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Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys.docx
- 1. 1 CARIBBEAN LITERATURE RESEARCH PAPER/PROJECT Research Topic: Dysfunctional Families leading to Paranoid Identities in Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys Fragmentation and paranoia are the two vital concepts of postmodernism that are dominant in Wide Sargasso Sea, by Rhys. In postmodern texts, the psychology becomes the new reality. Most of the postmodern and postcolonial novels like God of Small Things by Roy and Maps for Lost Lovers by Aslam have been narrated with the aid of the psychological perspectives of their protagonists. God of Small Things unveils the psychological conflicts from which the characters (Estha, Rahel, Ammu and Velutha) suffer because of their oppressive lives. On the other hand, Aslams Maps for Lost Lovers portrays the physical and oppression that the stereotypical Eastern societies conduct on the inhabitants of Dasht e Tanhai (a town in Great Britain). The novel vividly portrays the shattering effects of Diaspora and paranoia that cause intense inner turmoil in lives of its main characters (Shamas and Kaukab), stifling their internal growth and the ability to acquire success and happiness. Like Arundhati Roy and Nadeem Aslam, Rhys has contributed in the field of literature by composing such a remarkable piece of literature that clearly sketches the consequences of gender discrimination, cultural hybridity and the psychological conflicts that racism incites. The novel revolves around the tragic lives of Antoinette and her mother Annette. Antoinettes father died when she was very young. Due to the atrocities of the natives of pure hatred and discrimination against whites, Antoinettes childhood was filled with loneliness, poverty, anxiety and fear. After the black slaves set Antoinettes house on fire, her brother died during that incident and unluckily her mother lost her mind. Afterwards under the arrangement of her
- 2. 2 stepfather, Antoinette got married to Edward Rochester. Because of some misunderstandings, the essence of her marriage got lost and she, like her mother lost her mind. Confused and horrified because of the tortures that she faced during all her life she sets the attic on fire and therefore commits suicide. Born as a Creole and a female Antoinette seems to be doubly marginalized in a society that is highly patriarchal and racist. As an oppressed Creole in Jamaica, the tussle between blacks and whites locked the hybrid Antoinette into a cage of psychological paranoia and anxiety as she was unable to locate where she actually stands and exist. The conflicts of her family and the stereotypical Jamaican society caused little Antoinette to suffer confusion of self-identity. The blacks called her white nigger or white cockroach, and told her that nobody wants her. It is like a curse that went deeply rooted in Antoinettes heart. Antoinettes whole childhood as mentioned earlier, was surrounded by chaos. She did not get and enjoy the pleasures of a wealthy family. She suffered the austerity and instability of life at a very immature age. During her childhood, nobody would talk to her or with her mother. She never had any friends. The people around her were hostile and impolite towards them. Therefore, it is just and expected of her to become the victim of the social contradictions. An absent father figure and an insane mother are the only ones that she can call her own in an era that is marred by in humanism and hostility. Her mother due to her failed marriage and loss of her only son lost her mind. Annette became so paranoid due to the tragic circumstances that she faced, that she completely distanced herself from her daughter Antoinette, and the society. Antoinettes childhood was surrounded by a perpetual darkness of hatred and revenge. The tragic fate of her family had great influences on little Antoinettes life. Since her childhood, her whole family was disturbed, fragmented and paranoid. Even her neighbors and
- 3. 3 servants, turned against her, because she was a part of a dysfunctional family of hybrids. As, Antoinettes family failed to provide her enough attention and care therefore she became gloomy and depressive. Her mother also did not give her enough attention and care. As the novel opens, the readers come to know that Annette devoted much of her time to her sick son, looked after him and, thus paid very little attention to her. As Antoinette says, But she pushed me away, not roughly but calmly, coldly, without a word, as if she had decided once and for all that I was useless to her I was a little afraid of her (J. Rhys, 1966). In general, Antoinette lost her father in her childhood, she did not have a normal, happy family and her life was lacking in love and harmony. The familial and societal conflicts that kept repeating in her life, gloomed Antoinettes childhood and her whole life. As the famous psychologist, Freud pointed out, childhood has immeasurable influence on peoples life and is source of happiness and painfulness when people become adults (1). Fate rules the life of every human being in this world. Humankind cannot control their fate or mold it according to their own wishes, especially a woman who was born in a dysfunctional family. A stereotypical flawed society and family are responsible for Antoinettes tragic fate. Like Oedipus Rex, she is a tragic figure. Her childhood was marred by loneliness and depression. When she grows up, marriage seems to be the only way that could bring a change to her tragic life. Therefore, she expected a lot from her future husband. Unfortunately, events did not happen according to her wishes. She married an English man named Rochester, and therefore the war of racial inequality and gender inequality started in their home. Thus, abandoned by her husband is the direct cause that makes Antoinette fall into despair and set the fire to end her life.
- 4. 4 The role of the community is dominant and decisive. To some extent, the personal destiny is in the hands of the society. If Antoinette was not born in this drastically stereotypical and harsh society and had a normal happy family, then there is a possibility that her life might have been completely reversed and better. Adversity coupled with misfortune gloomed her, totally nearly suffocated her and made her prone to paranoia and self-annihilation. BIBLIOGRAPHY/REFERENCES: Lapsley, Daniel K. and Paul C. Stey. Id, Ego, and Superego. University of Norte Dame: Indiana, 2011. Print. "Paranoia." Cause, Symptoms, Treatment and Cure. 2012. Web. 08 Nov. 2015. Rhys, Jean. Wide Sargasso Sea. London: Penguin Books Ltd, 1997. Print. (The End)