Just finished reading "Wide Sargasso Sea" and I have to say the book has made me ill, as in physically ill. The book is awesome, it gives me a perspective from characters that were not featured much in "Jane Eyre", and it has good storytelling. I personally sympathize with Antoinette (Bertha) even more after reading this. Bronte makes Rochester someone to be pitied but Rhys makes him more detestable. In the novel he had the choice, the choice, to leave Antoinette. They could have gotten a divorce and could have moved back to England or India or somewhere. Instead he chooses to isolate her, ship her to a foreign country, and lock her in a room. Mind you that while Antoinette is locked away he is out in Paris and Milan having the time of his life. And there is a part where Rochester says he hates Antoinette. If he hates her, why not divorce her and move on with life? I know divorces were not as acceptable back then but I would think that someone could endure a little shame for a lifetime and happiness. And then Rochester cheats on her! In the next room! If he knew she was mad by then why speed up the process by making her angry? Which is not to say that Antoinette is completely faultless. She did cheat on Rochester with her cousin (nephew?) Sandi, which is weird in so many ways. I think everything could have been avoided if Antoinette would have moved somewhere far away so she could have had a fresh start. And I also think that she shouldn't have married Rochester in the first place and run away with Sandi. The book made me sick, which happens after every time I read something depressing (almost every book in Lit). This ends my rant/ blog about "Wide Sargasso Sea”, which I think is a very good novel, if not so depressing it makes you want to cry.
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