sake.

Summary

Jane is an outsider, she doesn't join in their games yet she feels that she must be with them when Mr R summons her. She enjoys herself nevertheless. Mr Mason arrives, Jane is suspicious of him. The gypsy woman arrives. Ingram is disappointed by her visit to the gypsy. Jane is invited to see the gypsy, she goes.

Character

Lady Ingram makes snide comments and appears quite nasty.
Mr Rochester flirts with Miss Ingram when they play charades. Like mother like daughter.
Miss Ingram- Her charms aren’t working on Rochester, Jane thinks.

Interesting phrases/extracts

'She looks to stupid for any game of the sort.' Lady Ingram

'I could not unlove him now, merely because I found that he ceased to notice me-' Readers feel very sorry for Jane, not only did he break her heart but he is now rubbing it in her face'

'Miss Ingram was a mark beneath jealousy: she was too inferior to excite the feeling.' Jane has a complex about feeling inferior, she has been made to feel inferior throughout her life, as the reader has seen, she is now fighting back. I don't think it's very impressive, it's like a vicious circle, you feel/are amde to feel inferior and then when you finally don't have that problem anymore you decide to think of others as inferior? It doesn't make sense, it's idiotic.

‘I was forgetting all his faults’ A sign of her love for Rochester, she hasn’t managed to control it yet, like she thinks she must, for her own sake.

Chapter 17

Summary

Mr R is away and Jane is heartbroken, though she doesn't admit this to tryand save face. Then the guests arrive, Miss Ingram in tow. Jane fantasises that Miss Ingram and Mr Rochester will marry.

Themes

Poverty/wealth Jane's childhood in comparison to Adeles, the little Parisian princess.

Character

Jane takes a very keen interest in the guests, she is in lovewith Mr Rochester and the reader finds it amusing because she is trying to fight back those feelings but they come out in the way she acts, and the guests might therefore find her behaviour quite unusual.

Motifs

Definition by contrast- Miss Ingram/Jane, Mr Rochester/The other men, Adele/Jane, Jane is portrayed as a moral highground, I think Jane is quite a snob. -'he is not of their kind'

Interesting phrases/extracts

'be too self-respecting to lavish the love of the whole heart' she has a guard up against letting her emotions be shown to Rochester, she thinks this makes her weak. I think that the fact that she's to scared to let her emotions show makes her weak, although the readers know, because they have in a way experienced what she has experienced, the reasons for this, past hurt and outbreaks of emotions etc.

'I compared him (Mr R) with his guests' defintion by cont.

'Good night my-' He stopped, bit his lip, and abruptly left me.' Cllue that Mr R too is literally biting back his feelings.

Chapter 16

Summary


Jane is suprised to see that Grace Poole is still employed and decides to investigate herself. She talks to Grace and asks her if she knows what happened, Grace says that Mr Rochester forgot to blow out his candles. She also finds out that Mr R has gone off to visit a certain Miss Ingram.

Character

Jane is obviously jealous, but doesn't want to admit it to herself. She berates herself for letting herself get too full of herself, in thinking that he could possibly care for her, she is quite harsh on herself. Perhaps she feels more hurt and angry at him than she wishes to let on? (to herself)

Interesting extracts

-talking to herself- ' " A favourite with Mr Rochester? You gifted with the power of pleasing him? You of importance to him in any way? Go! You folly sickens me." '