The Wide Sargasso Sea v. Jane Eyre

The Wide Sargasso Sea is the prequel to Jane Eyre written in 1966 by Jean Rhys. In this novel it tells the story of Antoinette, Rochester's wife, from living in Jamaica to dwelling in the Attic at Thornfield. It is safe to say that Rochester much preferred England to Jamaica and it made perfect sense that the one he decided to spend the rest of his life with would hail from this place. Jane is in many senses is a human depiction of England, basic and used to hardship. Intelligent and aware of her self worth by possessing a commitment to justice and principles Jane seems to be the perfect choice for Rochester. Antoinette and Jane share many similarities which is significant because they both attract the same man. During Antoinette’s childhood she witnessed her home being burnt down, this expressed the hatred that the emancipated slaves in Spanish Town felt for her and her family. On Jane’s return to Thornfield it is burned to the ground by Antoinette, Jane loses everything and see’s first hand how one person’s hatred for another can destroy everything it it’s path. Jane is an orphan loosing both her parents while she was an infant; Antoinette is also an orphan loosing her father first and her mother more recently. Jane was considered crazy at one period in her life because once when she was locked inside of the red room that her uncle died in she saw “a herald of some coming vision from another world” (JE 16). Antoinette was considered crazy because of her mother’s insanity after her brother was killed, and it was insinuated that her father was crazy but there was no evidence to prove otherwise. Though Jane and Antoinette shared many similarities they shared many differences mainly consisting of environment. Jane was brought up in England and Antoinette in Jamaica. These two places differ dramatically and both of these women are the human forms of each island. Jane cold and unadorned, Antoinette filled with so much life and passion. Rochester was attracted to Jane because she wasn’t typical she was challenging and outspoken, their relationship was built on love. Rochester was attracted to Antoinette’s money and her beauty was quite captivating, their relationship was built on sex. The differences that the women share shape each novel and each character that each interacts with.

Though Jane and Antoinette differ they both have one major similarity in common, they were coveted in one way or another by Rochester. Jane was so bright and cunning she won Rochester’s heart and companionship in the end. Antoinette was given a marriage that didn’t work but at the same time she was a project for Rochester to fix for his own principles. When Rochester changed her name and tried to change her behavior he exhibited certain behaviors of those found in British Imperialists. It is said that “The Wide Sargasso Sea” ties “blackness with freedom” (Olaussen) because through out the novel Antoinette is being exploited and disregarded by Rochester. In “Jane Eyre” Rochester is “still forced to recognize the limits of his masculine world” (Kendrik) but he is not as viciously depicted. By trying to change every woman he came in contact with for his own sake and enjoyment Rochester is an excellent Victorian example of one trying to fulfill the “White Man’s Burden”.

White Man's Burden

This ad for soap is encouraging whites to teach members of other races cleanliness, just another interpretation of "white man's burden". In "White Man's Burden" Kipling's view of other every nationality other than European is inferior and in some ways childlike and because of so the Europeans take it upon themselves to save these people and teach them their western ways. This is simply defined as imperialism which means exposing one nation to another's practicing and forcing them to live this way under their rule. In lines 1-8 the entire plot of the poem can be interpreted, take on the task to help these savage people who don't know any better because it is was God wants and so it is your duty as whites."Take up the White Man's burden--Send forth the best ye breed--Go bind your sons to exile To serve your captives' need; To wait in heavy harness, On fluttered folk and wild-- Your new-caught, sullen peoples, Half-devil and half-child"

The Wide Sargasso Sea and Jane Eyre both can easily be tied into of the theme of "White Man's Burden" because both novels contain one important character Bertha or Antoinette. Bertha in Jane Eyre was depicted as a lunatic from the imperialized colony of Jamaica who Rochester just so happened to have taken as his wife. To seal his own fate he married a wealthy merchants step daughter and took it upon himself to change her but telling her what to wear, how to smell, and even changing her name to Bertha. What right did he have to do so? In the Wide Sargasso Sea we get Antoinette's side of the story when the emancipation was passed and because of the color of her skin she was hated by both blacks and whites. Her step father Mason took it upon himself to put her away in a convent until she was of age and her step brother arranged a marriage for her to man who she did not know or love just to get her off his hands. Every aspect of her life seemed like a business deal which i suppose was because she was like property than a person since she was creole and not white.

Jane Eyre

This film adaptation of Jane Eyre was quite amazing if I may say so myself. I thought that the characters cast were spot on especially Jane because the actress was plain yet not so simple there was an underlying layer that was quite intriguing, that is how I pictured Jane myself. Rochester was handsome but still had strong features that may not have been attractive to everyone but I myself rather liked him. Mrs. Reed and her children were just as I could imagine an air about them that made me dislike them but happy it was just a book and happy that they truly did not exist. Lowood and Thornfield were hard to imagine in my mind but going back through the text I guess that the film's depiction was rather good. Rochester's wife wasn't as scary as I thought she would be but looked the part of a lunatic locked away for a decade. I am about to finish the book and am to the part about the Rivers and how they are long lost cousins but am finding slight differences between the text and the film but all is to be expected.

Robinson Crusoe a changed man?

In the the novel Robinson Crusoe the main character Robinson Crusoe goes through trials on good, bad, and uncertainty which land him upon a deserted island which changes his view of life and opinion for the better.

"I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family, though not of that country, my father being a foreigner of Bremen who settled first at Hull. He got a good estate by merchandise and, leaving off his trade, lived afterward at York, from whence he had married my mother whose relations were named Robinson, a very good family in that country, and from whom I was called Robinson Kreutznaer; but by the usual corruption of words in England we are called, nay, we call ourselves, and write our name “Crusoe,” and so my companions always called me" Crusoe introduces himself and his parents with no seeming attachment this shows what kind of cruel and detached person Crusoe and in my opinion he has nowhere to go but up in his selfish and demeaning behavior

"But no sooner were my eyes open, but I saw my Poll sitting on top of the hedge; and immediately knew that it was he that spoke to me; for just in such bemoaning language I had used to talk to him, and teach him; and he learned it so perfectly that he would sit upon my finger and lay his bill close to my face, and cry, “Poor Robin Crusoe! Where are you? Where have you been? How come you here?” and such things as I had taught him" Feels a bit sad when returning home from his near fatal canoe trip and the only one to greet him is a parrot. He longs for companionship and I believe that he starts to not take somethings for granted, I believe this is another turning in his journey.

"O drug!” said I aloud, “what art thou good for? Thou art not worth to me, no, not the taking off of the ground; one of those knives is worth all this heap; I have no manner of use for thee; e’en remain where thou art and go to the bottom as a creature whose life is not worth saving." This is when Crusoe realizes that gold is worthless since he is on a deserted island and the things that seemed so important don't matter any longer, he is becoming less materialistic.

"My island was now peopled, and I thought myself very rich in subjects; and it was a merry reflection, which I frequently made, how like a king I looked. First of all, the whole country was my own mere property, Baso that I had an undoubted right of dominion. Secondly, my people were perfectly subjected. I was absolute lord and lawgiver, they all owed their lives to me, and were ready to lay down their lives, if there had been occasion of it, for me." When you think that Crusoe is a changed man and being on this island has changed him but he still has the knack to take ownership over things and people like Xury and Friday.

"I might well say now indeed, that the latter end of Job was better than the beginning. It is impossible to express here the flutterings of my very heart when I looked over these letters, and especially when I found all my wealth about me; for as the Brazil ships come all in fleets, the same ships which brought my letters brought my goods" Crusoe seems to think that the stint that he spent on the island improved his standing in Christianity or God because he took time out to repent and think about his life and in doing so good started to come his way.

Cannibalism

Cannibalism can result in many forms but its general description is one that eats its own species. It is said that Neanderthals were the first to practice cannibalism and it occurred in Europe, South America, North America, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, New Guinea, and Fiji. Besides cannibalism being excepted as a social norm it has also occurred in fits of insanity, and extreme instances of famine. There are two types of cannibalism: endocannibalism and exocannibalism. Endocannibalism is when the members of the deceased family member eat the flesh of the dead in order to gain certain attributes of the deceased, attain the soul of the deceased, and to ensure that the soul has left the body. Exocannibalism happens within the community and the deceased body is usually eaten fresh and the most popular part the heart. This is similar to endocannibalism because both are to acquire certain attributes of the deceased.

Most recent accounts of cannibalism have been:

• 1940's in Soviet Prisons
  
• 1960-1970's wars in South Asia
• 1970 during the Second Congo War
  
• 1996 famine in North Korea
• 2001 man answered ad to be slaughtered and eaten and actually was in Germany
  
• 2006 child raised for ritual sacrifice was saved in Indonesia
  
• 2007 artist used fat from liposuction in pasta during dinner party in Denmark
• 2007 man killed 5 year old and uncle and ate them along with over 20 cats (insanity) in Siberia
  
• 2008 children being murdered and having their hearts eaten in Liberia
  

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

I don't know if it's just me but this poem has got me a little stumped. I try to see the symbolism with the albatross and the guests being held up on their way to wedding but I cannot find any. So in any case I choose to discuss the significance of the albatross. In this poem the mariner decides to kill the albatross following behind the ship because it caused the fog that followed the ship but in turn lead them out of the icy maze in which they were entrapped. (a strange way to show thanks but in turn maybe the albatross was causing the fog for reason but it was all lost now) After the albatross was killed the fog dissipated and the water dried up and there were death fires burning white, blue, and green outside of the ship. There were creatures from the sea that came out of the water and walked upon it and the winds die down. As a punishment the sailors make the mariner wear the corpse of the albatross around his neck (when they killed the albatross they kept its body?). I try to find the signifigance of the bird but the only thing I found out from research is that sailors actually used to kill and eat albatrosses at sea. This birds were supposed to provide safe passage and good travels which leads me to believe that the fog was not such a bad thing in this poem. Being led into the dark is the only way to see the light sometimes. If the plan of albatross was actually followed maybe the sailors would've survived and the mariner would not be there to stop the guests on their way to the wedding in the first place.

Then there was ship that housed death and the life of death that came aboard the vessel and killed each of the sailors aboard but left the mariner alive. He was unable to die for seven days and nights going without food and water but only the stares of his dead crew which cause him to keep his eyes shut for the entire seven days. Then he finally cut the albatross from his neck and the tables turned for the better when the souls were released from the 200 sailors aboard and he finally found his way back to shore the only down side was that the glitter in his eyes is from the 200 sailors glares. The albatross in the poem is very...special I should say. I don't think that there were any mapped out coincidence in this poem but the good of the albatross shone through even after its death it just wanted to be laid to rest in peace. This noble sea bird is quite commendable.

Desdemona's Moral Compass

In Shakespeare’s Othello Desdemona is perceived as naïve and very foolish due to her age and lack of life experience, her strength is questioned multiple times in this tragedy only because she is a woman but the acts of courage, bravery, and strength that she does perform are quite admirable until she finally succumbs causing her own death.

(Act I Scene III lines 213-214)-"I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my husband".Desdemona shows courage and strength after eloping in the night by defending herself to her uninformed father and to the most powerful men in Venice. Desdemona does not hide the truth and stands by her decision which was quite admirable in those times when permission was sought by the spouse and marriages were not interracial.

(Act III Scene III lines 68-82)-"Why the tomorrow night, Tuesday morn, On Tuesday noon or night; on Wednesday morn. I prithee name the time, but let it not Exceed three days. In faith, he;s penitent; And yet his trespass, in our common reason-Save that, they say, the wars must make example Out of her best-is not almost a fault T' incur a private check. When shall he come? Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul What you would ask me that I should deny, Or stand so mamm'ring on? What? Micheal Cassio, That came a-wooing with you, and so many a time, When I have spoke of you disapraisingly Hath ta'en your part-to have so much to do To bring him in! I could do much-"When Desdemona arrives in Cyprus she is under the impression that this will allow her to spend more time with Othello but she is mistaken seeing that he is on duty.Desdemona pleads with Othello to spend a bit of time with her, lies of infidelity have spread and he wants nothing to do with her but she puts her pride aside and all but begs for a moment of his time. Sacrificing ones own self esteem and worth is the ultimate sacrifice which is strength in itself

”(Act III Scene III lines 325-332)“Why do you speak so faintly? Are you not well?...I am very sorry that you are not well”. Though mounting suspicion had appeared Desdemona did not falter or operate in a guilty fashion, she cared for Othello unconditionally and still acted as his wife caring for him when he was pained.Desdemona tries to stop Othello’s headache with the handkerchief that he has given her despite how unpleasant he is acting towards her she never backs away.

(Act III Scene IV lines 159-175) “I prithee do so. Something, sure, of state, Either form Venice, or something unhatched practice Made demonstrable here in Cyprus to him, Hath puddled his clear spirit; and in such cases Men's nature wrangle with inferior things, Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even so. For let out finger ache, and it endues Our other healthful members even to a sense Of pain. Nay, we must think men are not gods, Nor of them look for observancy As fits the bridal. Beshrew me much, Emilia, I was-unhandsome warrior as I am!- Arraingning his unkindness with my soul. But now I find that I had suborned the witness, And he's indicted falsely ” . When Desdemona speaks to Emilia privately they discuss relationships and Desdemona has a stance of monogamy and standing by your husband no matter what his actions are and how he treats you. This entails a strong woman because she is willing to put up with his behavior towards her and try to work things out for the better which is not many people’s idea of marriage

”(Act V Scene II lines 100-104) -"Kill me tomorrow let me live tonight…But half an hour…But while I say one prayer"When Othello enters her room in the darkness of the night with only the flicker of a candle to and the sound of his voice to awaken her she knows exactly what is happening.This is her final plea of innocence not of sorrow or redemption because she has done nothing wrong and wishes one last time to clear her name but it too late. These are some of the strongest lines in the entire play because the man that she loved and risked everything for has turned his back on her by taking her very life.

O vs. Othello

The movie "O" based on Shakespeare's Othello differs in many ways but the interpretation of Shakespeare's text into modern America is spot on. In many ways an army is like a basketball team because they both require leadership, communication, and only one side can win. This could be compared to competing for a better position on the team such as forward or a higher standing in the army such as lieutenant. The characters are perfectly intertwined in the same fashion and standing in the play:

O- star basketball player and Desi's boyfriend
Othello-general in army and Desdemona's husband

Desi- O's girlfriend and Dean's daughter
Desdemona- Othello's wife and Barbantio's Daughter
Hugo-steroid shooting underdog
Iago- ancient for Othello
Roger- in love with Desi good friends with Hugo but at times seems to be his flunky
Roderigo- good friends with Iago in love with Desdemona
Micheal Cassio- mutual friend of Desi and O and a fellow basketball player
Cassio-mutual friend of Desdemona and Othello and a Lieutenant in the army
Emily-best friend of Desi and girlfriend of Hugo
Emilia-Desdemona's attendant and Iago's wife
Dean- hierarchy of school and father of Desi
Brabantio-Venetian Senator and father of Desdemona

This movie gives a very good modern feel for the play and makes it easier for people today to understand what what going on because Shakespeare's language can be difficult at times. While minor aspects of the book were missing such as Bianca (i am not sure if she was the girl who Hugo was trying to convince that Roger shot Micheal on the road or not) maybe she was there and I missed it, but key elements such as the missing scarf and O strangling Desi to death (the plan came up in Act IV lines 226-228) and then killing himself (Act V haven't gotten to it yet but know its coming). This was a particularly good movie in my opinion and gave me something to look forward to in every act of the book to come.

Sir Thomas More

Sir Thomas More

• 1478-1535
  
• Born February 7, 1478 the son of Sir John More who was a prominent judge Archbishop Morton
  
• Went to St Anthony's School in London
• We he was younger he served as a page in the household of Archbishop Morton
• At Oxford he studied Greek and Latin Literature while also writing comedies
• One of his first publications was a Latin translation of the biography of Pico della Mirandola from Latin to english in 1510
  
• went from being a barrister to a monk to being in parliament and getting married
• knighted in 1521
• Made speaker of the house of commons in 1525
  
• refused to recognize King Henry VIII divorce from from Katherine of Aragon in 1527
  
• His fall came quickly in spite of is notable work and resigned from his law work in 1532
• More's stance with the church was a big influence seeing that he did not believe in King Henry VIII being the head of the church of England or even the divergence from the Catholic church
• More did not attend the coronation of Anne Boleyn which angered the King in 1533
• More refused to swear to the Act of Succession and the Oath of Supremacy which landed him at Tower castle where he was beheaded on April 17, 1535
• Utopia was his most famous work of Literature
• Died a martyr to the Catholic church
• Canonized in 1935 by Pope Pious XI

http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/morebio.htm
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14689c.htm
http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/philosophers/more.html

Wife of Bath: Ambiguous?

I believe that the Wife of Bath is ambiguous. There is information in the text leaning towards her being a money grubbing whore and on the other hand she is caring, sensitive, and desires equality. Though the Wife of Bath has more bad factors than good I believe that the good and bad balance each other out. The abuse that her husbands gave and the adultery caused her to be manipulative and cruel. Every pro has a con and every cause has an effect, hers just was a bit more drastic and blatant but she was also put through more than the average person now or back in the Middle Ages.

Bad

• Line 6 "Housbondes at chirche dore I have had fyve" saying that she's had five husbands was heinous back then and even frowned upon today in a womans case.
• Lines 10-13 "That sith that Crist ne wente nevere but onis, To weddyng, in the Cane of Galilee, That by the same ensample taughte he me, That I ne sholde wedded be but ones" this basically says that one should follow in Christs footsteps and only marry once as he did in Galilee but she has gone against her own advice and married five times.
• Lines 212-214 "And sith they hadde me yeven al hir lond, What sholde I taken keep hem for to plese, But it were for my profit and myn ese" basically says that they have my hand in marriage and they have given me there land, why should i pleasure them without her profit and pleasure. If it's your husband you should have sex with him because he is your husband and you love him. Or maybe it means that she should receive pleasure from it too the meaning itself is not clear.
• Lines 222-223 "They were ful glad whan I spak to hem faire, For, God it woot, I chidde hem spitously" means that they were happy when i spoke to them pleasantly because she often scolded them. Why would you scold your husband or not speak to them pleasantly?
• Line 408-412 "Ther wolde I chide and do hem no plesaunce, I wolde no lenger in the bed abyde, If that I felte his arm over my syde, Til he had maad his raunson unto me, Thanne wolde I suffre hym do his nycetee" the Wife of Bath would deny pleasure to her husband until he gave into her every desire. This type of manipulation is terrible and uncalled for.
  

Good

• Lines 231-242 "A wys wyf, if that she kan hir good, Shal beren hym on honde the cow is wood, And take witnesse of hir owene mayde, Of hir assent. But herkneth how I sayde:,`Sire olde kaynard, is this thyn array?, Why is my neighebores wyf so gay?, She is honoured overal ther she gooth;, I sitte at hoom; I have no thrifty clooth.,What dostow at my neighebores hous? ,Is she so fair? Artow so amorous?What rowne ye with oure mayde? Benedicite! Sire olde lecchour, lat thy japes be!. Basically says that the wife of her neighbor is happy because she has everything she needs and the Wife of Bath has to wear less than nice clothing and also calls the maid a lecher which means she might be sleeping with her husband.
• Lines 243-246 "And if I have a gossib or a freend, Withouten gilt, thou chidest as a feend, If that I walke or pleye unto his hous!Thou comest hoom as dronken as a mous." Saying that she is not allowed to have friends or she is scolded and when she does visit a friend her husband comes home drunk and abusive. She is lonely and has done nothing to deserve this.
  
• Lines 371-378 "Thou liknest eek wommenes love to helle, To bareyne lond, ther water may nat dwelle, Thou liknest it also to wilde fyr, The moore it brenneth, the moore it hath desir, To consume every thyng that brent wole be, Thou seyest, right as wormes shende a tree, Right so a wyf destroyeth hire housbonde, This knowe they that been to wyves bonde." This is a tangent of verbal abuse from her husband saying comparing a womans love to that of hell and her company to a barren wasteland and a woman destroys her husband as the worm destroys the tree. It is not the Wife of Bath's fault that she is manipulative since she has been hurt over and over again by someone who is supposed to love her.

The Wife Of Bath

In Chaucer's tale The Wife of Bath women's roles as being secular come into play. It is said that the heaviest influence on women in the Middle Ages where that of the Virgin Mary. The Virgin Mary also represented the church and marriage, since she was only married once it was accustomed to follow in her footsteps.
http://www.unc.edu/depts/chaucer/zatta/wife.html

Chaucer was born as the sun of a wine merchant. In his lifetime he served time as a courtier, Justice of the Peace for the Duke of Kent, and even spent a bit of time in the military. He lived the black death and the peasants revolt which was quite extraordinary since it killed off a third of Europe's population. The Canterbury tales was Chaucer's most noted and popular work of literature.Chaucer was one of the first poets to be buried in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey.
http://www.universalteacher.org.uk/poetry/wifebath.htm

The Catholic Church was not only a governing power but help sustain an "ideal"of morality. The furthest records indicate that the Celtic community had respect for women only because of the church. This helped form the building blocks for the "doctrine of marriage, virginity and equality of sexes could be built."Being monogamous was the most common relationship found but polygamy was not unheard of but most commonly found in the Danes and Northmen. Divorce and re-marriage were less common if found at all while concubinage was never forbidden it ceased to be legal, in certain circles it was found and tolerated.
http://www.medieval-spell.com/Roles-Of-Women-In-The-Middle-Ages.html