Oranges are not the only fruit: function of the first two chapters

"Oranges are not the only fruit" is a novel written by Jeanette Winterson during the winter of 1983. It is arranged into 8 chapter, each having the name of a book of the Octateuch (a traditional name for the eight books of the Bible, comprising the Pentateuch, plus the Book of Joshua, Book of Judges and Book of Ruth).

The first chapter is the "Genesis". As the name suggests it is about the origins. In the novel Jeanette tells about Jeanette's early years of childhood, when she was adopted. It is not only the origin of her life, but also the origin of her education, based on religious knowledge, given by her mother whomis obsessed by religion. Therefore it is the beginning of her mission: she is chosen by her mother for a specific role, she is the "Chosen Girl".
All that can be linked to the Bible, where the Genesis is about the origin of the world and especially the decision of God to elect the Jew as the "Chosen People".

The second chapter is the "Exodus". It means "going out" or departure". In the Bible it refers to the book which deals with the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and their oppression.
It follows that the title fits well with the plot of the second chapter of the novel: it is about Jeanette's beginning of school. It can be compared with an exodus from her home and especially from her mother's ideas. Indeed she was accustomed to spend her time at home and to have only contacts with her mother and the church. But when she started school she went out of everyday life and she experience  other points of view from her own.

It is the beginning of Jeanette transformation g her to go away from her mother's conceptions.