Cliff/RhysCliff/Rhys

Then, not so far off, I saw Tia and her mother and I ran Then, not so far off, I saw Tia and her mother and I ran to her, for she was all that I had left of my life as it had to her, for she was all that I had left of my life as it had been. We had eaten the same food, slept side by side, been. We had eaten the same food, slept side by side, bathed in the same river. As I ran, I thought, I will live bathed in the same river. As I ran, I thought, I will live with Tia and be like her. Not to leave Coulibri. Not to go. with Tia and be like her. Not to leave Coulibri. Not to go. Not. When I was close I saw her the jagged stone in her Not. When I was close I saw her the jagged stone in her hand but I did not see her throw it. I did not feel it either, hand but I did not see her throw it. I did not feel it either, only something wet, running down my face. I looked at only something wet, running down my face. I looked at her and I saw her face crumple up as she began to cry. her and I saw her face crumple up as she began to cry. We stared at each other, blood on my face, tears on We stared at each other, blood on my face, tears on hers. It was as if I saw myself. Like in a looking glass. hers. It was as if I saw myself. Like in a looking glass. (45)(45)

From Wide Sargasso Sea

From AbengFrom AbengThat night Clare dreamed that she and Zoe were That night Clare dreamed that she and Zoe were fist-fighting by the river in St. Elizabeth. That fist-fighting by the river in St. Elizabeth. That she picked up a stone and hit Zoe underneath she picked up a stone and hit Zoe underneath the eye and a trickle of blood ran down her the eye and a trickle of blood ran down her friend’s face and onto the rock where she sat. friend’s face and onto the rock where she sat. The blood formed into a pool where the rock The blood formed into a pool where the rock folded over on itself. And she went over to Zoe folded over on itself. And she went over to Zoe and told her she was sorry—making a compress and told her she was sorry—making a compress of moss drenched in water to soothe the cut. of moss drenched in water to soothe the cut. Then Squeezing an aloe leaf to the wound. (165) Then Squeezing an aloe leaf to the wound. (165) . . . She was not ready to understand her dream. . . . She was not ready to understand her dream. She had no idea that everyone we dream about She had no idea that everyone we dream about we are. (166)we are. (166)

What’s the same?What’s the same?

Race – a “black” girl and a “white” one Race – a “black” girl and a “white” one confront each other.confront each other.Dream like quality of the scene.Dream like quality of the scene.Blood running.Blood running.

What’s different?What’s different?

In Rhys the white girl is the victim. In Cliff, In Rhys the white girl is the victim. In Cliff, the white girl throws the stone.the white girl throws the stone.Lack of identity – Antoinette sees herself Lack of identity – Antoinette sees herself in Tia. Clare does not make that identifying in Tia. Clare does not make that identifying move until later in move until later in No Telephone to No Telephone to Heaven.Heaven.Cliff calls attention to the dynamics of Cliff calls attention to the dynamics of racial power, rather than to the cultural racial power, rather than to the cultural impasse of the heroine.impasse of the heroine.

POVPOV

WSS is 1WSS is 1stst person, NTTH is 3 person, NTTH is 3rdrd. . How many different points of focalization?How many different points of focalization? Rhys – Antoinette, the unnamed protagonist, Rhys – Antoinette, the unnamed protagonist,

Grace PooleGrace Poole Cliff – Clare, Harry/Harriet, Christopher, Paul Cliff – Clare, Harry/Harriet, Christopher, Paul

H., Bobby, Boy, Kitty, Mavis, Christopher’s H., Bobby, Boy, Kitty, Mavis, Christopher’s grandmother, Englishman/Producergrandmother, Englishman/Producer

What difference does this make in your What difference does this make in your reading? Your interpretation?reading? Your interpretation?

Rewriting Rewriting

WSS rewrites JE, NTTH rewrites what? Look at WSS rewrites JE, NTTH rewrites what? Look at epigraphs to sections. How does she use epigraphs to sections. How does she use literature differently than Rhys?literature differently than Rhys?Epigraph p. 107 – These mothers are too Epigraph p. 107 – These mothers are too dreadful.” How does this connect to this dreadful.” How does this connect to this chapter?chapter?P. 13? P. 13? Try looking at p. 51 – How does this connect to Try looking at p. 51 – How does this connect to what happens in that chapter?what happens in that chapter?P. 197? P. 197?

RaceRaceOn JE, Bertha is a beast, her racial identity, her On JE, Bertha is a beast, her racial identity, her darkness makes her beastial.darkness makes her beastial.In WSS there is some doubt about Antoinette’s In WSS there is some doubt about Antoinette’s race or racial preference. Rhys tries to rewrite race or racial preference. Rhys tries to rewrite Charlotte Bronte’s racism or racial portrait of Charlotte Bronte’s racism or racial portrait of Bertha.Bertha. What about NTTH? What is Cliff’s attitude What about NTTH? What is Cliff’s attitude toward race? What does this do to your toward race? What does this do to your interpretation of the text? How does it affect interpretation of the text? How does it affect your reading?your reading?How is doubt expressed differently in WSS and How is doubt expressed differently in WSS and NTTH? NTTH?

TravelTravel

In both books, the protagonist travels from In both books, the protagonist travels from Jamaica to England. But by what path? Jamaica to England. But by what path? How does Cliff’s triangulation of that path How does Cliff’s triangulation of that path (she goes to American first) affect your (she goes to American first) affect your reading? What difference does it make reading? What difference does it make between the two texts?between the two texts?

LanguageLanguage

In WSS where is Creole? In WSS where is Creole? How is NTTH different? How is NTTH different? What difference does this make to your What difference does this make to your reading?reading?

Can the subaltern speak?Can the subaltern speak?

Who is subaltern here?Who is subaltern here? Clare?Clare? Harry/Harriet?Harry/Harriet? Christopher?Christopher?

Which one is most out of voice? Most Which one is most out of voice? Most inarticulate?inarticulate?

InterpellationInterpellation

See p. 37-38 of textSee p. 37-38 of textInterpellation as pain?Interpellation as pain? ClareClare Harry/HarrietHarry/Harriet ChristopherChristopherInterpellation as pleasure?Interpellation as pleasure? BoyBoy Paul H.Paul H. Producer/Director/Film CrewProducer/Director/Film Crew

Decolonizing the MindDecolonizing the Mind

What does this term mean?What does this term mean?Who manages to do this?Who manages to do this?Who fails?Who fails?What is one who is decolonizing the mind What is one who is decolonizing the mind struggling with?struggling with?