Christophine: Friend or Foe
When it comes to Antoinette, Christophine seems like the only thing in the world that actually cares about her. Whenever Antoinette has no one to turn to, she's always there for her. She organizes play dates for her, helps her out with her issues with ex-slaves, tries to protect her from other white people, and serves as her defacto mother. Christophine as a motherly figure is probably the most telling about her relationship with Antoinette. When Antoinette's mother started actively pushing herself away from Antoinette and focused more on her little brother Pierre, Christophine stepped in to replace her.
This relationship between Christophine and Antoinette even continues all the way into Antoinette's marriage. Once Antoinette is married to Rochester, Christophine immediately knows that he only married her for the money and as such, shows contempt for him and tries to save Antoinette from her marriage by trying to persuade her to leave him. Whenever Antoinette is having troubles with Rochester, Christophine is once again there to offer her guidance and help. This guidance is there throughout the entire story and makes Christophine a very likable character always ready to help Antoinette. But there are some red flags that make her seem as if she isn't as much of a friend as she really is.
No one trusts Christophine. Literally all the white people and ex-slave population on the island don't trust her. This is because she is from a French colony and as such an outsider, and so the only people who like her are other outsiders like other black people from outside colonies and Antoinette. Antoinette's mother says that Christophine is only in it for herself and this can be seen when she leaves Antoinette to live with her son despite Antoinette's precarious position and knowing that she was the only thing separating Antoinette from Rochester. She also explicitly says that she is an independent woman who after birthing three children with three different men, still didn't marry either one of them because she wanted to keep her money to herself. This doesn't necessarily mean that Christophine had ill intent towards Antoinette, but it does make me question if the reason she stayed with Antoinette all these years partly had to do with the fact that Antoinette financially supported her and was able to control Antoinette to a great degree and maybe abuse her power over her as she was Antoinette's most trusted friend.
Another red flag for me is that Christophine got Antoinette hooked on alcohol and sleeping drugs. This might've been an attempt to help alleviate the pain inflicted by Rochester and the ensuing hysteria, but she turned her into an alcoholic and to me that seems like more harm than good. But as a whole, I think Christophine has been Antoinette's greatest ally through life, its just that she has made some questionable decisions. What do you all think about Christophine's true intentions? Is she truly pure hearted when it comes to taking care of Antoinette?
This relationship between Christophine and Antoinette even continues all the way into Antoinette's marriage. Once Antoinette is married to Rochester, Christophine immediately knows that he only married her for the money and as such, shows contempt for him and tries to save Antoinette from her marriage by trying to persuade her to leave him. Whenever Antoinette is having troubles with Rochester, Christophine is once again there to offer her guidance and help. This guidance is there throughout the entire story and makes Christophine a very likable character always ready to help Antoinette. But there are some red flags that make her seem as if she isn't as much of a friend as she really is.
No one trusts Christophine. Literally all the white people and ex-slave population on the island don't trust her. This is because she is from a French colony and as such an outsider, and so the only people who like her are other outsiders like other black people from outside colonies and Antoinette. Antoinette's mother says that Christophine is only in it for herself and this can be seen when she leaves Antoinette to live with her son despite Antoinette's precarious position and knowing that she was the only thing separating Antoinette from Rochester. She also explicitly says that she is an independent woman who after birthing three children with three different men, still didn't marry either one of them because she wanted to keep her money to herself. This doesn't necessarily mean that Christophine had ill intent towards Antoinette, but it does make me question if the reason she stayed with Antoinette all these years partly had to do with the fact that Antoinette financially supported her and was able to control Antoinette to a great degree and maybe abuse her power over her as she was Antoinette's most trusted friend.
Another red flag for me is that Christophine got Antoinette hooked on alcohol and sleeping drugs. This might've been an attempt to help alleviate the pain inflicted by Rochester and the ensuing hysteria, but she turned her into an alcoholic and to me that seems like more harm than good. But as a whole, I think Christophine has been Antoinette's greatest ally through life, its just that she has made some questionable decisions. What do you all think about Christophine's true intentions? Is she truly pure hearted when it comes to taking care of Antoinette?
First, I find it funny (not in a bad way) that you used "play dates". It's a term that I associate with suburbanity and modernity, which makes it interesting in the context of Wide Sargasso Sea. Anyways!
ReplyDeleteI kinda disagree with your red flags about Christophene. First, it's a stretch to say that *no one* trusts Christophene. The people at the house, aside from Amelie, seem to like and get along with her well enough. And as you said, she's an outsider. That's bound to provoke bad feelings from others. Just take the example of Annette and how she was ostracized. And second, I really don't think she's in it just for herself. When Christophene leaves, things between Antoinette and Rochester are pretty okay, and she's aware that Rochester dislikes her. I feel as though we can give Christophene some leeway and see it as her trying to preserve the peace. And third, what do you think would have happened to Antoinette if Christophene were not there to get her "hooked on alcohol and sleeping drugs"? Antoinette would have been a wreck either way. I see it as Christophene just trying to distance Antoinette from what's been causing her so much pain and misery.
I'm not totally prepared to defend all these points, since this is just a blog comment, but I think some of the things that Christophene does for Antoinette should be given deeper consideration.
I don't think the fact that Christophine is looked down upon by her society is a red flag. Like Tina said, she is an outsider whose culture (and religion) is different than those around her. I also don't think being an independent woman should be held against her. It is true, that she is defying what is culturally expected of her, but I don't judge her for it. I do agree with you about the substance abuse because Antoinette was not in a position to make her own decision about the matter. That was definitely a questionable mentoring decision.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Emma on this one. The society judging her isn't necessarily a red flag because the society judges all the white people even though some of them--like Antoinette--didn't have a choice as to which class/family they were born into.
DeleteFor me, Christophine was a relief. She was the only character in the novel who had Antoinette's best interests in mind when no one else, even Antoinette herself, did. That to me, was powerful and spoke a lot to the importance of a motherly role in a young girl's to woman's life. However, you're aren't wrong in calling attention to other, practical reasons as to why Christophine would stay with Antoinette and perform the roles of a mother. It's an interesting and plausible idea (especially given the corrupt nature of most of the characters) to say that Christophine, like all the others was only playing a role. Nonetheless, I prefer to think of her actions as genuine. Great post, Tony!
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting topic, however I disagree with Christophine's red flags in terms of how they could affect her relationship with Antoinette. The worst thing she does, having children from multiple different fathers but not marrying any one of them, could actually be seen as another reason for why she wants to help Antoinette. She dislikes the power men have in society, and she is working against that by helping Antoinette rid of Rochester. I don't think her loyalty to Antoinette's family was simply for control over Antoinette, as that would be very inconsistent with her despising the power men have in society. If she wanted power or control, she would rather take it from a man.
ReplyDeleteFor me, Christophine is definitely a more positive influence on Antoinette. She seems to be the only character in the novel who actually cares for her, she helps her whenever Antoinette needs help from the time Antoinette is a child up until she gets taken to England. The fact that she isn't trusted by a society that's foundations are based on racism and sexism doesn't count as a red flag for me, she just isn't conforming to what they expect from a black woman. They mistrust her for being independent, and I don't hold that against her. She may have made some questionable decisions regarding alcohol and sleeping drugs but even then she was looking out for Antoinette so I see her as Antoinette's friend.
ReplyDeleteI definitely see what you're saying and it's certainly an interesting idea. I understand how Christophine could have had some negative influences over Antoinette's life like the alcohol and sleeping pills you mention. However, to me, Christophine's positive effects on Antoinette's life overshadow those negatives.
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