Final answer:
Feminist criticism of 'Wide Sargasso Sea' sees Rochester as an embodiment of Victorian patriarchy, and his considerable narrative space in the novel serves to reinforce this reading by exposing the underlying power dynamics from the oppressor's point of view.
Step-by-step explanation:
Feminist readings of Wide Sargasso Sea indeed see the work as an indictment of Victorian patriarchy, interpreting Rhys’ portrayal of Rochester as evidence of this critique. Although Rhys grants Rochester considerable narrative space, it doesn’t necessarily complicate the feminist reading; rather, it can reinforce it by providing insight into patriarchal mindsets and justifications.
The expansion of his character underscores the power dynamics and his role in subjugating the novel's female protagonist, underscoring the themes of exploitation and tyranny from the perspective of the oppressor.
Through the feminist lens, characters are often evaluated based on their relationship to power structures. Rochester's actions, as narrated by him, reveal the rationalizations of patriarchal dominance and control, which can be seen as serving to further demonstrate Rhys’ feminist critique rather than countering it.
Thus, the feminist critique is not solely about the quantity of narration but rather the content and implications of those narratives, which in the case of Wide Sargasso Sea clearly point to a critique of patriarchal structures and their impact on women’s lives.