Questions on Part 1 of WIDE SARGASSO SEA

Notes for Questions on Wide Sargasso Sea : Part I

1. What are the birds symbolic of ?
2. What is Christophine’s role in Part I ?
3. In what ways does Antoinette’s description of Tia throwing the stone match her feelings of internal pain at this time ?
4. In what way do Tia’s tears reflect Antoinette’s bleeding face ? How does the reference of a « looking glass » make sense concerning the issue of race in the novel ?
5. There is an obvious disconnect between Tia and Antoinette, and in what ways does Rhys’ style demonstrate such a separation ?
6. What is the significance that Antoinette’s last detail of Coulibri is this confrontation with her former friend ?
7. How does Antoinette’s experience at the convent compare with Jane Eyre’s experience at Lowood School ?How would you characterize Christophine’s relationship with Antoinette so far ?
8. In her description of all of the things being left behind at Coulibri, the last item mentioned is the picture of the Miller’s Daughter. How does this contrast with the other items that make up the list ? What is the significance, if any, of Antoinette having such affection for this particular picture ?
9. As Antoinette is watching Coulibri burn, the sky is compared to the sunset and she comments on how the flowers, the ferns, the ginger lilies, etc. will be burnt to nothingness along with the house. How does the nature imagery add to the passage ?
10.Antoinette’s childhood is heavily overcast by threat. What are the threats from outside her household ? What are the threats from within ? To whom and to what does she turn for protection ?
11.What is the racial situation as Antoinette is growing up ? What does it mean that she gets called « white cockroach » and « white nigger ? » How well do Antoinette and her mother understand the mindset of recently liberated slaves ?