Analysis Of Bertha And Wide Sargasso Sea

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys shows the delicate balance between madness and sanity. Throughout both novels there is a lot of unusual behavior to say the least from Antoinette. There are many factors that can have a detrimental effect on one’s mental stability, this is shown blatantly through the relationship between Antoinette and Bertha. This shows the relationship and balance between inherited factors and environmental influences such as events that are happening and other people.
Though physically Antoinette and Bertha are the same person the distinction between them becomes apparent when looked at from a psychological point of view. Bertha is the psychological manifestation of Antoinette’s madness. The way Rhys presents Antoinette’s madness corresponds almost perfectly with dissociative identity disorder (DID). When Antoinette becomes overwhelmed or enraged Bertha seemingly takes over which is why Antoinette is unable to remember many events that have taken place throughout both Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea. Bertha is much less shy than Antoinette and more willing to stand up for herself. Everything that happens in this novel is purposeful and leads towards Antoinette’s final moments. Despite the cause of Antoinette’s madness not being confirmed beyond a doubt there are many factors that may have played a role in this. Therefore no detail no matter how small should be forgotten, for example the constant neglect she received from her mother, which most likely made