Wide Sargasso Sea - Marxist Analysis

1. “Wants her jewel case?’ Aunt Cora said.

‘Jewel case? Nothing so sensible,’ bawled Mr Mason.’

This exchange between Aunt Cora and Mr. Mason illuminates the value that jewels and other expensive items had, even in the face of imminent death. The fact that Aunt Cora asks whether that is what Annette wants to go back for implies that in her view, a jewel case would be the foremost reason for going back into a burning house. ‘Nothing so sensible’ suggests that Mr. Mason shares this view and if it had indeed been the jewel case that Annette wanted to return for, he may have taken her back for it. It also suggests that jewels and money should be one of the main things the woman of the house has on her mind, and that many did.

2. ‘Aunt Cora was sitting on the blue sofa in the corner now, wearing a black silk dress, her ringlets were carefully arranged. She looked very haughty, I thought.’

Although Antoinette can sense danger, she still notices Aunt Cora’s black silk dress, no doubt expensive. It seems as though to sense, consciously or otherwise, money and class has been ingrained into these people from a very early age. As Antoinette recalls earlier on, ‘they know about money’. Although she had been talking about the native people, some of their characteristics were bound to have rubbed off on her and she is extremely observant, as we can tell from her narration.

3. ‘’They will repent in the morning. I foresee gifts of tamarind in syrup and ginger sweets tomorrow.’’

Mr. Mason is so sure that the rioters will regret their action due to the classic hierarchy embedded within his mind. He believes that they will come to their senses and realize that they are supposed to be subservient to their good masters and that being under their rule is the natural way of the world. He is, as his wife later tells him, an ignorant fool – still living under the illusion of an established class system.

4. ‘’Annette,’ said Aunt Cora. ‘They are laughing at you, do not allow them to laugh at you.’ She stopped fighting then and he half supported, half pulled her after us, cursing loudly.’

Even though the small group is under threat, Aunt Cora retains her dignity and encourages Annette to do the same. They were once the owners of these people and were much higher up the social ladder. At this point, they are being dragged down even below them, yet Aunt Cora tries to maintain their self respect and face the danger with her head held high, refusing to be pushed down and degraded.

5. ‘As I ran, I thought, I will live with Tia and I will be like her.’

Being so young and naïve, Antoinette believes that she is able to just stay with Tia and everything will be ok. She doesn’t recognise the race and class issues that surround her and Tia’s subsequent rejection of her allows her to grasp them. This is perhaps one of the first turning points in the novel and changes her outlook towards people and society itself, slowly stripping her of her innocence.