2. Jeanette Winterson She was born in Manchester Adopted by a Pentecostal family She was a normal girl in a middle class society She wasn’t encouraged to pursue any academic career She family only had 6 in the bible – one being the Bible Her parents intended for her to be a missionary Luckily, she got into Oxford and studied English Her first novel was written in 1983 and was published in 1985.
3. Oranges Oranges was published in 1985 It was perceived as a novel about the universal ‘rite of passage’ talking about the experiences of growing up and finding your own identity It includes typical confrontation between the younger and older generation Allusions such as greek mythology, biblical figures and events, artists, poets, music and historical figures are incorporated in the novel Oranges deals with issues such as; Tolerance Vs. Acceptance, Definition of what is morally good, Authority & Undermining stereotypical representations of women, and specifically of lesbian sexuality
4. Chapter 1: Genesis Jeanette is the focal character in the book. She is the person telling her story to the audience We find out that Jeanette is actually adopted, linking in with the authors actual life There is first a description on the first page describing Jeanette's mother: She is traditional Believes in values Her ideas are black and white It is clear to see she is religious as she uses references such as ‘God’ and ‘The Devil’ at the beginning of the novel
5. Genesis; The biblical book of Genesis describes the beginnings of the world, man, and the tribes of Israel. Likewise, Winterson's chapter also tells of Jeanette's beginnings, describing Jeanette, her placement in her family, and her unique family life. Other religious references dominate this chapter. Winterson describes Jeanette's adoption with imagery and language from the New Testament. Jeanette's mother, who disagrees with sex, sees the adoption almost as a perfect conception because she received a child without having sex. Because of her mother's propaganda, Jeanette herself reports that from a very young age she always knew that she was special. Ironically, this specialness most obviously relates to her future as a lesbian, a group often categorized as "special," rather than as a Christlike figure whom she may also become.
6. Narrative; The movement of the narrative seems to follow the way of the narrator's consciousness as she remembers. Among Jeanette's remembrances, there suddenly appears the fable about the princess and the hunchback. A careful analysis of the princess/hunchback story reveals that it is actually a retelling of what happens in Jeanette's world. The princess is so sensitive that she cannot function, but after the hunchback gives the princess something to occupy her hours the princess forgets her pain. Likewise, Jeanette finds something to save her from distress at a young age: her mother's religion.
7. Quotes; “She had never heard of mixed feelings. There were friends and there were enemies.” This backs up the fact that her mother is back and white about her opinions, reflecting her extreme nature. Her mother isn’t very sympathetic and does not show her emotions The description lays the backdrop for the future conflict that Jeanette will have with her mother personality
8. Quotes; “And so it was that on a particular day, some times later, she followed a star until it came to settle above an orphanage, and in that place was a crib, and in that crib, a child. A child with too much hair.” This is a biblical reference, like the nativity story It shows her mother was already disappointed in her daughter by having too much hair Jeanette's adoption is described in the terms that compare her to Jesus Christ
