Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson is a semi-autobiographical novel that delves into the complexity of identity, religion, and forbidden love. Set in the 1960s in Accrington, Lancashire, a northern region of the United Kingdom, the story follows Jeanette, a young girl adopted by a deeply religious family, as she navigates the challenges of growing up in a strict, fundamentalist Christian household.

Character List and Their Roles

Jeanette: The narrator and central character is a sincere and devout child who believes in God and love. As the story progresses, she falls in love with another girl, Melanie, and this same-sex love becomes an inescapable part of her identity.

Jeanette’s Mother: A fundamentalist Christian who strives to mold Jeanette into a servant of God. She is combative, controlling, and hypocritical in her actions, representing the rigid and unbending establishment of the church.

Elsie Norris: A fictional friend Jeanette creates to cope with her feelings of isolation. Elsie represents the possibility of imagination and escape from the oppressive world Jeanette is forced to live in.

Miss Jewsbury: A closeted lesbian whom Jeanette refuses to become. Miss Jewsbury is awkward and unfriendly, and others in the church view her as unholy because of her latent sexual desires.

Melanie: Jeanette’s first lover, sweet and docile, but not particularly intelligent. She later marries and has children, denying her past relationship with Jeanette.

Jeanette’s Father: A silent figure in the novel, Jeanette’s father works at a factory and leaves early in the morning. The text barely mentions him, highlighting his absence in Jeanette’s emotional and spiritual life.

Mrs. White: A devout member of Jeanette’s church, representing the puritanical and unforgiving side of religious zealotry.

The story unfolds during the 1960s. Jeanette, the protagonist, is adopted by a devout Christian family that imposes strict rules on her upbringing. Her mother, the most significant figure in her life, is the embodiment of control and rigidity. Jeanette is taught to read the Bible and biblical stories, while novels and literature are strictly forbidden. This creates a conflict for Jeanette, who has a natural curiosity and passion for literature but finds herself isolated and ignored by her family when she expresses this interest. Jeanette’s struggles intensify when she falls ill, and her family refuses to take her to the hospital at first, ignoring her suffering. It is only when her condition worsens that she is taken to the hospital, where she has a strange and pivotal conversation with Elise. Later in the novel, we realize that Elise is not a real person, but a fictional friend created by Jeanette as a coping mechanism for the emotional neglect she experiences. Elise represents the possibility of imagination and escape from the oppressive world Jeanette inhabits. The novel is semi-autobiographical, with many of the characters representing real people from Winterson’s life. The story is not just about Jeanette’s coming-of-age but also about her struggle to reconcile her natural desires with the teachings of the church and her mother. As Jeanette grows older, she begins to question the teachings of both the church and her mother. She finds herself at odds with their rigid, perfectionist views, particularly after a sermon that insists on the pursuit of perfection.

One of the central conflicts of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit is Jeanette’s emerging romantic feelings for another girl, Melanie. This relationship challenges everything Jeanette has been taught. Their love affair is not heterosexual, and in the context of the church’s teachings, it is forbidden and deeply controversial. The pastor of the church publicly reveals their relationship during a Sunday service, and while Melanie accepts the scrutiny and judgment that follows, Jeanette does not. She feels trapped by the church’s rules and expectations, and although she complies, she internally rejects them. Jeanette’s conflict reaches a breaking point when her mother disowns her for being a lesbian. She is forced to leave home, without any family or friends to turn to. She finds herself alone, with no one to support her. The emotional and social isolation that Jeanette faces is a powerful commentary on the destructive nature of rigid, fundamentalist beliefs. However, as the novel concludes, we see a softening in Jeanette’s mother’s beliefs, suggesting that change and growth are possible even within deeply ingrained ideologies.

The novel ends with Jeanette leaving the church, a moment that signifies both a loss and a beginning. She is forced to start over, working in various jobs like an ice cream parlor. This marks the end of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, but Jeanette’s journey is far from over. In her second book, Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?, Jeanette delves deeper into her struggles with identity and her search for her biological family. This second novel continues where Oranges leaves off, offering insight into Jeanette’s ongoing journey of self-discovery and the challenges of finding peace with her past.

Jeanette Winterson’s Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit is a deeply moving and thought-provoking novel that tackles issues of identity, religion, and love. Through Jeanette’s story, Winterson explores the complexities of growing up, the struggles of accepting one’s true self, and the power of rebellion in the face of oppressive forces. It is a powerful narrative about finding truth, both within oneself and in the world around us.