Jean Rhys’ Wide Sargasso Sea as a Postcolonial Retelling of Jane Eyre
Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea is a powerful postcolonial response to Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel Jane Eyre. Published in 1966, the novel gives a voice and a backstory to Bertha Mason, the so-called “madwoman in the attic” in Jane Eyre. Rhys reimagines Bertha as Antoinette Cosway, a white Creole woman from the Caribbean. Through this retelling, Rhys challenges colonial narratives and brings attention to issues of race, identity, and cultural conflict.
1. Giving Voice to the Silenced
In Jane Eyre, Bertha Mason is barely more than a plot device. She is presented as a madwoman locked away in the attic, dangerous and mysterious. Rhys, however, creates a full and complex character in Antoinette. She is shown as sensitive, intelligent, and deeply affected by her surroundings. This shift in perspective is a key postcolonial strategy — giving voice to those who were silenced or misrepresented in colonial literature.
2. Setting and Historical Context
The novel is set in Jamaica and Dominica during the years after the abolition of slavery. This period was marked by social instability, racial tensions, and identity crises, especially among white Creoles like Antoinette. The Caribbean setting is not just a backdrop; it plays a central role in shaping Antoinette’s identity and fate. Rhys explores how colonial history, cultural conflict, and racial hierarchies affect individuals on a personal level.
3. Colonialism and Identity
Antoinette’s identity is fragmented. She is not fully accepted by the white British colonizers or the black Caribbean population. This in-between position creates deep psychological conflict. Rhys shows how colonialism creates identities that are unstable and torn between cultures. Antoinette’s madness can be seen as a result of this cultural and personal dislocation.
4. Critique of Rochester
Rhys’s portrayal of Rochester — the unnamed Englishman in Wide Sargasso Sea — is very different from Brontë’s romantic hero. Here, he is shown as controlling, dismissive, and deeply prejudiced. He renames Antoinette as “Bertha” and slowly erases her identity. This act of renaming is symbolic of colonial domination, where the colonizer strips the colonized of their voice and culture. Rhys’s Rochester is not a hero but a representative of British colonial power and patriarchy.
5. Language and Hybridity
Rhys uses a hybrid narrative style, with multiple points of view and rich, symbolic language. The novel includes elements of Creole speech and Caribbean rhythms. This reflects the mixed cultural background of the characters and setting. The use of different voices challenges the single, authoritative narrative found in traditional British novels. This technique is typical of postcolonial literature, which often rejects linear storytelling and embraces multiple perspectives.
6. Madness as a Colonial Condition
In Jane Eyre, Bertha’s madness is seen as inherited and mysterious. Rhys, on the other hand, explores how Antoinette’s descent into madness is influenced by trauma, racial rejection, loss of family, and cultural alienation. Her mental breakdown is not just personal — it is also a reflection of the larger social breakdown caused by colonialism. Rhys uses madness as a metaphor for the psychological damage inflicted by colonial rule.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Wide Sargasso Sea is a significant postcolonial novel that reclaims the story of a marginalized character from British literature. By reimagining Bertha Mason’s life, Jean Rhys challenges colonial stereotypes, gives depth to the female voice, and critiques the imperial attitudes of the West. The novel is a powerful example of how literature can be used to rewrite history, question dominant narratives, and highlight the experiences of the oppressed.