Oranges are not the only Fruit

Chapters 1 and 2 - Analysis

Jeanette Winterson organizes her novel Oranges are not the only Fruit into eight chapters, each one named as one of the first eight books of the Bible (called Octateuch).

Right from their title, the reader understands that religion is a very relevant issue in the book.

The first chapter (Genesis) introduces such theme: Jeanette, the protagonist, tells her story and the reader is immediately informed that the girl has been adopted by a woman who is extremely obsessed by religion.

Further on, the title Genesis evokes the main topic of the first book of the Bible: the creation of the world and the first era of the human race.

Likewise, the chapter is about Jeanette's adoption, early years and education.

The second chapter holds the name of the second book of the Bible: Exodus, that is the book which deals with the flight of Jews from Egypt to avoid servitude.

Similarly, the chapter is about Jeanette's first years of school: facing people not so concerned in religion as her acquaintances are, Jeanette partially frees herself from the influence of her mother's way of thought. She starts to understand that there is much more than what her mother tells her.