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miahhhxx's review against another edition
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lizziestudieshistory's review against another edition
4.0
Spoilers? But only if you haven't read Jane Eyre.
Wide Sargasso Sea is a beautiful work, full of questions and reevaluations. Nothing is ever quite certain, from the dreamlike, nightmarish Caribbean to the cardboard English Manor House. Names are changed, lost, or never spoken. Race and identity are influx, defined differently for different people. Sanity and insanity are on a knife point.
Antoinette/Bertha is a lost child and later a broken woman - she belongs nowhere, both of the Caribbean and not, of Europe and not. She doesn't truly fit anywhere, especially once her family estate is burnt down by an angry mob. There is a small hope that she perhaps could belong with the unnamed Mr Rochester, but eventually even that is ripped away as he cannot make up his mind about his feelings until he is manipulated and poisoned against Antoinette by the spiteful Daniel Cosway. She is left alone, hated and ridiculed for no real reason, and eventually locked away to lose her grasp on reality and spirals into the almost familiar Mad Woman in the Attic.
Rhys let's us into a world with no reality. She shows us the West Indies she was born to, a world full of magic, colour, and vivacity. It's dreamlike and nightmarish at once. There is no order, not rationale for this world, not like we (especially British readers) understand. It's a world that cannot and does not want to let go of it's past, stewing in its own hatred and cruelty. It's an intoxicating place left in limbo, suffering under prejudice from all sides.
Antoinette is abandoned in the middle of the resentment and scorn. A Creole woman, the daughter of white slavers, but native to the Caribbean. Not white enough for the English, not black enough from the emancipated slaves. She's abused, neglected, and despised - for what? Nothing she can be deemed responsible for herself. No wonder she loses her mind.
My main issue with this came from Rhys' writing style - it wasn't quite...enough. It's by no means standard, it can be difficult to follow at times as narrators are never named, and it flows easily between dreams and reality. However, it's never quite enough for me. It's unhinged but only by one hinge. I was expecting the book to really descend into madness to reflect the deterioration of Antoinette's mind. And it does do this, especially in Part 3, but it's never enough. I didn't come away feeling a bit crazy myself, which is what I was expecting. Perhaps it's me.
Truly this book is about race, women, and identity. The construction and deconstruction of identity in the 19th century for people who don't quite fit into the societies and classes designated for the world by the British Empire. How women are treated, abused, and viewed by the 19th century. It asks us to consider whether Bertha Mason really is mad, if so why? And the answer, no matter what you give, is always tied to race, gender, and prejudice. Prejudices and hatred not just from the white representatives of the Empire in the form of the Masons and Mr Rochester, but the black community who torment and ridicule Antoinette at every chance they get.
Wide Sargasso Sea is a beautiful work, full of questions and reevaluations. Nothing is ever quite certain, from the dreamlike, nightmarish Caribbean to the cardboard English Manor House. Names are changed, lost, or never spoken. Race and identity are influx, defined differently for different people. Sanity and insanity are on a knife point.
Antoinette/Bertha is a lost child and later a broken woman - she belongs nowhere, both of the Caribbean and not, of Europe and not. She doesn't truly fit anywhere, especially once her family estate is burnt down by an angry mob. There is a small hope that she perhaps could belong with the unnamed Mr Rochester, but eventually even that is ripped away as he cannot make up his mind about his feelings until he is manipulated and poisoned against Antoinette by the spiteful Daniel Cosway. She is left alone, hated and ridiculed for no real reason, and eventually locked away to lose her grasp on reality and spirals into the almost familiar Mad Woman in the Attic.
Rhys let's us into a world with no reality. She shows us the West Indies she was born to, a world full of magic, colour, and vivacity. It's dreamlike and nightmarish at once. There is no order, not rationale for this world, not like we (especially British readers) understand. It's a world that cannot and does not want to let go of it's past, stewing in its own hatred and cruelty. It's an intoxicating place left in limbo, suffering under prejudice from all sides.
Antoinette is abandoned in the middle of the resentment and scorn. A Creole woman, the daughter of white slavers, but native to the Caribbean. Not white enough for the English, not black enough from the emancipated slaves. She's abused, neglected, and despised - for what? Nothing she can be deemed responsible for herself. No wonder she loses her mind.
My main issue with this came from Rhys' writing style - it wasn't quite...enough. It's by no means standard, it can be difficult to follow at times as narrators are never named, and it flows easily between dreams and reality. However, it's never quite enough for me. It's unhinged but only by one hinge. I was expecting the book to really descend into madness to reflect the deterioration of Antoinette's mind. And it does do this, especially in Part 3, but it's never enough. I didn't come away feeling a bit crazy myself, which is what I was expecting. Perhaps it's me.
Truly this book is about race, women, and identity. The construction and deconstruction of identity in the 19th century for people who don't quite fit into the societies and classes designated for the world by the British Empire. How women are treated, abused, and viewed by the 19th century. It asks us to consider whether Bertha Mason really is mad, if so why? And the answer, no matter what you give, is always tied to race, gender, and prejudice. Prejudices and hatred not just from the white representatives of the Empire in the form of the Masons and Mr Rochester, but the black community who torment and ridicule Antoinette at every chance they get.
deebury's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
luvterature's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys was an absolute gem of a read. Even after closing the book, its grip on me remained strong. What struck me the most was Rhys's skill in taking a familiar character like Bertha Mason from Jane Eyre, who is usually depicted as a one-dimensional "madwoman", and providing her with a complex and tragic backstory. The writing itself was both haunting and lyrical, creating a deeply atmospheric experience that transported me to the Caribbean, immersing me in its beauty and underlying tension.
First, the prose. Jean Rhys’ writing is stunning. The lush descriptions of the Caribbean islands are mesmerizing, almost dreamlike. The setting is so rich and immersive that I could feel the heat, smell the flowers, and hear the buzzing insects. This isn’t just background noise—it’s almost like another character in the story. The way she captures the atmosphere of postcolonial Jamaica and Dominica is incredible.
Antoinette (Bertha) is an incredibly tragic character. Rhys portrays her with such depth and humanity that one can't help but feel devastated for her. She is stuck between worlds, never fully embraced by the white Europeans due to her Creole heritage, and also rejected by the Black Jamaicans who see her as a representation of the oppressive colonial past. Her profound sense of loneliness and isolation is palpable, and it's difficult not to empathize with her descent into madness. The interplay of cultures and identities adds a nuanced layer to the narrative, elevating it beyond being just a "prequel" to Jane Eyre.
When it comes to colonialism, the book directly addresses it. Rhys isn't afraid to depict how the impact of slavery and colonization affects everything—from personal connections to self-identities. Rochester, the husband who remains unnamed (let's face it, it's him), is portrayed as the epitome of English colonial superiority. His distrust, aloofness, and harshness towards Antoinette result from his inability to comprehend her world and heritage. Although I despised him, I admired how effectively Rhys illustrated the power dynamics, racial issues, and class distinctions within their toxic marriage.
While I enjoyed the book overall, I found the second part where Rochester becomes the narrator to be a bit slow. Although his perspective was crucial in portraying his internal struggle and increasing aversion towards Antoinette, it caused the pace to lag for me. Additionally, it was frustrating because Rochester is such a detestable character, and while I understand that Rhys was dismantling the colonial male stereotype, it was difficult to spend so much time in his mind. He embodies everything that is problematic about patriarchal and colonial mindsets, and eventually, I just wanted to scream, “Just go back to Antoinette!”
I also felt that the book could have explored Antoinette's inner life a little more. While Rhys effectively captures her emotions in the first and third parts, I desired a deeper exploration of Antoinette's feelings as her life falls apart. At times, her emotional turmoil is only suggested, and I hoped that Rhys had delved more profoundly into her psyche. This would have intensified the impact of her descent into madness.
Overall, Wide Sargasso Sea is a brilliant reimagining of a character who was historically marginalized. It’s a powerful exploration of colonialism, identity, madness, and gender, with gorgeous, atmospheric writing that draws you into its world. It’s also a painful reminder of how oppressive structures like colonialism and patriarchy destroy lives, especially for those who exist between worlds, like Antoinette.
I’m giving it 4.5 stars because while I adored the prose, the storytelling, and the themes, the pacing stumbled a little in the middle, and I wanted more from Antoinette’s perspective. That said, this is definitely a book that will stay with me for a long time.
eddie_qr's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
loarakel's review against another edition
3.5
Bjóst við meiru því ég elskaði Jane Eyre, en var smá underwhelmed…
what_myla_read's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Reads like a fever dream. Prose was perfect, the way Rhys tackles madness was brilliant, and the setting so vividly evoked. Yes, there are some racial slurs that would not pass today - but fitting with the times depicted. Very glad I read this after finishing Jane Eyre.
annahl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jenn_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0