1.

The opening paragraph starts with the words “like most people” written in capital letters. This sentence is a stylistic choice of the novelist to capture the attention of the reader, it doesn't mean what it seems but the opposite in fact Jeanette is not like most people. The same concept is also expressed in the title “Oranges are not the only fruit”, it is not only the vision of Jeanette's mother, represented by oranges, but also points of view. To sum up “like most people” refers to Jeanette's future lesbianism.

2.

In the novel “Oranges are not the only fruit” there are lots of reference linked to a religious Christian context. The novelist titles the eight chapters of her novel as the Octateuch, the traditional name for the eight books of the Bible. At the same time, the themes of the novel correspond to the themes of the biblical books. For example, the biblical book of Genesis describes the beginnings of the world, the origin of humanity, likewise Winterson's genesis also tells of Jeanette's beginnings and her placement in her family. Other religious references dominate this chapter, Jeanette's adoption is described as an immaculate conception because Jeanette's mother received a child without having sex. After Jeanette's mother found her, Jeanette cried for seven days and seven nights taunted by demons, in the same way Christ was tempted by the Devil for the same time.

3.

Jeanette's mother is combative and controlling. She is a woman characterized by hypocrisy for example she is one of the most devout members of her congregation but a careful examination of her actions shows that she doesn't act in uncharitable ways. For example the lack of charity in her heart can be seen in the way that she treats Jeanette. During the opening chapter, Jeanette's mother doesn't appear to love her daughter for instance when it turns out that Jeanette has gone deaf, she ignores and leaves her alone in hospital. A true believer in the teaching of Jesus would spend more time comforting Jeanette's sickness. Right from the opening of the novel it is presented the patronising role of the mother, she decides everything in Jeanette's life from the time she gets up to the time when she goes to sleep. In the first chapter Jeanette begins three paragraphs with the words “My mother”, this in my opinion can suggest the important role of Jeanette's mother in her daughter life but also the characterization of the character.

4.

The first chapter doesn't develop in a lineal flashback, it proposes the description of Jeanette's childhood and the most important facts of her early years. The novel is written in the first person, it's direct and inhibited but it is not an autobiography, in my opinion this is a stylistic choice of the novelist in order to make the story true.

As a child she deeply believe in her mother and in her teaching. At the beginning of her life Jeanette had the same point of view of her mother but later when she started to go to school she knew a different world and new points of view.

She is compassionate and kind, although in the last chapters her church tortured her by starving because of her sexuality. Jeanette is very strong-willed, she takes a decision and she defends it even if her mother doesn't approve.

5.

A particular story that the novelist includes in “Oranges are not the only fruit” is the story of the gipsy and her palm reading. The gypsy woman predicts to Jeanette that she will not marry, this is another suggestion of Jeanette's future. The gypsy presents a different point of view, totally different from the opinion of her mother.

6.

Among the narrator's remembrances appear fables, in Genesis is presented the story of the princess and the hunchback. This fable seems unrelated to Jeanette's life but a careful analysis of this story reveals that it is actually a mythic retelling of what happens to Jeanette. The princess is so sensitive that she can't live well, but after the hunchback gives her something to do, the princess forgets her pain. This happens also to Jeanette, who saves herself from distress with her mother's religion.