Wide Sargasso Sea

by Jean Rhys

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Student Question

What is the main conflict in Wide Sargasso Sea?

Quick answer:

The main conflict in Wide Sargasso Sea is the marital strife between Antoinette and Mr. Rochester, which leads to her descent into madness. Additionally, Antoinette faces internal conflict as she struggles with her bi-racial identity and the inability to distinguish fantasy from reality. These conflicts highlight her feelings of not belonging, both in Jamaica and in England.

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There are a number of conflicts in the story that serve to heighten the drama. In terms of external conflict, we have the marital strife between Antoinette and Mr. Rochester. Marriage is traditionally thought of as being the ultimate expression of love that one person can have for another. Yet it's clear from the start that Antoinette's betrothal to Rochester is nothing more than a marriage of convenience, a glorified business arrangement. Eventually, the marriage will cause Rochester great unhappiness and lead to Antoinette's descent into madness.

Speaking of Antoinette's insanity we can observe an additional conflict, this time an internal one, in which Antoinette increasingly struggles to tell the difference between fantasy and reality. The recurring dreams that she experiences while growing up in the Mason mansion are a prime illustration of this.

An additional conflict comes in the shape of Antoinette's bi-racial identity. Growing up as a Creole in Jamaica, she feels like she's neither one thing nor the other, neither black nor white. As such, she feels that she doesn't truly belong in Jamaican society. This inner conflict between two distinct racial identities manifests itself in outward form when a large mob of black workers burns down the Coulibri estate. These workers see Antoinette was white, whereas she's still confused about her racial identity.

Even when Antoinette leaves Jamaica behind to start a new life in England with Mr. Rochester things don't get any better. Her racial identity remains a source of uneasiness and confusion, to the extent that she never truly feels that she belongs anywhere.

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