INTRODUCTION

The writer explains the origins of the novel and the difficulties she had to publish it at the beginning. Quoting her words Oranges:"is an experimental novel" , that's to say it follows our mental processes which are not straightforward. According to the writer it tries to explain the difficulties of homosexuals who have to face the perversity of other people. She affirms that her heroine deals with questions that go across classes, cultures and colors. She leaves the reader  with the doubt if it is an autobiographical novel or not.

GENESIS

Jeanette is the single narrator. In the Bible, the book of Genesis describes the beginning of the world, man and tribes of Israel. Likewise Winterson's chapter also tells of Jeanette early years, describing Jeanette herself, her placement in the family, and her family life. J. Winterson describes Jeanette's adoption with imagery and using language from the new Testament. Jeanette's mother sees the adoption almost as an immaculate conception because she received a child without having sex. She follows a star and finds her child, the elected One. Just as Jeanette's mother can be compared to Mary, so Winterson makes a parallel between Jeanette and Christ. Jeanette's mother confirms Jeanette's position as a Christ figure by convincing Jeanette that her destiny lies in changing the world. She is different. She suffers 7 days just as Christ did in the desert, and she is 7 years old. 7 is a Biblical number.

THE FABLE

The fable about the princess and the hunchback appears suddenly. It is the first of many short stories in the novel that will ultimately comment upon the shifty nature of narrative itself. The princess is too sensible that she cannot live and when the hunchback gives her something to occupy her hours the princess forgets her pains. Likewise Jeanette finds in her mother's religion something to save her from her anxieties. This story has the function to underline the sensibility of Jeanette and at the same time it is the explanation of the origin of Jeanette herself. Her mother needs Jeanette and she travels to find her.

EXODUS

In the holy Bible the book of Exodus describes the story of the flight of the people of Israel from Egypt. In the novel  we find the same theme. Jeanette goes to school out of her domestic borders. She flees the physical and ideological confines of her home. By going to school Jeanette begins to know ideas that are not those of her mother's. The opening scene of the second chapter shows that Jeanette doesn't agree with her mother's ideas. In the chapter Jeanette's mother is described as an hypocrite. She doesn't care about her daughter's problem. Very important is the meeting between the child and Elsie who introduces her to a different world. Her experience at school begins to evidence her difficulties with the world outside. She tries to face them, but none, expected Elsie helps her. The chapter ends with the quotation of the story of the Emperor Tetrahedron  who is able to face many situations because he has many faces. No emotion it is the final one.