Sandra Drake

Andrea November 17 2010 Race and Caribbean Culture Sandra Drake addresses three issues in her excerpt Race and Caribbean Culture as Thematic of Liberation in Jean Rhys Wide sargassum Sea. First we have the do of the abolishment of slavery on the ex-slave owners and the Afro-Caribbean ex-slaves. Second we see the sledding of individuality that Antoinette had as she struggle to scenery in the Caribbean glossiness and the English culture as well. At last, Drake turns her attention into the social tautness that increasingly grows on Wide Sargasso Sea.The unexpected abolishment of slavery left Antoinettes family in a bad social and economic situation. Her mothers marriage and her own seem to be the only viable resoluteness for their problems. Somewhat helpful but Antoinette still had to struggle against the survival of the Caribbean and European patriarchy and empire (Drake 195). The European colonialism and patriarchy on Antoinette is a mirroring moving picture of what European Colonialism did to the Afro-Caribbean people.In her struggle to find an identity she became a zombie, a ghost, according to the ex-slaves or an Antoinette-marionette, according to Rochester (Drake 200). Her dependence on others, specifically, Rochester tip to her real death eventually by his English like downsizing of her just as the colonizers did to the Afro-Caribbean people. His inevitable English controlling personality is pair to the subjugation of Coco by her English stepfather when he clipped his wing which became a foreshadowing of her fate.In her pursuit for an identity she betrays herself, as she fervently tries to fit into the English culture by means of the Caribbean obeahs. Paying Christophine reflects her denial of be to the Caribbean culture but rather wants to use the spell to complete her concentration to England and to whiteness (198), and a cock crew as a direct of betrayal. Ironically later on we find her calling out for Christophine to practise and help her and protect her (202), she has flashbacks of her red dress and sees her Caribbean identity in it when she is in Thornfield Hall (WSS 86-187). This continuous struggles lead to her loss of identity having recurring dreams almost the fire at Coulibri Estate and the persistent questions Qui est la? and You frightened? countenance Antoinette with fear (195). The answers to both of these questions are Bertha, Bertha (204) from the man that hated her. Alan Gordon suggests Antoinette feels anguish at Rochester for subjugating her as her stepfather, another Englishman, subjugated Coco by clipping his wings.Antoinettes unfitness to recognize her voice as the source of the scream also reflects her loss of identity. Her perception of Rochesters calls to Bertha, an identity he imposed upon Antoinette, suggest Rochesters role in this loss. A clear comparison of what English colonizers did to black slaves by ever-changing their African names or giving them surnames (198). In the midst of t his encroach there is a strong social tension among ex-slave owners and ex-slaves. These conflicts were stronger than the friendship that Antoinette purview she had with Tia.When she realizes that Tia is part of the revolt she bolts towards the natives, intuits that that is the direction not just of her chivalric but of her future. She doesnt even see the stone in Tias hand, but she feels the blood running down her memorial tablet (203). Such a brutal and heart breaking scene shows what the tension was in the Caribbean at that time not even two poverty-stricken girls could see pass it. Drake clearly states the effects of the Emancipation Act at a personal, cultural and individual level as we read on Wide Sargasso Sea.The similarities of what English colonizers did to women and to black slaves are vast for us to compare. The power and subjugation in which they applied their authority was almost gibe, making them clever like the Devil, more clever than God. Aints so? (206). Wor k Cited Gordon, Alan. Dreams in Wide Sargasso Sea. 2006. 17 Nov. 2010 http//www. victorianweb. org/neovictorian/rhys/gordon14. html. Drake, Sandra. Criticism. Wide Sargasso Sea. By Jean Rhys. New York W. W. Norton amp Company Inc. , 1982. 193-206.