Resumo de Manipulation And Sex In Wilde Sargasso Sea

?Wide Sargasso Sea,? a book by Jean Rhys, is a story about a Creole woman living in the Caribbean at the time of the colonialism. The novel is set in the early nineteenth century at two places. The first part of the novel is set in the West Indies on the islands Jamaica, Martinique and the second in England, Europe. Men at that time had all power. This was especially true for white men. It is interesting how Mr Rochester in the novel attempts to overpower Antoinette Cosway. In their arranged marriage, Rochester attempts to control Antoinette with, first of al, sex. Rochester enchants Antoinette by being frequently sexually active with her in order to get power over her. Later he withholds sex, as well as any other physical or emotional contact with Antoinette, as a way to release his anger at Antoinette for being deceived into this marriage. Rochester also tries to overpower Antoinette by having sexual intercourse with Amélie, which causes Antoinette to become jealous. Another feature that clarifies the significance of Rochester?s power in Rhys?s novel is that Rochester tries to rename Antoinette. The end of the novel describes how Rochester imprisons Antoinette, not because it is necessary, moreover because he needs to control her. Rhys?s novel describes how Mr. Rochester manipulates Antoinette with sexual exchange, renaming Antoinette, and by imprisonment to control Antoinette as well as regain power in their relationship.Sex and desire are two of the most powerful devices for manipulating people. In the novel ?Wide Sargasso Sea? Jean Rhys illustrates how Mr. Rochester, unnamed in this novel, regains power over Antoinette by enchanting this Creole woman. A Creole woman at the period of colonialism during the nineteenth century was subordinate to every other person, black or white. Especially white men were powerful. Being a white, English man Rochester is used to having power. Soon after their wedding Rochester and Antoinette are frequently sexual active and in time it seems that Rochester has successfully enchanted her. ?If I could die. Now when I am happy. Would you do that? You would not have to kill me. Say die and I will die. You don?t believe me? Then try, try, say die and watch me die? ?Die then, die!? I watched her die many times. In my way, not in hers. In sunlight, in shadow, by moonlight, by candlelight. In the long afternoons when the house was empty. Only the sun was there to keep us company. We shut him out. And why not? Very soon she was eager to what?s called loving as I was-more lost and drowned afterwards.[1]In this passage, ?die? has a parallel meaning of orgasm. Rochester says ?In my way, not in hers,? [2] he further says, ?I did not love her. I was thirsty for her, but that is not love.?[3] These two segments show that Rochester is not in love with Antoinette. Rochester married Antoinette because of his lust after her and for the reason of her wealth. After Rochester receives a letter from Daniel Cosway, suggesting he had been ?deceived? in to this marriage, his relationship with Antoinette changes drastically. Rochester withholds Antoinette from having sexual intercourse with him. For Antoinette this is terrible since being loved is one of the things Antoinette missed during childhood and Rochester is the only one that can give Antoinette this feeling. ?I never wished to live before I knew you.? Then a terrible thing happens for Antoinette; she drugs Rochester but the day after he sleeps with Amélie. "She was so gay, so natural and something of this gaiety she must have given to me, for I had not one moment of remorse. Nor was I anxious to know what was happening behind the thin partition which divided us from my wife?s bedroom. Antoinette hears her husband and Amélie, which devastates Antoinette and she goes ballistic. Antoinette and Rochester have a conversation after the happening, which shows how Antoinette reacts on Rochesters escapade. ?I hate it now like I hate you.?Here she speaks about how Rochesters deed changed her feelings for the manor. At that moment, she stops crying and says, ?Is she so much prettier than I am? Don?t you love me at all?? Rochester answers with the shocking information that he does not love her. 516 In the novel ?Wide Sargasso Sea? by Jean Rhys the character of Mr Rochester tries to change Antoinette Cosway by renaming her Bertha. According to Jayachandran. ?It is agonisingly reminiscent of the renaming of slaves by slave owners Antoinette does her best not to be deprived of probably the only thing she now has by resisting this. The more Rochester insists, the firmer her resistance becomes.? Rochester however is not satisfied with his Creole wife, therefore is determined to change Antoinette into an English woman by changing Antoinette?s name into Bertha. Antoinette however does not approve of Rochester?s attempt to rename her because Antoinette does not desire to be Rochester?s slave. ??Don?t laugh like that, Bertha.? ?My name is not Bertha; why do you call me Bertha?? ?Because it is a name I?m particularly fond of. I think of you as Bertha.??

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