Characters
within the novel are not inherently mad but instead, they are driven to madness
through a range of traumatic events and the propagation of hegemonic and
patriarchal attitudes. Annette's descent into madness was driven by situational
factors instead of a result of her disposition. The traumatic experiences
Annette faces such as the fire at Coulibri which causes the death of her son
placed her in a vulnerable state. From this state she was...
Sunday, 20 March 2016
Thursday, 17 March 2016
Discuss the portrayal of insanity in Wide Sargasso
Sea.
Thesis:
Within the context of the novel, Jean Rhys presents insanity or madness as a social phenomenon defined by a defiance of cultural and
social norms rather than perhaps a true illness of the mind. Annette and
Antoinette are both driven to madness by an inherently patriarchal society and
racial tensions as a result of colonial attitudes and values.
Topic Sentence 1:
At the centre...
Monday, 14 March 2016
Thesis:
Within the novel, Jean
Rhys examines the societal constructs of nineteenth century masculinity and
femininity in order to highlight the imbalance of power that exists in the relationship
between men and women and the resulting consequences.
Topic Sentence 1:
The character of
Edward Rochester is representative of the main aspects of masculinity as seen
in his dominant attitude, rational thinking, and the active role he plays in
the plot.
Evidence:
“These...
Sunday, 6 March 2016
In what ways does Jean Rhys characterize Antoinette as an
outsider in Part One of the novel and to what effect?
Consider the significance of theme and context.
Alienation and the idea of otherness is one of the main
themes of novel Wide Sargasso Sea. This theme can be seen as the driving force
behind many of the destructive actions of the main characters within the story.
Antoinette’s position as an outsider begins in Part One of the novel...
Sunday, 7 February 2016
Within the novel The
Thief and the Dogs , characters tend to extend beyond themselves into a
much greater form of symbolism. Just as certain characters in the novel could
be considered representations of particular social classes, the character of
Sheikh Ali al-Junaydi also plays a certain role in the story.
The Sheikh acts as the soothing presence for the main
character Said Mahran. After Said is rejected by his daughter Sana he seeks the
company...
Wednesday, 3 February 2016
Monday, 1 February 2016
Fatal Flaw (Hamartia)
Said's fatal flaw is that he is unable to forgive all those who he feels have wronged him in some way. As with all tragic heroes, Said's fatal flaw is what ultimately leads him to demise as he begins a rapid downward spiral. His quest for revenge is unstoppable as Said actively makes his situation worse. This insatiable thirst for revenge is evident directly from chapter 1 as Said's inner monologue revealed that "The...
Saturday, 30 January 2016
The Sheikh greeted you with that sweet and
kindly look of his. And how enchanted you were by his fine white beard!
"So this is your son you were telling me about," he said to your
father. "There's a lot of intelligence in his eyes. His heart is as
spotless as yours. You'll find he'll turn out, with God's will, a truly good
man."
Yes, you really adored Sheikh Ali al
Junaydi, attracted by the purity in his face and the love in his eyes. And
those...
Wednesday, 27 January 2016
Stream of consciousness narration is described as “a type of
fiction in which the basic emphasis is placed on the exploration of the
pre-speech levels of consciousness for the purpose, principally, or revealing
the psychic beings of the characters”. This form of narration places emphasis
on the thought pattern of an individual and immerses the reader in the
innermost thoughts of the character. Through this narration the reader is
exposed to the...
Tuesday, 19 January 2016
“So many people
consider their work a daily punishment. Whereas I love my work as a translator.
Translation is a journey over a sea from one shore to the other. Sometimes I
think of myself as a smuggler: I cross the frontier of language with my booty
of words, ideas, images, and metaphors.” -Amara Lakhous
As part of the International Baccalaureate,...
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