Jean Rhys' novel Wide Sargasso Sea is one of the most important postcolonial works that examines the effect of colonialism on Jamaica. Part of this examination involves exploring how the consequences of slavery affect Antoinette's relationships with Afro-Caribbean people in general and in particular with two prominent Afro-Caribbean characters in the novel Tia and Christophine. Rhys examines how slavery had both beneficial and destructive effects on his relationship with the Afro-Caribbean community. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay. Rhys demonstrates how the exploitation, repression of the Afro-Caribbean people, their lack of compensation and their lack of improvement in living standards generated racial tensions and fostered the development of mutual hatred. Additionally, Rhys illustrates how this atmosphere of mutual hatred caused by slavery impacts Antoinette's relationship with the Afro-Caribbean population of postcolonial Jamaica. Rhys also shows the effect of figurative slavery on Antoinette's marriage to her husband, whose name is not initially stated, but implicitly identified as Rochester (from Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre). Jean Rhys explores the aftermath of slavery in Jamaica by examining the relationship between Antoinette and the island's native Afro-Caribbean population. The relationship Rhys explores is characterized by racial tension. One of the ways Rhys describes this conflict is through the use of derogatory terms. Throughout the book's exposition, which takes place on the island of Jamaica, characters of both races use racial slurs to refer to each other. An example of this is when a young Afro-Caribbean girl says, "'Go away, white cockroach, go away'" (Rhys. p.7) to Antoinette on the way home. The term "white cockroach" is a term used by Afro-Caribbean people to describe Antoinette and her family, as they are white but are not part of Jamaica's white elite due to their lack of wealth. » demonstrates to what extent the relationship is antagonistic since the term cockroach evokes vermin. Furthermore, the fact that this happened while Antoinette was returning home shows the banality of the situation. Racial tension is also expressed through the violence of the natives towards Antoinette and her family. This violence begins with small incidents such as violence against animals belonging to Antoinette's family. For example, the reader is informed by Antoinette that “they killed our horse” (Rhys. p.18). This violence then degenerates into the forced expulsion of Antoinette and her family from their “Coulibri” estate following a riot by members of the Afro-Caribbean community who burned down their house. Antoinette's use of hyperbole to describe the landscape reveals the importance of the situation. She says: “[the] flames [rise] to the sky” (Rhys. p. 20). Rhys also uses hyperbole to reflect Antoinette's young age, as children often exaggerate in their language. These racial tensions described by Rhys seem to present the Afro-Caribbean population in a bad light, but in the historical context of the novel, it could be argued that the anger of the Afro-Caribbean community is justified and understandable, as they have suffered enormous horrors. , during the period of slavery. The negative effects of slavery on Antoinette's relationship with the Afro-Caribbean community are also shown by Rhys through Antoinette's interactions with Tia. Tia was Antoinette's only friend until an argument separated them. The abrupt end of their friendship and the disappointmentthat she caused are later surpassed by Tia's betrayal of Antoinette. Antoinette's first relationship with Tia, after their first meeting, is characterized by their mutual friendship. Antoinette says that "Tia was my friend and I met her daily" (Rhys. p.7). The daily routine of their relationship illustrates their close bond. However, this bond later breaks down because of a petty bet: whether or not Antoinette could "do a somersault underwater" (Rhys. p.8)[6]. A disagreement over whether Antoinette actually performed this somersault spirals out of control and results in the end of their friendship. This is significant as both express their feelings using racist slurs. Antoinette calls Tia a “faithless nigger” (Rhys. p. 8) and Tia calls her former friend a “white nigger” (Rhys. p. 8). these very strong and derogatory racial slurs inform the reader about both girls' education and the social acceptability of racism in post-slavery Jamaica, as it is highly unlikely that both girls would have used these terms without having them acquired from their environment. The racism expressed by Antoinette and Tia highlights how Jamaica was saturated with racial hatred and this hatred can be directly linked to slavery. Unlike Antoinette's relationship with the Afro-Caribbean community and her interactions with Tia, which illustrate the negative effects of In Bondage on relationships, Antoinette and Christophine's relationship is not dominated by mutual hatred and distrust. , but rather through true affection and maternal love. Their relationship is Rhys's description of a relationship that many enslaved women and children of plantation owners experienced. Christophine, much like many other female slaves, was forced to function as Antoinette's surrogate mother, as this was considered inappropriate for upper-class women, such as Antoinette's mother. formerly taking care of your own child. Even though their relationship was forced upon them, it resulted in a mother-like bond. Rhys demonstrates the kind aspects of their relationship particularly through how secure Antoinette feels with Christophine by her side. Antoinette says that without Christophine next to her at night, the “feeling of security left her” (Rhys. p.18). This highlights Antoinette's dependence on Christophine and her trust in her. Rhys uses Antoinette's relationship with Christophine to examine how slavery can lead to a mother-like bond between two people of different social status. Wide Sargasso Sea explores not only the impact of literal slavery due to colonialism, but also the concept of figurative slavery in the form of a woman's childlike dependence on her husband. The relationship between Antoinette and her husband Rochester is a striking example of figurative slavery, as Antoinette is subordinate to her husband who has the power to steal her freedom, through which he transforms Antoinette's figurative slavery into literal slavery. This metamorphosis intensifies Antoinette's dependence on her husband. This dependence is expressed above all as an economic dependence. The reader is informed of this financial need through the dialogue between Antoinette and her surrogate mother Christophine. Christophine suggests that Antoinette leave Rochester to start her life again but Antoinette tells Christophine and therefore the reader that: “I [Antoinette] am not rich. now I [Antoinette] have no money at all, everything I had belongs to her…it’s English law” (Rhys. p.68). The interaction between Christophine and Antoinette depicts a woman's submission. her husband and how this affects the marriage by giving the