Chapter 5

Thoughts and Reactions

Chapter 5 of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit under the title "Deuteronomy" diverged entirely from the preceding parts of the narrative. This part combines storytelling with philosophical elements above the simple narrative of Jeannette's life events. The fifth chapter of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit presents confusing yet interesting material that pulls readers toward stories apart from Jeanette's direct story. Through careful consideration I noticed that the tales in the book actually describe her fighting challenges. Throughout this section the book examines what truth means and how those in controlling positions determine its nature.

    One thing that stood out to me was how the chapter questions the way religious stories are told. Throughout the passage Jeanette obtains the revelation that both history and religious beliefs contain a complexity surpassing her original understanding. This made me think about how much of what we believe is shaped by those who tell the stories. Jeanette's analysis of such topics seemed thought-provoking to me since she had endured numerous traumas during the previous section.

    The chapter’s change to abstract discussions brought momentary irritability even though it removed Jeanette’s direct narrative. I wanted to know more about how she dealt with her mother and the church following her life-changing experiences. Winterson integrates this section because it illustrates how Jeanette develops an understanding about how our perspective of reality is formed through narratives and belief systems. This part of the text altered my perspective regarding truth together with power and the decision-making authority over right and wrong beliefs.

Literary Element: Language 

    One important literary element in this chapter is language. Unlike the earlier chapters, where the writing is more straightforward, this chapter uses a more symbolic and philosophical style. A major scene that highlights this is when Jeanette talks about history and says, "History is a string full of knots. It’s not what’s been untied, it’s what’s been tied in the first place." The definition of the study of history in this quote establishes that historians need to discover which individuals shaped the information in question. Jeanette pursues a journey of questioning everything she learned at church alongside the teachings of her family. Language functions as a tool throughout this chapter because Winterson uses fables and myths as a way to make her points. By using this technique I believe readers gain new insight into how ideas are presented and makes them contemplate whether to accept information without question. The chapter fights against absolute truths because it presents ideas about how reality exists uniquely through personal perspectives.

    I think this chapter is where the story and writing begin to shift because this is where Jeanette turns a new chapter in her intellectual growth and it marks an important development point for her. The world's events no longer trigger mere reactive responses from her since she now employs intellectual methods to analyze the different ideas and concepts of her surroundings. The philosophical elements in her narrative style represent her intellectual development while building up the novel's central themes regarding absolute truth and individual identity.