Dream Analysis in "Wide Sargasso Sea" by Savannah Mercure
Explore the subconscious fears and foreshadowing of Antoinette's marriage through vivid dream sequences in the novel "Wide Sargasso Sea" by Savannah Mercure. Antoinette's dreams reveal her deep-seated anxieties and premonitions, offering insights into her character and the challenges she may face ahead, especially in her relationship with Rochester.
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Wide Sargasso Sea By: Savannah Mercure
I dreamed that I was walking in the forest. Not alone. Someone who hated me was with me, out of sight. I could hear heavy footsteps coming closer and though I struggled and screamed I could not move. I woke crying. (page 15-16) In this first dream, Antoinette s subconscious shows fear. I think she is actually scared of being rejected and getting embarrassed like when Tia steals her money and dress because they never see each other again. Another example is when Antoinette says that she believes her own mom is ashamed of her when she didn t talk or even look at her on a particular night. Dream 1
Again I have left the house at Coulibri. It is still night and I am walking towards the forest. I am wearing a long dress and thin slippers, so I walk with difficulty, following the man who is with me and holding up the skirt of my dress. It is white and beautiful and I don t wish to get it soiled. I follow him, sick with fear but I make no effort to save myself; if anyone were to try to save me, I would refuse. This must happen. Now we have reached the forest. We are under the tall dark trees and there is no wind. Here? He turns and looks at me, his face black with hatred, and when I see this I begin to cry. He smiles slyly. Not here, not yet, he says, and I follow him, weeping. Now I do not try to hold up my dress, it trails in the dirt, my beautiful dress. We are no longer in the forest but in an enclosed garden surrounded by a stone wall and the trees are different trees. I do not know them. There are steps leading upwards. It is too dark to see the wall or the steps, but I know they are there and I think, It will be when I go up these steps. At the top. I stumble over my dress and cannot get up. I touch a tree and my arms hold on to it. Here, here. But I think I will not go any further. The tree sways and jerks as if it is trying to throw me off. Still I cling and the seconds pass and each one is a thousand years. Here, in here, a strange voice said, and the tree stopped swaying and jerking. (60) Dream 2
This dream foreshadows Antoinettes marriage to Rochester. To me when I read this, I begin to think that her dream can be interpreted as Antoinette will marry someone that will not like her and they will have problems arise throughout their marriage. Dream 2 Continued
I let the dress fall on the floor, and looked from the fire to the dress and from the dress to the fire (186). I looked at the dress on the floor and it was as if the fire had spread across the room. It was beautiful and it reminded me of something I must do. I will remember I thought. I will remember quite soon now (187). I saw the grandfather clock and Aunt Cora's patchwork, all colours, I saw the orchids and the stephanotis and the jasmine and the tree of life in flames. I saw the chandelier and the red carpet downstairs and the bamboos and the tree ferns, the gold ferns and the silver . . . and the picture of the Miller's Daughter. I heard the parrot call as he did when he saw a stranger, Qui est la? Qui est la? and the man who hated me was calling too, Bertha! Bertha! The wind caught my hair and it streamed out like wings. It might bear me up, I thought, if I jumped to those hard stones. But when I looked over the edge I saw the pool at Coulibri. Tia was there. She beckoned to me and when I hesitated, she laughed. I heard her say, You frightened? And I heard the man's voice, Bertha! Bertha! All this I saw and heard in a fraction of a second. And the sky so red. Someone screamed and I thought Why did I scream? I called "Tia!" and jumped and woke. (189-90) Dream 3
This dream has a lot of symbolisms in it. The grandfather clock and flowers take Antoinette back to her childhood not necessarily meaning that she is safe but at least she feel included. The fire represents the Caribbean, being Antoinette s home. This is truly exemplified when she is ripped away from her home to move to England. As well as Rochester beginning to call Antoinette Bertha makes her feel more detached from home. Dream 3 Continued
