Antoinette's identity
A topic that often came up in class was who does Antoinette identify with. She and her family are not accepted by the
local black community because Antoinette’s parents had slaves and treated them poorly. Since the Coulibri
estate collapsed financially Antoinette and her family have been heavily judged by the local white
community. It is also clear that Antoinette’s father was considered a bad man who was drunk all the time.
Antoinette is in a hard situation because she played no role in the act of having slaves nor the financial downfall
Coulibri. Also, in the beginning of the book when readers see Antoinette’s memories she has many
instances were she is bullied by other kids and she hears of other talking bad about her family.
We also see her seemingly innocent relationship with Tia that only turns bad when Antoinette brings
degrading racial comments into their argument.
In my opinion, Antoinette obviously does not get to choose to be black, especially considering
her parents’ role in slavery. However, I do understand that she will never be accepted by the white
community in the West Indies or if she went to England on her own accord. A point that was brought
up in class was that she identifies with a place not a people. I definitely see this in the way she
describes nature and interacts with it. Her “safe space” at one point in her life was the spot with
Tia that was kind of hidden. Also when Coulibri burns down she tries to run to Tia because no matter
whether or not she is with her family she just wants to stay in the West Indies. Also when she is
going mad in Rochester’s attic she dreams of Coulibri. This is why it is so detrimental to her mental
health when Rochester strips her of the only thing she can really identify with.
This is a good analysis of Antoinette's character. I think Antoinette is a very interesting study of how children inherit their parents' mistakes. She's burdened with the reputation of her parents despite not being old enough to understand it. She's not accepted into either community and so finds comfort in a location instead and begins to align her identity around place rather than people.
ReplyDeleteAntionette is definitely seems to inherit her mother's mistake. Even her name means "little Annette". Antionette as a child doesn't understand the racial tensions around her. She only understands what's going in her family and what they're doing. She "repeats" what she hears and sees. Antionette is truly a product of her environment.
DeleteI think that the issues that Antoinette's lack of distinct culture is a very interesting discussion to have, especially today with the idea of intersectionality. I would also argue that being multi-cultural is something that many more people deal with today than during the setting of Wide Sargasso Sea, as there is less taboo around interaction between people of different races and cultures. I think that not having a specific place where she feels like she belongs is definitely a factor that leads to her mental illness problems at the end of the book.
ReplyDeleteI want to bring up Locke's blank slate theory where environment makes you who you are and not anything else. Antoinette grew up being neglected and made feel like she is inferior. But at the same time, she was treated better than the locals (in her family -> such as dressing better than Tia (Scolded when saw dressing like Tia)) So we have this mixed of inferiority and superiority complex within Antoinette. I feel like both of this trait in her identity was shown when she grew up. One instance is when she drugged Rochester (Showed dominance to initiate something - Force something I guess). Her inferiority was shown when she refuses to leave Rochester, even though he treats her terribly. It shows that she depends on him to some degree.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting description of Antoinette's identity. I find it interesting that you mention that Antoinette is in a hard situation because she was not involved in actually having slaves. I think this is a major setback in Antoinette finding her place in the West Indies -- she never remembers a time when there was slavery, but the ex-slaves remember and hold it against her family. But although there is that barrier, she still identifies most with the West Indies as a place as you said, and I find that interesting. She still doesn't really fit there, and I would say she fits there less than she might in England because although she might be unhappy in England, she fits their idea of an English woman on sight.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a pretty good analysis of Antoinette’s identity. She doesn’t really have an identity leaving her to live a lonely and confusing life. I feel bad for her.
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