Wide Sargasso Sea; "language"

How is the issue of  “language” reflected in "Wide Sargasso Sea"? Is it a block or a border between two groups, or a means of communication between different cultures?

Firstly, it is for sure that language in this novel is not a simple medium to transfer the emotions, desires and opinions as a whole. Rather, it symbolizes the social strata in which the character is; that is we, as readers, understand that this character belongs to this category because he or she speaks in a different dialect whether for worse or for better. For instance, we immediately identify Christophine with her patois dialect as we do the same in the case of Rochester although he is unnamed in the novel.

We see the strong force of language throughout the novel; because it is as if having a mirror function which reflects the effects of language on people through bias, lies and gossips. For instance, let us think of the dialogues between  Antoinette and her husband and Amelia or Christophine. There is not any problem in the communication between the partners; but Rochester remarks his detest for their dialects. He says that “Christophine’s coffee is delicious but her language is horrible; she is a very worthy person no doubt, but I can’t say I like her her language.” In another passage, he directly thinks that he does not trust to these people as Antoinette does. Besides their outlooks, he is under the strong impression of language.

As we regard the label of “mad” which is given to the mother of Antoinette, we come to the same conclusion that “language” is the utmost importance which  may have result in disastrous effects on every single person. Anette is sent away from her daughter Antoinette and is not allowed to see either her neighbours or her family. Christophine says that she may not be mad; but after such a treatment, she gives up struggling and be a “mad” which is a role cut by other people through the language.

We also see  different versions of the “truth” of Antoinette’s family experiences. Later in the story, Daniel writes a letter to Rochester informing him of the “real” aim of the family and his wife. However, when we listen to Antoniette’s version, we see that it sharply contrasts with the previous one. In this point, language does not serve as a facilitative medium; rather, it is presented as a “power” which causes discrepancies and scandals to block the communication between peoples.

In another part, Rochester calls Antoniette as “Bertha”, because he is fond of the name. Antoniette sees it as an effort to “make her into another person”. We clearly know that this can not be materialized in fact. However, remembering the “mad” label cut for her mother Anette, she gradually becomes that mad woman. Therefore, there is the definite effect of the language which is used in a community to “shape” its inhabitants. Language, as we see in the case of Antoinette and her mother throughout the novel, is the most effective way in forming the direction of  peoples' life styles. 

Wide Sargosso Sea, Part I

In the first part of the novel "Wide Sargosso Sea" written by Jean Rhys, we witness the simple portrait of a child with her family. According to my own interpretation of these sixty pages I studied, this is a different view from the previous novel which we have studied, "Heart of Darkness" in that this is not a voyage taken to the deep forests and islands on the board in Africa. Rather, what we see is a child who struggles to live with this "scar" of being humiliated by the other people living in the same state. Jean Rhys narrates the story from the eyes of a child; that is, from the eyes of an  individual. What we can understand from the novel is that we hear the voice by "herself" rather than a third person narrative which takes place in "Heart of Darkness". "She" speaks, in this one, about her emotions, about being the center of hatred, humiliation and injustice.

The similar point between those two novels is that they both underscore the racial inequality and injustice which have been experienced in the past- and we know still it is going on in other forms. That is, the theme of these novels is the same; they explore the issue of race and racism and its implementation upon innocent people. However, the narrative  techniques differ greatly according to each other. We have different protagonists, for example. Whereas, in "Heart of Darkness" we have Marlow travelling and narrating the experiences he undergoes in Congo; in "Wide Sargosso Sea" a girl named Antoinette Mason narrates the story. Compared to each other, then, we can interpret this one as an account given by a "female" rather than by a male point of view.

Lastly, I want to add that "Wide Sargosso Sea", reading up the second part, has attracted my attention much more than "Heart of Darkness", with its characterization, and with its plot. It is not stable and more flowing.

W.G. Sebald, Rings of Saturn, Chapter 5

In the text of "Rings of Saturn" in its fifth chapter, we see all the phases of Conrad's life with every single detail. It is a comprehensive account even if there are some parts of Conrad's life that are unknown to the contemporary readers.

Firstly, the point that draws my attention while reading the text  is that Conrad goes through an unhappy period of childhood. Because he loses his mother Evelina from tuberculosis in exile and his father Apollo in the spring which later causes him to be orphaned. That should be the point to be kept in our minds.

As the narrator suggests, Conrad acquires his "unfamiliar" language which enables him to be famous all over the world. We learn that Conrad himself is a seaman in his private life. Therefore, it can be said that he takes the subject of his famous novel "Heart of Darkness" from his individual experiences. He always travels, for example to Poland, Ukraine, Africa and Congo. He is the first person who undergoes those experiences in Congo, rather than relating from a third person's point of view.

It is interesting that Conrad most probably gets the idea of colonialism during these voyages. Because he writes in a letter to his aunt about the ocean, sky and green vegetation in those regions that could not be reached by the eye, and about the gun-firings into the African continent "with neither purpose nor aim".

After seeing many places, he arrives at Congo finally. Conrad describes the situation in which the natives are; they- these nameless victims- die of several diseases, starvation and physical exhaustion. Then, he becomes ill and returns to his home, adding that: "life for people gradually become more tolerable." This is a sharp contrast drawn again between Congo -Africa in general, and Europe.

Edward Said, "Two visions in Heart of Darkness", Culture and Imperialism

Edward Said analyses two issues  of “culture” and “imperialism” and their interrelation affecting each other in his article named “Two visions in Heart of Darkness, Culture and Imperialism”. In relation with Joseph Conrad’s novel “Heart of Darkness”, I am planning to underscore the several important points in Edward Said’s article and the novel itself “Heart of Darkness” in this essay.

Edward Said begins his essay with an outstanding paradox in the ways Marlowe behave while narrating his voyage to the heart of Africa. Depicting their heartbreaking situation;  their being hungry as a wolf, their being thin and weak , he objectively gives  account of what he sees  with these native inhabitants, saying that “They were dying slowly, it was very clear. They were not enemies, they were not criminals, nothing but black shadows of disease and starvation…”.  However, he also mentions the enormous power of Mr. Kurtz throughout the novel up to his death. He seems as if to be fascinated by his authority to oppress the native peoples. This is also the point which draws my attention at first sight. Because it is controversial, it can be interpreted from both sides. I can clearly say that this dilemma makes me think of an alternative narrative method used by Joseph Conrad to encourage the reader to philosophize over the “facts” deeply. This “enormous” power of Mr. Kurtz may  symbolise the deeper meaning beneath the word; Europeans’ imperial acts to colonize more and more non-Western, non-Christian people.  Because, in another passage, we understand that all European point of view is the same with Kurtz’s. "All Europe  conributed to making of him.” Joseph Conrad, then, by using this power relationship throughout the novel seems to imply that this “work” will never end as long as  human nature and his characteristics continue to exist such as greed and underestimation of others, unless there is a radical change.

In another point, in relation with the previous paragraph, I do not agree with Edward Said’s comment about Marlow who “misstates” the situation in the land. We talked in our sessions, too, that they fire “into a continent” meaninglessly, but not to a specific person or people. We see Marlow’s friendly attitude towards natives from the beginning of the novel. For instance, he shares the biscuit in his pocket with the native man and feels sorry for him. In another passage, he directly says that: " It was unearthly, and the men were- No, they were not inhuman. What thrills you is just the thought of their humanity, just like yours." Thus,  I think Marlow remains  objective and realistic in his narration of natives, because he self-consciously  does not draw an “imaginary”, non-existent land   in contrast to Edward Said’s view.

In Edward Said’s article, another interesting passage including the other “part”: Iranian intellectuals and their interpretation of colonialism in the  statement “ The West is an enemy, a disease, an evil.” strikes my mind. In return, just as Marlow or Mr. Kurtz does in “ The Heart of Darkness” , they depict  a “black” man who journeys to a white ragion. In order to compare or contrast, this narrative voice should also be analysed in a different manner.   

Edward Said concludes his essay by adding the view of  most post-colonial writers about the past, their seeing it as a scar which certainly have effects on their future. He comes to conclude that- and I sincerely agree with-  those people have been misrepresented throughout the ages and their intellectual powers or capacities to write and read have been underestimated, with several examples of Rushdie, Derek Walcott or Aime Cesaire etc.