Gender Roles, Space and Power in Wide Sargasso Sea (1966)

Abstract

This work intends to analyze the power relationship between Mr. Rochester and Antoinette Cosway, by identifying the geographical space and gender roles elements throughout the story and their effect on the said relationship and to finally analyze these elements by comparing them with the couple's power relationship. Mr. Rochester and Antoinette are characters from Wide Sargasso Sea (1966), a prequel novel written by the Dominican author Jean Rhys, who wished to turn Antoinette Cosway into a well-rounded character. Moreover, to fulfill our research question, "In what ways did the geographical space and gender roles determine Antoinette and Mr. Rochester’s power relationship?", one fundamental objective was formed: to contextualize and foreground their story. In addition, to structure the framework for the analysis, which was accomplished by the bibliographic research approach, we sought the works of Jennifer Gilchrist (2012), Luís Brandão and Silvana Oliveira (2020), María Lugones (2008), and Oyèrónké Oyěwùmí (1997). Finally, this study allowed us to explore Rhys’ motivation to create a broader universe for Antoinette and to understand gender roles and geographical space as empowering factors in determining the power relationship between Antoinette and Mr. Rochester.