Christophine is as much of an observer to Antoinette’s
development in Wide Sargasso Sea as
readers are. She is with Antoinette through her early years, acting as a
protector and guardian for Antoinette when Annette is unable to do so. As
Antoinette grows older, Christophine seems to trust her to make decisions for
herself, rather than being reliant upon Christophine. However, after Antoinette
makes the decision to drug Rochester and becomes distraught, it is then when we
see Christophine fully become a motherly figure.
Throughout the beginning of the novel, Christophine slowly
distances herself from the Cosway family. Similar to Annette, she is at first
an outsider to Jamaica and the world of Coulibri. Both Annette and Christophine
come from Martinique. However, they adapt to their new world in different ways.
Annette makes every effort to blend in with the local creole population, but
she is still dismissed as lesser, especially when Coulibri begins to fall into
disrepair. Annette and Antoinette are both openly ostracized by the white and
black populations at Coulibri.
Christophine, however, seems to have used her outsider
status to her advantage, or at least adapted to it. She is able to cross social
boundaries and barriers because she doesn’t fit into any of the typical
Jamaican molds. She does not censor herself unnecessarily to fit in, which we
can see from Antoinette’s description of her appearance: “Her songs were not
Jamaican songs and she was not like other women. She was much
blacker—blue-black with a thin face and straight features. She wore a black
dress, heavy gold earrings, and a yellow handkerchief—carefully tied with the
two high points in the front. She had a quiet voice and a quiet laugh (when she
did laugh), and though she could speak good English if she wanted to, and
French as well as patois, she took care to talk as they talked” (18-19).
Christophine is able to blend in and distinguish herself at once. Furthermore,
she is feared because she practices obeah magic. Because of her foreign status,
she is able to retain some power. While she might not fit in any of the traditional
social groups, Christophine seems to have carved out a place in society for
herself.
Perhaps this is why Antoinette gravitates towards her. From
a very young age, Antoinette is aware that she does not fully fit in with
Creole or British culture. Christophine helps Antoinette try to navigate this
bridge between cultures, for example setting up Antoinette with Tia. As Antoinette
grows older, Christophine becomes less of a helper and more of a motherly
figure. This dynamic dramatically shifts when Antoinette seeks help from
Christophine with the love potion. Though Christophine thinks it is a bad idea,
she gives the love potion to Antoinette. As a result, Antoinette and Rochester’s
marriage fully falls apart.
Christophine’s final conversation with Rochester brings out
what we as readers are feeling towards him. Having read all the background information
and grown up with Antoinette, we (or at least I) sympathize much more with Antoinette.
Christophine channels both her own anger and the reader’s anger towards
Rochester, which is perhaps why many of Christophine’s sentences end up ringing
in Rochester’s ears. She acts for Antoinette, who is unable to speak for
herself, which is a very motherly stance to take. However, Christophine’s efforts
are ultimately useless when Rochester sends her away and takes Antoinette to
England.
What do you think?
I really like this analysis of Christophine, especially the part about Antoinette gravitating toward her because they're both outsiders. I hadn't thought about this before, but another one of Rochester's cruelties was separating Antoinette from Christophine, who was pretty much Antoinette's only consistent support throughout her life.
ReplyDeleteGreat points. I can't imagine what the novel would be like without a character like Christophine who takes care of Antoinette. She is one of the only characters who, like you say, can help Antoinette navigate the bridge between cultures. She's kind of the only hope that Antoinette has, and their separation leaves Antoinette without anyone to help her navigate her identity anymore.
ReplyDeleteI really agree with your depiction of Christophene as a woman who can cross cultural boundaries, and I think that she can also cross typical gender roles. Even though she is a single woman, she is financially independent and a respected and feared community figure. Her powerful use of Obeah makes gives her power in a world where women don't usually have power.
ReplyDeleteI agree and would argue that Christophine played an influential role in shaping Antoinette as a role model. I do think that Antoinette looks up to Christophine and respects her and her opinion (as we see when she reaches out to Christophine for advice about her relationship with Rochester). However, I also think that despite their similarities and past, there is still the underlying social hierarchy that places Antoinette above Christophine which is also to see how Antoinette balances looking at Christophine as a mother figure and looking at her as somebody socially beneath her.
ReplyDeleteAlright, trying again. I think this was a super interesting perspective on Christophine, especially the part the comparison between Christophine and Annette/Antoinette as outsiders. It seems to me that while both are outsiders, Christophine has a much more clearly defined social role. Christophine still has a cultural identity and a society which she understands, in a way that Antoinette or Annette don't. Christophine is working for the same people she was working for before emancipation, and has carved out a role for herself in the community as an Obeah woman, someone to be feared, but also someone to go to with troubles. As you say, she is able to "use her status as an outsider to her advantage" and "is able to blend in and distinguish herself at once".
ReplyDeleteI agree with your analysis of Christophine - like the relationship between most mothers and daughters, they grow apart as they get older until one of them is in need of help. I think its also interesting to examine the racial/cultural boundaries between them - I think this is one of the reasons Antoinette never calls Christophine "mother", as she understands at some subconscious level that they are societally different in some way. The fact that she calls Tia an "n-word", and later Christophine a politer version of a similar word, implies that she sees that she is societally above her mother-figure. This perhaps keeps Christophine from being like a true mother to her, at least in the way Antoinette understands it (from kinder experiences with Annette).
ReplyDeleteI love your point! The relationship you pointed out were very interesting to me. I love how you made the point of Annete and Christophine as outsiders because Christophine really does fit that role in my mind. However, other people are very different to Christophine as she seems to live in her own little world. Its kind of how she is a witch in a way, as people are in a way very afraid of her and what she could possibly do.
ReplyDeleteYes, I too thought that Chrisophine acted as a motherly figure for Antoinette as she grew up. Neglected by her mother, Antoinette could rely on Chrisphine as they both shared similar situations. Christophine's teachings influence Antoinette when she gets married off to Rochester. Like you have stated, Antoinette turns to Christophine when she finds out that Rochester is cheating on her. She would rather have Christophine make the decision for her instead of deciding for herself. Christophine plays a huge role in the novel even though we never get to see her narrate which adds an element of mystery to her character. She does not get the exposure she should get given how greatly she influences the novel and I appreciate that you have tried to decipher her.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great analysis of Christophine! I love how easy it is to understand. You make good points about her character, especially the connection she shares with Antionette. Good post!
ReplyDelete