Alienation and Otherness in Wide Sargasso Sea

In "Wide Sargasso Sea," how does Antoinette experience alienation during her childhood?

• A. She is sent to live with relatives in England.

• B. Her mother neglects her and the local children reject her.

• C. She is sent to an orphanage after her father's death.

• D. She attends a prestigious boarding school in France.

Answer explanation

"They say when trouble comes close ranks, and so the white people did. But we were not in their ranks." - Antoinette (Part One)

Antoinette had only one friends when she was a child; who also betrayed her. Her mother always preferred her brother and when she was sent to the convent to study, she was also ostracised.

What contributes to Antoinette's sense of otherness in her marriage?

• A. Her inability to speak her husband's language.

• B. Her husband's distrust and view of her as an outsider.

• C. Her refusal to adopt her husband's cultural practices.

• D. Her insistence on returning to Jamaica frequently.

Answer explanation

"You have no right to ask questions about my mother and then refuse to listen to my answer." - Antoinette (Part Two)

This is an example of a quote where Antoinette and Rochester are at odds. Rochester is always suspicious of her and considers her strange and emotionless. Her ways and even her language of choice are all alien to him.

How does the setting of Jamaica contribute to the theme of alienation for Antoinette's husband?

• A. He feels a strong connection to the landscape and people.

• B. He is fascinated by the cultural diversity and embraces it.

• C. He feels menaced by the unfamiliar landscape and customs.

• D. He easily adapts to the local customs and language.

Answer explanation

"Everything is too much... I felt like nothing." - Antoinette's husband (Part Two)

You can also find quotes about his treatment of the natural landscape, especially after he cheats on Antoinette. The landscape seems to become more aggressive in his eyes. That will help you explain his alienation in more detail.

What symbolizes Antoinette's alienation and ultimate fate in "Wide Sargasso Sea"?

• A. The fire at Coulibri estate.

• B. Her recurrent nightmares.

• C. The bottle of obeah liquid.

• D. Her imprisonment in the attic.

Answer explanation

"They tell me I am in England, but I don't believe them. We lost our way to England." - Antoinette (Part Three)

Ultimately Antoinette's alienation is best seen in her imprisonment in the attic. Her fairy tale view of England is shattered and that is what ultimately drives her mad. Alienated from social contact and also herself.

Remember the lack of privacy, mirror and window in her room. She remembers the parrot as well here.

Which character in "Wide Sargasso Sea" embodies the cultural and racial tensions that contribute to Antoinette's alienation?

• A. Christophine

• B. Tia

• C. Mr. Mason

• D. Daniel Cosway

Answer explanation

"Justice. I laugh at that. You want justice and you will tell them the truth? You want them to mock us and jeer at us?" - Daniel Cosway (Part Two)

Antoinette becomes a victim of Daniel Cosway's poison letters to Rochester. He claims to be half white and half black and you would think that he would he more empathetic towards Antoinette. The opposite is true, he targets her with malicious rumours and sows discord about her character, feeding of Rochester's already suspicious view of Antoinette and her cultural identity.

How does Jean Rhys use the character of Annette to explore themes of alienation?

• A. Annette successfully integrates into the local Jamaican society.

• B. Annette faces social ostracism and mental instability after her husband's death.

• C. Annette becomes a respected leader in the community.

• D. Annette remarries and lives a happy life in Jamaica.

Answer explanation

"Her mind is going. She lives in her own darkness." - Antoinette about Annette (Part One)

Annette's ultimate fate of being looked after by two caretakers who abuse her and take advantage of her show her alienation. She is constantly in a state of mental instability, accusing and attacking those around her.

Her sexual abuse at the hands of the male caretaker show how patriarchal views of women's sexuality can also alienate them and be used against them.

What role does Christophine play in Antoinette's experience of alienation and otherness?

• A. She is a constant source of comfort and stability.

• B. She exacerbates Antoinette's feelings of isolation.

• C. She betrays Antoinette to her husband.

• D. She removes Antoinette from her husband's control.

Answer explanation

"She was the only friend I had. All the others turned against me." - Antoinette (Part Two)

Christophine continues to support Antoinette until she no longer can do so as Antoinette makes up her mind to physically remove herself from Christophine's presence. Antoinette going to England separates her from her protector and source of stability, ultimately leading to her alienation and madness.

In what way does Antoinette's relationship with Tia highlight the theme of otherness?

• A. Tia becomes Antoinette's lifelong friend and confidant.

• B. Their relationship deteriorates, showcasing racial and social divides.

• C. Tia helps Antoinette integrate into the local community.

• D. Antoinette and Tia start a successful business together.

Answer explanation

"Tia and I were not friends anymore. She had thrown a stone at me." - Antoinette (Part One)

Tia, the daughter of one of the servants betrays Antoinette when she throws a stone at her. This act is the ultimate betrayal and is symbolic of condemnation and the punishment meted out to those condemned.

She has symbolically killed Antoinette. Antoinette awakes, has a scar that will supposedly fade by her marriage but the internal scars always remain.

How does the post-emancipation setting of Jamaica influence the theme of alienation in "Wide Sargasso Sea"?

• A. It creates a harmonious society where all characters are equal.

• B. It exacerbates racial tensions and social divides.

• C. It leads to a utopian society free from conflict.

• D. It has no significant impact on the characters.

Answer explanation

"This was the place I was born and I will never see it again." - Antoinette (Part Three)

Antoinette's relationship with Jamaica is one that is complicated. On the one hand, she is comforted by Jamaica but the places that offer her solace are slowly destroyed (Coulibri and Grandbois). One is literally burned to the ground and the other becomes a place of a painful memory.

Despite Jamaica being free (post-emancipation), this freedom never truly reaches Antoinette and in fact the opposite is true, Jamaica's emancipation is her family's ruin. This showcases the theme of alienation. Her power and place in society are abruptly shaken.

What does Antoinette's recurring nightmare symbolize in relation to alienation and otherness?

• A. Her fears about her financial security.

• B. Her subconscious desire to return to England.

• C. Her deep-seated feelings of being trapped and disconnected.

• D. Her longing for acceptance and understanding.

Answer explanation

"I dreamt that I was in hell. I dreamt that I was dead." - Antoinette (Part Three)

There are other dreams which you should be familiar with. One of being followed and hounded, almost like how they were hounded when they were escaping Coulibri. The second of following someone and being led to a strange place also emphasizes this alienation.