Outline: Wide Sargasso Sea

Outline

Prompt:

Discuss the portrayal of insanity in Wide Sargasso sea

Thesis

Through the use of character interactions, and personal development throughout the novel, Jean Rhys portrays Insanity as a tool of oppression to highlight the patriarcy exposure to the colonizer to the purpose of developing women in the context of time and environment.

Topic sentence 1: Rhys characterizes insanity is a product of the various forms of oppression and seclusion Antoinette faces throughout her life.

Examples:

• Mr. Mason and Annette's wedding:

Women gossiping at the wedding- Does not understand their ways, does not fit in with the women’s conversation- her’s extends beyond (considered male territory)

Identity crisis: not able to link in with the societal role of women

• Changing of the estate: When it becomes “clean”

It changes her background- which is a reflection of her identity

• Education in the covenant: Taught how to be a house: colonizer oppression/patriarchal exposure)

Based on how to be perfect English wife: Resists it, disdainful but still learns it (numbed in a sense)

Acts as a drone: does what she is told without thought

• Forced marriage: Example of patriarchal oppression

Topic Sentence 2: Rhys demonstrates the idea of insanity as a product of oppression and seclusion in Anette as well, not only to reinforce the idea, but to lend it a certain universality.

Examples:

• Her marriage to Mr. Mason.

She assumes a passive role in every sphere after this event. Though it is unclear what role she used to play, she is forced to marry a twofold oppressor to provide for her family. In doing this, she loses all power and trades her identity for another.

• No say in decision

She constantly tells Mr. Mason that they need to leave. That it is dangerous to stay. And yet, despite her obsession with this, and her superior local knowledge, Mr. Mason refuses to do so.

• Death Of Pierre and Coco

This is what finally “drives her over the edge”. She begins to say, “I told you I told, But did you listen? NO. To hell with all of you.” This is a perfectly acceptable and normal reaction to the loss of loved ones, yet she is treated as insane for asserting her view, of finally telling off the man that got her child killed.

Topic 3: Power and legitimacy carried through with sanity
Examples:
- Rochester mental state in comparision to Antoinettes:
- Seen as sane due to the fact he fits in the society- hence controls power
- Seen as insane: vice versa

Antoinette Charecterization

Jean Rhys characterizes Antoinette through the settings, and interactions she has with her surroundings in Part 1.

"Jean rhys enables us to sympathize with the mental and emotional decline of a human being:"
- Jean rhys does this by creating a character who is extremely different from the female gender norms in the 19-20th century.

Narration: Antoinette
- She describes her surroundings in a manner where she finds solace in her Caribbean surroundings- a a sense of security as opposed to part 3 of the novel.
- Describes her surroundings with intricate language- going in to detail in purpose to show the reader she appreciates the environment she is growing in.
- Describes her lifestyle as conflicting- not able to identify with just her creole or her European background.
- Due to this inability to accept hybridity she tries to associate herself with the blacks, but is unsure on the relationship she should have with them
- Her surroundings create that struggle with her hybridity.

Relationships:
- This can be seen with her relationship with Tia- where she does not know whether to be portrayed as a superior or as a friends
-"white nigger"- Tia creates Antoinettes struggle with hybridity.
- An intimate relationship with her half-brother shows that even through she does understand her European relationship she tries desperately to fit in with her creole identity.
- A soft relationship with Christophine is almost relative of a mother daughter relationship. Christophine introduces Antoinette to the black culture in hopes that she will be able to embrace it.
-Christophine is the very embodiment of the natural world, and Antoinette being able to embrace it shows that the background she was raised tends to have a stronger hold.
- Mr. Mason's view that women are best under the care of Englishmen does not settle with Antoinette as she is sent to marry Mr. Rochester.

She is perceived as an outsider due to her inability to manage her hybridity. This tension creates and further initiates supporting characters to provide an conflicting view for her. Considering the context of the time period and the expected role of women it can clearly be seen that another reason that Antoinette is considered an outsider because she goes against the norms, challenging her surroundings and the people around her.

Sheikh - Fate vs Freewill

There are many aspects to why a hero has fallen. The cohesion of fate-freewill can either better ones chances or result in their tragic end. In the thief and the dogs, Said's poor choices, and quest for revenge contribute to his poor fate. His interactions with supporting characters help balance his poor choices as Mahfouz paints characters like Sheikh,Nur, Etc. in a way which provides the road to happiness.

Sheikh al Junaydi is a minor character in the Thief and the dogs. He provides Said with an alternative to revenge, prayer. Considering this novel is set in Egypt it can be stated that he is a clear symbol for the Islamic culture and religion. Sheikh is a Sufi-Muslim, therefore puts more focus on finding the divine light. This symbols is portrayed, directly through the characteristics of Sheikh.

Said's first interaction with Sheikh is when he goes to his house to ask for accommodation.  Although through the interactions it can be seen that Said subconsciously needed to be comforted. This stated it can be seen that Sheikh's character is portrayed as a friend, an individual who can listen to ones story, keep a secret, and provide a solution for ones problem. On the reader this impacts them into immediately thinking of Sheikh as trust-worthy as he is characterized through the eyes of Said.

Sheikh as a character also provides a reason for the reader to question Said. Up till his meeting with Sheikh the reader is able to sympathize with Said, as the interactions he has had portray him as the victim. This in turn allows the reader to justify Said's actions. Now after his first interaction with Sheikh the reader now understand that Said has a way out of his bad fate. As Sheikh provides explicit wording to "leave revenge" and turn to god, the audience is able to see the purity and reason in his statements. After Said rejects this suggestion the reader is able to see the power of his revenge to the extent he won't give up his pursuit. This interaction not only helps the reader question Said's actions, but also helps shape whether they think his end was what he deserved.

Examining the choice he was given above, Sheikh's suggestion is an excellent example of fate vs free-will. The interaction they have seems like a cross-road, where taking Sheikh's advice could have resulted in a different path for Said. Considering the only option to weigh was ego, this was one of the few times Said made a free choice. Fate was the element which came into play after this choice was made.

Sheikh - Fate vs Freewill

There are many aspects to why a hero has fallen. The cohesion of fate-freewill can either better ones chances or result in their tragic end. In the thief and the dogs, Said's poor choices, and quest for revenge contribute to his poor fate. His interactions with supporting characters help balance his poor choices as Mahfouz paints characters like Sheikh,Nur, Etc. in a way which provides the road to happiness.

Sheikh al Junaydi is a minor character in the Thief and the dogs. He provides Said with an alternative to revenge, prayer. Considering this novel is set in Egypt it can be stated that he is a clear symbol for the Islamic culture and religion. Sheikh is a Sufi-Muslim, therefore puts more focus on finding the divine light. This symbols is portrayed, directly through the characteristics of Sheikh.

Said's first interaction with Sheikh is when he goes to his house to ask for accommodation.  Although through the interactions it can be seen that Said subconsciously needed to be comforted. This stated it can be seen that Sheikh's character is portrayed as a friend, an individual who can listen to ones story, keep a secret, and provide a solution for ones problem. On the reader this impacts them into immediately thinking of Sheikh as trust-worthy as he is characterized through the eyes of Said.

Sheikh as a character also provides a reason for the reader to question Said. Up till his meeting with Sheikh the reader is able to sympathize with Said, as the interactions he has had portray him as the victim. This in turn allows the reader to justify Said's actions. Now after his first interaction with Sheikh the reader now understand that Said has a way out of his bad fate. As Sheikh provides explicit wording to "leave revenge" and turn to god, the audience is able to see the purity and reason in his statements. After Said rejects this suggestion the reader is able to see the power of his revenge to the extent he won't give up his pursuit. This interaction not only helps the reader question Said's actions, but also helps shape whether they think his end was what he deserved.

Examining the choice he was given above, Sheikh's suggestion is an excellent example of fate vs free-will. The interaction they have seems like a cross-road, where taking Sheikh's advice could have resulted in a different path for Said. Considering the only option to weigh was ego, this was one of the few times Said made a free choice. Fate was the element which came into play after this choice was made.

Minds On-Letter from a concerned friend

Said my friend,
I have gotten news of your release from jail. I apologize that I was not there to take you home myself.  Your family misses you but I know it came as a shock to you considering that your wife is no longer married to you. The message you left me deeply concerned me. My friend revenge is not always the best path. I agree with you , you deserve justice as does anyone and as your lawyer no as your best friend I have worked tediously on your case the minute you were forced behind bars. Justice is a system that can be quite corrupt as the irony is the ones who deserve justice are often the ones who pay the price for it.

My friend I advise you to let your old family go, they have taken much from you but the minute you begin to accept that it is over the faster you are on the road to recovery.Let them go and come join me, I can help you get on your feet and find you a job at my law firm. The revolver is not an escape from this fear, and if you shoot someone then it is set in stone for life. Give it back, no throw it away it is only darkness.

My friend if you accept Allah study Islam, the the lord will give you the justice you deserve. Do not dirty your hands with the fouls of human.

As always your friend
Aymaira

Poem- Tragic Hero

A story not of a villan or foe 

but one that exists with a tragic hero

Said a man whose fallen  from grace

is not a story that cannot be traced

Confined Contained this man's hate

became revenge, a nasty trait

Release was not enough justice had to be served

For Said's hubris told this was not what he deserved

Rejected from Sana a rose so sweet 

he blamed it all on his wife's deceit

Though sheikh gave him a light to prevail 

he only thought of the rotting jail

As darkness all but took over  him 

Nur gave a light to room almost dim

Although her love would brighten his heart

he'd still remember his start

As revenge became anger

and anger, revenge

Hamertia became his tragic end

Passage Analysis

Passage: Chapter 1

How will he look when he first sees you? How will his eyes meet yours? Have you forgotten, Ilish, how you used to rub against my legs like a dog? It was me, wasn't it, who taught you how to stand on your own two feet, who made a man of a cigarette-butt cadger? You've forgotten, Ilish, and you're not the only one: She's forgotten, too, that woman who sprang from filth, from vermin, from treachery and infidelity.

Through all this darkness only your face, Sana, smiles. When we meet I'll know how I stand. In a little while, as soon as I've covered the length of this road, gone past all these gloomy arcades, where people used to have fun. Onward and upward. But not to glory. I swear I hate you all.

The bars have shut down and only the side streets are open, where plots are hatched From time to time he has to cross over a hole in the pavement set there like a snare and the wheels of streetcars growl and shriek like abuse. Confused cries seem to seep from the curbside garbage. (1 swear I hate you all.) Houses of temptation, their windows beckoning even when eyeless, walls scowling where plaster has fallen. And that strange lane, al-Sayrafi Lane, which brings back dark memories. Where the thief stole, then vanished, whisked away. (Woe to the traitors.) Where police who'd staked out the area had slithered in to surround you.

The same little street where a year before you'd been carrying home flour to make sweetmeats for the Feast, that woman walking in front of you, carrying Sana in her swaddling clothes. Glorious days--how real they were, no one knows--the Feast, love, parenthood, crime. All mixed up with this spot.


Analysis

The following passage is taken from chapter 1 from the novel the Thief and the Dogs. Naguib Mahfouz paints the story of Said, a man who feels betrayed by his family and friends after his prison release. The key elements in this are the plot development, imagery, and characterization. Considering the audience has just been introduced to Said they are able to understand conflicts from his view points. With the use of stream of consciousness Mahfouz is able to reveal Said's darkest innermost thoughts making the audience aware of his revenge plot. In this passage he has gone to his wife's house to retrieve his daughter, but is rejected. 

Said's charterers is a complex one as it times the audience  is meant to sympathize with him when he is rejected from his daughter, whereat other times they are given justification for his actions. The best example of this switch is the passage above. The passage reveals the interactions between Illish (Said's friend) and Said. As it can be seen that Said begins with the remark "How you used to rub against my legs like a dog". At this point the audience is able to see the connection with animal imagery and the title of the book, implying the dogs are the betrayers.  This stated the audience is able to understand the relationship Said and Illish had before where they were genuinely close to the extent where Illish would worship Said. This stated the reader is unable to understand why their relationship deteriorated hence setting a sense of mystery.

Further looking into the use of dogs and its imagery in chapter 1 specifically in Arabic and English there are multiple interpretations that arise.  Depending on whether the reader is reading the translated novel, or the actual novel when looking at how dogs are portrayed this can be seen as ironic, because dogs are known as extremely loyal, although when looking at this from the Arabic culture this makes more sense as dogs are looked down upon.  Further going into the animal imagery it further emphasize the betrayal Said is facing. In the sense of characterization the audience is able to understand Said's point of view. 

As the passage continues the reader is able to see the switch in behavior when Said addresses his daughter, Sana.  The way Sana is described tells the reader that she is innocent, and almost a father's child. In the sense that Said's affections describe her the way he remembered her before he went to prison. He also describes her in another light looking at her now, seeing a grown up child. The reader is able to see through Said's eyes and feel an intimate connection as this feeling is a relatable one. As the reader gets attached to Sana the way Said is, Mahfouz uses her coming of age as a way to reject Said resulting in the reader's feeling of sympathy for said.