Essay Draft 1(Somewhat effective but could be improved)In life, fire represents many different physiological elements as well as multiple physical things. It is an element that has both positive and negative traits: traits that have been vital to human survival throughout time. Physically, fire can destroy, destabilize and provide an essential resource for humans. Physiologically fire can provide protection, hope and direction. (thesis) In the novel Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, fire is the symbol used to represent the reason for the trauma. This trauma motif links to Rhys's theme that unless people who experience trauma learn to cope with it, it will develop psychologically and eventually be released in a harmful way. The novel Wide Sargasso Sea begins with tension between recently emancipated slaves in Jamaica and a wealthy, mixed-race landowning family. This family is Antoinette's family: they are perceived as not belonging to the community and are despised by the native Jamaicans. “I never looked at no strange nigga. They hated us. They called us white cockroaches” (8). Antonietta recognizes this protection in the walls: “When I was safe at home I sat near the old wall at the bottom of the garden” (8). However, the physical walls provide protection only until they are burned by former slaves. Antonietta creates imaginary walls of protection. These walls contained her emotions, as she was filled with fear. Antonietta needed it to protect herself from past traumatic experiences but “....there would be nothing left but blackened walls and the stone that mounted. That has always remained. This could not be stolen or burned” (27). Without the physical wall, Antoinette must face the emotion...... middle of paper......, she builds a wall, a wall that once again protects Antoinette from other people who have treated her badly, and allows it to be destroyed by beautiful flames. Throughout his novel The Wide Sargasso Sea, Rhys used the element of fire to help readers understand its meaning as psychological and physical support for Antoinette, against trauma. Subconsciously Antoinette was unable to deal with her past traumatic experiences, such as being targeted by Jamaicans, rejected by her mother, and then by her husband. Rhys's theme that unless people who experience trauma learn to cope with it, it will build psychologically and eventually be released in a harmful way, is expressed at the end of the novel by Antoinette burning down Rochester's house and the end dies in the process.