Draft 1 for essay (Rather effective but could be improved) In life, fire represents so many different physiological elements as well as multiple physical things. It is an element that exhibits both positive and negative traits: traits that have been vital to human survival throughout time. Physically, fire can destroy, destabilize and constitutes 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 motif of trauma. This motif of trauma ties into Rhys's theme that unless people who suffer from trauma eventually learn to cope with it, it will develop psychologically and eventually be released in harmful ways. The novel Wide Sargasso Sea begins with tension between the recently emancipated slaves of Jamaica and a wealthy mixed-race landlord family. This family is that of Antoinette. They are seen as not belonging to the community and are looked down upon by indigenous Jamaicans. “I never looked at any foreign Negro. They hated us. We were called white cockroaches” (8). Antoinette recognizes this harotection of 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 only provide protection until burned down by the former slaves. Antoinette creates imaginary protective walls. These walls contained her emotions, because she was full of fear. Antoinette needed it to protect herself from past traumatic experiences, but “...all that would remain were blackened walls and the mounting stone. It still remained. It could neither be stolen nor burned” (27). Without the physical wall, Antoinette must deal with emotion...... middle of paper......, she builds a wall, a wall that once again protects Antoinette from other people who have mistreated, and allows it to be destroyed by beautiful flames. Throughout his novel Wide Sargasso Sea, Rhys used the element of fire to help readers understand its significance as psychological and physical support for Antoinette, against trauma. Unconsciously, Antoinette was not able to cope 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 suffer trauma eventually learn to cope with it, it will develop psychologically and eventually be released in harmful ways is expressed at the end of the novel by Antoinette setting fire to Rochester's house and ending up dying in the process.796 words.