EcoCriticism is a literary approach that focuses on how nature is represented in literature and how these representations can raise awareness of environmental issues. In Wide Sargasso Sea, Jean Rhys uses nature not just as a setting but as a crucial element in the lives of her characters, especially Antoinette. She feels a deep, almost spiritual connection with the Caribbean landscape, which reflects her own sense of identity. The vivid descriptions of the grass, trees, and colorful flowers emphasize the richness of the Caribbean environment. This contrasts with characters like Rochester, who comes from an industrialized society where nature feels more detached. In contrast, the Caribbean people, including Antoinette, have a more intimate and respectful relationship with nature. The natural world around her, particularly in Coulibri, represents her sense of freedom and security, offering her comfort and a feeling of belonging.
The destruction of Antoinette’s home by angry ex-slaves symbolizes her loss of a safe space and identity. Her memories of Coulibri’s garden, with its tree ferns and orchids, highlight her deep connection to the place. When she is separated from her homeland and locked away in Rochester’s mansion, she becomes the “madwoman in the attic,” detached not only from society but also from nature. She longs to return to the natural world, seeking comfort and solace in it. Unlike her cold and indifferent biological mother, Mother Earth offers Antoinette a constant source of companionship. For Antoinette, nature takes on maternal qualities, providing her with a sense of safety when she feels threatened. Elements like fire, wind, and animals symbolize the protective role of nature. The “wall of fire” near the novel’s end represents nature’s defense, shielding her from oppressive forces. Fire becomes both destructive and liberating. Despite nature’s occasional harshness, Antoinette prefers it to the cruelty of humans. Her willingness to endure the pain of razor grass, ant bites, or rain shows her deep love for nature.
In Wide Sargasso Sea, animals hold symbolic significance. The parrot, Coco, represents both Antoinette’s fate and the intrusion of colonial forces. The parrot, once crippled by Mr. Mason, becomes more protective of Antoinette, symbolizing her growing vulnerability and the increasing control of colonial forces. Its death is seen as a bad omen, foreshadowing her eventual fate. For the unnamed husband, nature serves as a tool for his exploitation. He is indifferent to the natural world, only seeing it as something to be used for material gain. He treats both nature and women as possessions. Rhys illustrates how the ownership of land often reflects a deeper desire to dominate women. Rochester’s Western background alienates him from the vibrant Caribbean landscape. Instead of appreciating its beauty, he views it as overwhelming—“too much,” too alive, and too colorful. His treatment of Antoinette mirrors his desire to control both nature and the land, using them for his benefit. Rochester’s need to possess the treasures of the Caribbean symbolizes the colonial exploitation of its natural resources.
The Sargasso Sea, located in the Atlantic Ocean near the Bermuda Triangle, is unique because it has no land boundaries. Instead, it is defined by ocean currents and the seaweed, sargassum, that grows there. This sea is home to wildlife not found elsewhere. The Sargasso Sea serves as a powerful metaphor for Antoinette. Like the sea, which is bound by invisible currents, Antoinette feels trapped by invisible forces—her financial situation, her mother’s neglect, and her husband’s abuse. These forces are so overpowering that there seems to be no way for her to break free.
In the novel, the garden is a significant symbol of Antoinette’s emotions. Initially, the garden represents wild beauty, reminiscent of the biblical Garden of Eden. However, as it becomes untamed and neglected, it mirrors Antoinette’s inner turmoil. Her mother, increasingly detached from the family and estate, spends her days by the sea. Her inability to care for the garden or maintain her mental stability leads to her decline. The shift from Coulibri to Granbois marks a transformation in Antoinette and Rochester’s relationship. While Granbois initially offers beauty and warmth, Rochester’s growing unease reveals his industrial English background. For Antoinette, the beauty of Granbois symbolizes freedom, while Rochester views the sprawling mountains and open sky as a form of imprisonment. Antoinette, however, finds comfort and solace in nature.
In the novel, both women and nature are exploited, and Rochester takes advantage of this in his treatment of Antoinette. Out of revenge, he designs her new life to be as unfamiliar and oppressive as possible. Her room in England contrasts sharply with her previous life in Jamaica, surrounded by nature. The room has a single high window, but she cannot see through it, cutting off her connection to the natural world that once brought her solace. Rochester is aware of how much nature meant to Antoinette, and he deliberately denies her even that small pleasure. Antoinette pleads to be taken away from the cold, dark space where she feels suffocated, but no one listens to her. Ultimately, she is left alone, confined and ignored, symbolizing her emotional and physical death in this “box.”
