Is Wide Sargasso Sea about Rupert Hine?

Dodfather · #1 09-04-2011, 07:26 AM

Hey guys

I'm sure this has been asked before but I must have missed it... but surely Wide Sargasso Sea is about her relationship with Rupert Hine? I think there are just too many parallels for this not to be the case.

An English man.. her red dress (since red was the colour for The Other Side Of The Mirror), back to her ocean and her white house (back to the US from England) and of course the "after that no words were spoken between the two of them, ever again".. well, Stevie has said numerous times that "something" happened that meant they couldn't even be in the same room again.

If so then Wide Sargasso Sea is being used very well as a kind of framing device here and it makes me think.. was the "thing" that Rupert Hine was married? Did he have a wife that Stevie didn't know about? This would fit with the idea of the the first Mrs Rochester, hidden away in the attic, and Stevie as a Jane Eyre figure who went to his mysetrious English castle (where she says The Other Side Of The Mirror was recorded) only to find all of this out. Of course Stevie as Jane Eyre is perhaps a bit ott but as Stevie says... "Here I am dramatic".

What do we think?

LilyRose · #2 09-04-2011, 09:44 AM

I think it's mainly about the book, Wide Sargasso Sea. She might have drawn comparisons between the characters and her relationship with Rupert, but I think it's mostly about the book.

I do, however, think Ghosts Are Gone is about Rupert.

darklinensuit · #3 09-04-2011, 12:09 PM

I always assumed it's about Rupert.

And yes, the rumor has always been that his marriage broke them up, but I've never heard anyone say that Stevie never knew he had a wife.

- Jake

BrownEyedGirl26 · #4 09-04-2011, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodfather

Hey guys

I'm sure this has been asked before but I must have missed it... but surely Wide Sargasso Sea is about her relationship with Rupert Hine? I think there are just too many parallels for this not to be the case.

An English man.. her red dress (since red was the colour for The Other Side Of The Mirror), back to her ocean and her white house (back to the US from England) and of course the "after that no words were spoken between the two of them, ever again".. well, Stevie has said numerous times that "something" happened that meant they couldn't even be in the same room again.

If so then Wide Sargasso Sea is being used very well as a kind of framing device here and it makes me think.. was the "thing" that Rupert Hine was married? Did he have a wife that Stevie didn't know about? This would fit with the idea of the the first Mrs Rochester, hidden away in the attic, and Stevie as a Jane Eyre figure who went to his mysetrious English castle (where she says The Other Side Of The Mirror was recorded) only to find all of this out. Of course Stevie as Jane Eyre is perhaps a bit ott but as Stevie says... "Here I am dramatic".

What do we think?

Rupert Hine was the first person that came to mind when I read this also!

Jondalar · #5 09-04-2011, 08:22 PM

no. it's about the book and movie Wide Sargasso Sea

AliceLover · #6 09-04-2011, 08:27 PM

I heard that Rupert brought in a certain "substance" right before she was about to go on tour...

PenguinHead · #7 09-04-2011, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodfather

Hey guys

I'm sure this has been asked before but I must have missed it... but surely Wide Sargasso Sea is about her relationship with Rupert Hine? I think there are just too many parallels for this not to be the case.

An English man.. her red dress (since red was the colour for The Other Side Of The Mirror), back to her ocean and her white house (back to the US from England) and of course the "after that no words were spoken between the two of them, ever again".. well, Stevie has said numerous times that "something" happened that meant they couldn't even be in the same room again.

If so then Wide Sargasso Sea is being used very well as a kind of framing device here and it makes me think.. was the "thing" that Rupert Hine was married? Did he have a wife that Stevie didn't know about? This would fit with the idea of the the first Mrs Rochester, hidden away in the attic, and Stevie as a Jane Eyre figure who went to his mysetrious English castle (where she says The Other Side Of The Mirror was recorded) only to find all of this out. Of course Stevie as Jane Eyre is perhaps a bit ott but as Stevie says... "Here I am dramatic".

What do we think?

I think the theory is very plausible. I always wonder the hell happened between them; she eludes to something dire! Did he kick her dog?

Jondalar · #8 09-04-2011, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

I think the theory is very plausible. I always wonder the hell happened between them; she eludes to something dire! Did he kick her dog?

I think he tried to get her to do coke again.

Travisevian · #9 09-04-2011, 08:36 PM

Well, I like to think so.

michelej1 · #10 09-04-2011, 08:57 PM

That's why WSS made me think of Hines, because it's just like Jane Eyre. It's like she found out he had an insane wife in the attic and they could never, ever be together, for reasons having nothing to do with love!

So, I'm thinking if he kicked her dog, she would have stopped loving him, so it's not that

Something that ends a relationship, but not your love for the person.

Michele

louielouie2000 · #11 09-04-2011, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilyRose

I do, however, think Ghosts Are Gone is about Rupert.

I've never considered that song to be about any one person in particular. Instead, I've always felt it was about the "younger Stevie" finally being put to bed. The one who was addicted to various substances, addicted to egregious & fleeting male companionship, addicted to fame & excess, etc.

tabruns · #12 09-04-2011, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travisevian

Well, I like to think so.

Travis!! Gosh I haven't seen you in forever.

How have you been?

tabruns · #13 09-04-2011, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I've never considered that song to be about any one person in particular. Instead, I've always felt it was about the "younger Stevie" finally being put to bed. The one who was addicted to various substances, addicted to egregious & fleeting male companionship, addicted to fame & excess, etc.

Except that she said in an interview that "Ghosts Are Gone" is about a relationship that is so done that she'll never speak to the person in question ever again. She would in fact "go across to the other side of the street to avoid [him]" (as she said in the interview).

LilyRose · #14 09-04-2011, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tabruns

Except that she said in an interview that "Ghosts Are Gone" is about a relationship that is so done that she'll never speak to the person in question ever again. She would in fact "go across to the other side of the street to avoid [him]" (as she said in the interview).

Yes, the Jim Ladd interview. I mean Rupert is someone she really never talks about. She talks about Lindsey (for daysss), Mick, Don Henley, Jimmy Iovine, Joe Walsh, but not Rupert. I don't even know the last time she mentioned him.

tothegypsy · #15 09-04-2011, 09:58 PM

I think in a literal sense, it's about the book. But in terms of what caused Stevie to be drawn to the characters in the book, well that very well could have been the parallels to her relationship with Rupert. Or maybe not