Searching For Life Other Than"Oranges"

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit is a semi-autobiographical novel of Jeanette Winterson who is one of the most talented writers of contemporary Britain.This is also a female bildungsroman,telling the experiences of love and sorrow in people's growth.This work was published in 1985 and won the Whitbread Prize for a First Novel.Owing to the feminist themes and novel methods of creation in her works,she is praised as “the heir of Woolf” by the British publishing industry.This thesis analyzes Winterson's search for the meaning of life from the perspective of existentialism.This thesis is composed of five parts.The introduction briefly introduces the background and works of Winterson,literature review of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit at home and abroad,a brief introduction of the existentialism theory as well as the framework of the thesis.The first chapter analyzes in detail the absurdity in all aspects of life after the World War ?,which includes the limitations of family education,the hypocrisy of religion and the unhappiness of marriage.Her abnormal family education brings her much trouble in school life;the deception and exclusion of the religious dogmas make her realize the irrationality of religion;the unhappiness of her parents' marriage and other heterosexual marriages makes her gradually realize that she is alienated from stranger to the life and the world.Second chapter analyzes Winterson's trouble and her confusion about a series of problems.She finds it difficult for her to make her own choices.Her anxiety manifests itself in the duality of her adoptive mother,religious dogmas and gender identity.Her mother has some unholy actions in the disguise of her holy position,which confuses Winterson;the superstition and the contradiction of religious dogmas make her feel perplexed;the question about whether to choose homosexuality and heterosexuality also bewilders her.The core of existentialism is freedom,that is,people are absolutely free when they choose their own actions.In the world,everyone is free to make his own choices in the face of various circumstances,including what actions to take and how to take actions.Winterson realizes that she is absolutely free,and she should follow her own heart and make choices.The third chapter is a detailed discussion of Winterson's rebellion against social constraints.She finally escapes from the family control,religious beliefs and gender trouble.She shoulders her own responsibility in an active way,getting the freedom of spirit and action.She pursues be economic independence and emotional independence,escaping from the family control;she refuses the perfection and bondage of religion,escaping from the religious dogmas;she challenges male supremacy and commits herself to gender identity,escaping from the gender trouble.One has to take the responsibility and accept the consequences of choices.Winterson eventually determines the essence and the value of her existence in a free action.In the process of Winterson's growth,owing to her identification with homosexuality,she is subjected to the suppression of the family,church,and the patriarchal society.After experiencing her self-awareness,anxiety and a series of choices,Winterson finally is brave enough to accept her own gender identity and escapes from the family,religion and gender bondage,getting the joy of life and acquiring a true self.The thesis,it finds out that Winterson,as a British modern woman writer in the 20 th century,pursues the essence of life and searches for the diversity of life.The protagonist of the novel also sets a positive example for modern people to pursue themselves.