Post History

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/39384
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

_Wide Sargasso Sea_ comes to mind.

It cannot exactly be considered a fanfic, given that it was a direct result of the writer's disagreement with Bronte's unflattering portrayal of a certain Creole character. Madwife Bertha of _Jane Eyre_ is almost antagonistic, in the sense that it is one of the forces that hold the titular protagonist from fulfilling her dreams and hopes.

But it can be called a "rip-off" (for the lack of a better word) of _Jane Eyre_, based on one of the central characters from the same. (The story line doesn't rely too heavily on _Jane Eyre_ though.) And it's a classic in that and can be thought of as a bestseller by extension. I don't suppose the messages and themes in it would have been too popular in those times and that they would have sold either. But it is not unheard of now and definitely critically acclaimed and a fine piece of work in my opinion, serving as an elegant response (or you could see it as a payback) to the subtle literary degradation of the Creole people.

Jean Rhys might have been a fan of Bronte's work in general, but this one surely didn't sprout from any especial feelings of admiration towards her. She just took the liberty of taking an almost antagonistic character (whom she renames "Antoinette") from Jane Eyre and explaining her backstory from a completely different angle. And that is to convey that Antoinette had been unjustly shown as a mere mad woman with animalistic instincts who is simply incapable of being sympathised with. She literally fleshes out that character and walks us through her fall (one that she makes us realise is very human).

Original score: 4