WWS Outline

Prompt B
How is prejudice in its various forms evident in Wide Sargasso Sea? How does it contribute to the novel’s tragic outcomes?
Thesis Statement: The prejudices against women, Creoles, and people of color greatly influence the tragic outcome of the novel, and thus give it all of its value as a new voice.

Topic Statement 1: The prejudices against women and womanhood are highlighted through the patriarchal narration of Mr. Rochester.
• Sly, Intelligent, and Malignant Creature.
• I wanted her, but I did not love her
• [Amélie's] expression was so full of delighted malice, so intelligent, above all so intimate that I felt ashamed and looked away

Topic Statement 2: The superior attitude of the English to the Creole Results in the Primary conflict of the story, as revealed by the actions of Mr. Rochester.
• Her Dark, sad, long alien eyes.
• She was part of the mystery and magic
• I hated her
• Bertha
• "Her coffee is delicious but her language is horrible and she might hold her dress up. It must get very dirty, yards of it trailing on the floor."

"When they don't hold their dress up it's for respect," said Antoinette. "Or for feast days or going to Mass."

"And is this a feast day?"

"She wanted it to be a feast day."

"Whatever the reason it is not a clean habit […] And she looks so lazy. She dawdles about."

"Again, you are mistaken. She seems slow, but every move she makes is right so it's quick in the end."
• For a moment Antoinette looked very much like Amélie. Perhaps they are related, I thought. It's possible, it's even probably in this damned place.

Topic Statement 3: The prejudices against the Blacks is the ideal that sets the whole story in motion.
• You can vacation, but there is no point in leaving.
• "They invent stories about you, and lies about me. They try to find out what we eat every day."

"They are curious. It's natural enough. You have lived alone far too long, Annette. You imagine enmity which doesn't exist. Always one extreme or the other. Didn't you fly at me like a little wild cat when I said nigger. Not nigger, nor even negro. Black people I must say."

"You don't like, or even recognize the good in them," she said, "and you won't believe in the other side."

"They're too damn lazy to be dangerous," said Mr. Mason. "I know that."

"They are more alive than you are, lazy or not, and they can be dangerous and cruel for reasons you wouldn't understand."
• But how can she know the best thing for me to do, this ignorant, obstinate, old negro woman, who is not certain if there is such a place as England?