The Temptations and Their Earthly Ponds

                       Countless temptations arise in both Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea. These many temptations include abandoning justice and social fairness. Although the way these two temptations present themselves in the books is different, the key values they posses in the books are the same. 

                       In Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea, the setting plays a huge part into both of these topics and the locations serve as huge clues as to how the characters are feeling and their actions. Wide Sargasso Sea takes place in Jamaica during a period of severe racial tension. However obvious the social injustice is, Antoinette chooses to ignore the disconnect between the races and tries to befriend all, no matter what their skin type. This idea does not go over well with the natives. The land is much to wild for these civilized ideas. The setting truly reflects this idea because Antoinette says, "Our garden was large and beautiful as that garden in the Bible — the tree of life grew here. But it had grown wild. The paths were overgrown and a smell of dead flowers mixed with that fresh living smell. Orchids flourished out of reach or for some reason not to be touched. One was snaky looking, another like an octopus with long thin brown tentacles bare of leaves hanging from a twisted root" (Rhys, 19). 

                     This garden encapsulates the racial and social tensions with imagery. The setting, as previously mentioned, is crucial to the understanding of the book. Here we see the garden that once was perfect, like the Garden of Eden, has grown wild. The harmony of the garden is now broken. The paths are covered with brush and the twisted roots are past repair. This garden literally is a picture of the social and political challenges in the book, Wide Sargasso Sea. Jamaica is totally wild and the natives have lost control. They even burn Antoinette's house in hatred. Antoinette is trying to be a gardener in this crazy garden, however she is too late. The roots have twisted and the roots are the foundation, but even they are twisted and deformed. The land is broken and this brokenness leads to Antoinette's severe unhappiness because it is due to this brokenness that she can't find friends.

                   In Jane Eyre, the setting is starkly different. Jane lives in England, an area ruled by justice and fairness. In comparison, Jane has a strong moral code that is unwavering. She has an undying loyalty to her God and King. She even refuses to marry her true love, until the moral dilemma is resolved in the book. As you can see, the orderliness of the setting is reflective of Jane's order and moral code. She is unfaltering and really encapsulates the strictness and fairness of England.