'Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit' and the Theme of Music Eric Luo 10th Grade

The autobiographical novel Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson explores the themes of religious tolerance and relationships affected by differences of beliefs. It tells the story of Jeanette, a girl who struggles to find her sexual identity in a deeply religious Christian community that is unable to see eye to eye with her. Jeanette must decide on how to balance conforming to the standards of the church and her mother, as well her individual personality and acceptance of who she really is. As the story progresses Winterson uses the presence and absence of music and sound to highlight the growing rifts between her true identity and that of the church. In the beginning of the novel Winterson describes the two sides of Jeanette’s life with equal joy and nostalgia, reminiscing about her mother’s singing as well as Elsie’s piano and accordion. But a difference in sounds soon appears as problems in the relationship between Jeanette and the church, specifically her mother, start emerging. When Jeanette’s conflicts with the church and her mother are at their strongest, such as after Jeannette is found having a lesbian encounter for the second time, the music is sharply contrasting, with the church musician Mrs. White...