Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

Wide Sargasso Sea is a prequel to the story of Charlotte Bronte's, Jane Eyre. It is about the story of Mrs Rochester, the mad woman in the attic who burned down Thornfield Hall. In Wide Sargasso Sea, Mrs. Rochester was given a name, a story which was denied to her in Jane Eyre. It is quite appropriate, since Jane Eyre is an autobiography, never knew Mrs Rochester personally. However in Wide Sargasso Sea, the mad woman, Antoinette was not always mad. She had a story.

Before readers begin to read the novel, they should familiar themselves with the Emancipation Act 1833 and the consequences of that Act in Jamaica.

Pay close attention to the relationship between the locals and the creoles. Get the definition of Creoles and patois.