Wide Sargasso Sea Literary Analysis

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Throughout Wide Sargasso Sea, components such as the loss of loved ones, and the cruelty of life and people, drive Antoinette to lunacy. Her madness is more than just a trait passed on genetically, it is brought about by her ill-fated life throughout the novel. The essential component that has driven Antoinette to madness has been none other than Rochester himself. Rochester has added wood to the already scorching fire which represents Antoinette’s madness. Rochester goes as far as telling Antoinette lies in order to keep his leverage and dominance. He has destroyed Antoinette's refuge by making her only place of peace a living hell filled with dishonesty and hate. Ultimately, Rochester has slowly, but surely, began ridding pieces of Antoinette's …show more content…
If someone important to you is telling you these lies they can manipulate you using your newly found fake feelings and their importance to you. Lying can include false promises, saying phrases to make the other person feel better even if they are not true, or even masking things for the persons own good. Regardless any form of lying is manipulation and no matter who the person is they deserve the truth. In pages, 84-85 Jean Rhys includes lies that Rochester tells Antoinette in order to give him the upper hand in the situation. The first comes in after the (both dark and light) line “Why did you make me want to live? Why did you do that to me”. Rochester responds saying “Because I wished it. Isn’t that enough?” and then the first lie emerges: “Suppose you took this happiness away when I wasn’t looking…’ ‘And lose my own? Who’d be so foolish?’ ‘I am not used to happiness, it makes me afraid’ ‘Never be afraid.” For readers who read Jane Eyre before this novel, this line foreshadows the future, dramatic irony takes place. Rochester telling Antoinette to “Never be afraid” lowers her guard and allows Rochester to continue to manipulate her. The next lie comes in the form of telling someone false phrases in order to make them feel

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