I found the panel presentation on ecofeminism extremely interesting. I never realized the obvious parallels between Rochester's attitudes towards women and the island. Hearing the discussion, I could definitely see how closely the two are intertwined. Moments in which Rochester would criticize Antoinette, a criticism towards the island would also occur shortly after. The fact that the two are so closely intertwined is because they are both foreign and strange to them. The island's culture and people shock Rochester and even disgust him at times, just as Antoinette shocks and disgusts him at times. This eurocentric view that Rochester has of Antoinette and the island were extremely prevalent during the time period, and his obvious desire to dominate them both disturbs me even more.
Just like the rest of the characters we've met this year, Milkman, our protagonist, is a conflicting one. On one hand, his entire personality throughout the novel seems to be one of an adolescent in an adult's body, characterized by his immaturity and brattiness. Yet as the story progresses, the metaphor of a bird learning to fly seems to clarify, and we end with the baby bird leaping and finally flying. After learning about his family history, the change in Milkman is astounding, as he is able to let go of all his curiosity, trauma, and truly understand the implications behind his ancestry. Since this novel focuses on the lives of African Americans, I wonder how Morrison intends for us to interpret the ending of the novel. Initially, I thought the friendship between Guitar and Milkman was a subtle way of criticizing Milkman, of his lack of interest in black rights and equality. But the ending of the novel has proved otherwise. If anything, Morrison states that the power of kno...
I also think it's interesting to look at the parallel between the way Rochester tries to anglicize and change Antionette into Bertha and the way that the English during this time period tried to impose their own customs and ways of life into new settings. The English in this book don't live in the type of housing that the locals did but rather built their own giant English style mansions.
ReplyDeleteHis inability to control Antoinette and the island is what drives him to changing Antoinette's identity. This is similar to colonial powers changing the cultures of places they colonize to be more like the culture of the mother country. I think this might have been what Rhys was going for when she made Rochester an insane control freak.
ReplyDeleteI also really liked this comparison that was made in class. I had not noticed it before. I think its interesting that he leaves the island but takes Antoinette with him. Even though he hates them bother he still needs to punish her for as long as he can.
ReplyDeletei think they may be even more connected than you imply in that there may be more of a causal relationship. Perhaps he doesn't like the environment and is paranoid/envious of the fact that Antoinette is more comfortable living there than he does? This could provide a better reasoning for why he claims to hate Antoinette towards the end.
ReplyDeleteThe comparison is interesting. Antoinette's deep identity with her home and island, because of her inability to identify with the white or black community, really add more layers to Rochester's hate for Antoinette and where she is from.
ReplyDeleteI also find this parallel really interesting. The comparisons that Rochester makes between Antoinette and the island to be subtle but plentiful. His desire to control them both shows not only man's desire to control women, but also the European desire to colonize and control other parts of the world.
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