Oranges are not the only fruit Flashcards
quote that shows the Manichean outlook of Mrs Winterson
“She had never heard of mixed feelings. There were friends and there were enemies.”
“she was in the white corner and that was that”
what does this quote show?
“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”
- mythic quest that resembles the quest of Christ.
- “And” replicates the narrative technique of the Bible.
- “too much hair” twists austere style to question the nature of narratives and fictions
- it also represents attempt to rewrite a classic book in her own style,
- suggests that no text actually represents truth. texts are subjective representations of reality
how do fundamentalist christian views reflect ideas expressed in Deuteronomy
- believe “the bible states the truth without error”, “every sentence is true and correct”
- winterson makes us question its legitimacy “fishiest of fish tales”
- dominated by the male voice
contemporary views about marriage and sexuality
- marriage is between one man and one woman
- homosexuality is a sin
manichean fundamentalist christian view that is manifested in mrs w
christians go to heaven and everyone else goes to hell
“there were friends and there were enemies”
fundamentalist christian view that is manifested in J’s exorcism
- if a member of the church act in a way that contradict their dogma, it is the community’s responsibility to force the member to admit sin and ask for forgiveness
synopsis of genesis
how does this link to the bible story?
- book of creation, origin story
- start of J’s life, how her mother tries to mould her to be a missionary
synopsis of exodus
how does this link to the bible story?
- Israelites escape from Egypt, live in new land
- end of chapter, J’s feelings of displacement when she’s forced to leave home and go to school
- contrasts w Israelites who accept “strange notions” (concepts that don’t conform to Church’s beliefs) without problem
synopsis of leviticus
how does this link to the bible story?
- jewish laws
- mothers doctrines dictating L’s life and so J’s life
synopsis of numbers
how does this link to the bible story?
- wandering of the Jews in the wilderness
- J tries to navigate her way through a world in which marriage is supposed to be sacred yet married women find no joy in it
- becomes to come into her sexuality and meets Melanie (falls in love)
synopsis of deuteronomy
how does this link to the bible story?
- last book of the law in the Bible, W gives it this subtitle (only one to have one)
- v short, personal reflection, not part of the narrative
- time, storytelling vs history, fact/fiction
- chapter reflects purpose of deut: reiterating most imp. themes in bible so far
synopsis of joshua
how does this link to the bible story?
- leader Joshua keeps ppl safe bc of his faith in God over Hi military skills
- militaristic way church deals w J’s homosexuality, believe their words show Gods word
- W learns she must be true to herself, tricks those around her w false statements, admits homosexuality is a sin, repents to satisfy them
synopsis of judges
how does this link to the bible story?
- Jewish people rebelling against God and being continually punished by him, lacking strong leadership so don’t act in their best interests
- W returns to church and acts rebelliously (true to herself and sexuality)
- leaves church and is forced from her home
synopsis of ruth
how does this link to the bible story?
- few instances when women are at the core of stories in the bible
- Ruth chooses to remaron w her mother in law after her husband’s death and to adopt religion
- though J can’t stay w her adoptive mother after finding her sense of self and rejecting L’s beliefs, calm reconciliation w L that fits the mood of Ruth
quote to show the anonymity of j’s father and the subversion of gender roles
- in mrs w’s eyes “never quite good enough”
- My father liked to watch the wrestling…
- “her husband” – noun suggests separation, lack of importance to family, dismissive tone.
- but can challenge patriarchy – presented as Mrs W’s possession, ultimate matriarch.
quote to show the indoctrination of religious and heteronormative dogma in contemporary society
“She would get a child, train it, build it, dedicate it to the Lord”
- heterosexual expectation bound within religious doctrine
quote to show the stigma attached to lesbianism
- 2 women who own paper shop:“She said they dealt in unnatural passions. I thought they put chemicals in the sweets.”
– contrast of knowing, adult, judging voice, with J’s innocence – underscores the taught prejudice by church vs reality - even an innocent child, can fall from
blessedness and become “a house of demons.” - pastor in front of congregation “fallen under satan’s spell”
quote to show the hypocrisy of the church
- mrs w is manifestation of its manichean nature
- enemies “sex in its many forms” but book of “old flames”, repressed female sexuality, lesbian tendencies in heteronormative setting
quote to show the restrictive confines of marriage and heteronormativity
- women state they were married to “pigs” and “beasts”
“Sometimes he was blind, sometimes a pig, sometimes my mother, sometimes the man from the post office, and once, just a suit of clothes with nothing inside.”
- next door “the strange noises, like cries for help” also j’s unhealthy upbringing regarding sex
quote to show repressed female sexuality
- mother’s conversion “v romantic”
princess metanarrative - “great energy”, in fairytale
what does w’s spiral narrative show?
- metanarratives are allegorical manifestations of J’s desire to escape from her own self-imposed limitations on her identity
how do the woman who shopped and oranges connect
the woman and J both are shunned by society for not conforming to heteronormative expectations, prioritise their own desires as women
doesn’t prioritise the “groom”, )
- Allusion, Ovid’s Metamorphoses (terrible fates exacted on overreaching, aspiring mortals)
- ‘stone hair’, birds ‘shriek’ -> classical harpies
- present punishable ‘sin’ that offends the gods
her own desires:
Image of prostitution- welcomes/anticipates being the vehicle of an obscene capitalist ceremony - the desecration of her own body.
J shunned by society for prioritising her sexuality over satisfying her church’s dogma
how does the long queen, history and oranges connect?
“Her flesh now sprung from her head” – an allusion Zeus eating his wife and child – Mrs W as an overbearing megalomaniac, breaks gender norms
Perfection meta narrative significance and quotes
“without blemish inside or out, flawless in every respect.”
- no success, goose says prince modify expectations, chops off head.
- writes book on perfection: only way world can be
saved from corruption is producing “world full of perfect beings.” woman not interested, head cut off bc didnt conform
- prince said he “stamped out a very great evil
