About the Programme
In Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre (1847), Bertha Rochester (née Mason) - unkempt, insane, and locked in an attic of her husband’s mansion - exists only as a shadowy figure in the narrative of Jane, one of world literature’s most beloved heroines. More than a century later, Jean Rhys’ Wide Sargasso Sea (1966) pulls back the curtain on Bertha’s backstory, reimagining her as a woman shaped by love and loss, and existing in the shadows of colonialism.
How do we see her as more than just an arsonist? A madwoman? A victim? This lecture will explore how Rhys gave voice to a silenced character and how we can escape from the literary straitjackets of the past.
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About the Series
Ever wanted to read a classic but felt too intimidated to take the plunge? A Bridge to the Classics is a lecture series that aims to introduce and demystify beloved works of literature. This series will equip attendees with the title’s literary and historical contexts and connect these classics to our lives today.
Season 6 of A Bridge to the Classics presents Dreaming New Worlds, a journey through four powerful literary moments that dared to imagine beyond the limits of their time. Join four NTU English professors in exploring romantic reveries, colonial legacies and posthuman anxieties, revealing how writers have imagined new worlds in the personal, political and national realms.
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About the Speaker
Sim Wai Chew obtained his BA from the University of East Anglia, UK, and his PhD. from the University of Warwick, UK. His Chinese-to-English translation of Chia Joo Ming’s Exile or Pursuit (放逐与追逐) was published in 2019.
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📍Venue: Central Public Library (Programme Room 2)
🏢 Address: 100 Victoria St, #B1-01, Singapore 188064
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, 8 Oct 2025
🕛 Time: 7.30 pm - 8.30 pm
🎟️ Admission: Free admission.