The Relationship between Nature and Human Beings in Wide Sargasso Sea

Famous for giving voice to Bertha, the marginalized mad woman in the attic in Jane Eyre, Wide Sargasso Sea is filled with vivid description of nature, which contributes to the successful characterization of main characters and shows the theme of the relationship between nature and human beings. However few attention is paid to that theme. The mythological and archetypal approach is thus adopted to analyze three major characters and fill the gap. Antoinette is viewed as the daughter of nature. Christophine functions as the incarnation of nature. Rochester plays the role of the intruder who does harm to nature. To conclude, Wide Sargasso Sea is not only a criticism of anthropocentrism but also a warning bell to the stereotyped opposition in the western culture. After the successful shaking of the fixed order, Wide Sargasso Sea also drops a hint that there exists the hope to build a new world where human beings and nature, men and women keep a harmonious and balanced relationship.