Chapter 8 End Thoughts and Analysis

 Thoughts and Reactions 

    In the concluding chapter, "Ruth" of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, the writer Jeanette Winterson renounces traditional closure by showing Jeanette’s progress without a definite resolution. It delivers thoughts about development alongside a mysterious feeling of personal growth. Reading of this chapter showed and taught me that life frequently lacks the definite conclusions we see in movies or books. Despite Jeanette still distancing herself from religious rituals and fails to make up with her mother, she still does not seem completely lost. She still continued to create and follow her own path with no regard for the uncertainty it comes with.

    The structure of stories was very meaningful to me because it teaches readers to find understanding in their existence. Jeanette fights with her identity as well as her faith and her feeling of belonging throughout the entire novel. This revelation enables her to comprehend that people create individual stories to make sense of their life experiences. The experience led me to question how people explain their past experiences through storytelling while building toward their future. The novel's structure gained more appreciation because Winterson integrated myths and fables, which represented the multiple perspectives found in life.

    Jeanette maintains an interesting perspective by not entirely abandoning her past while simultaneously moving on from it. She acknowledges that her mother and the church congregation helped form her character while still understanding she no longer belongs in their lives. The experience demonstrated to me that spiritual growth does not require discarding our origins rather, it means obtaining wisdom from them. The book concludes by making readers (a.k.a. me) reflect because Jeanette continues her pursuit of understanding, although she has achieved freedom through self-discovery.

Literary Element: Theme

   One of the most important literary elements in this chapter is theme, particularly the theme of self-acceptance and storytelling. During this turning point, Jeanette notes that people who attempt to return fail to make it because their dual existences pursue and threaten them simultaneously. According to the line’s message, Jeanette understands she is trapped between past and present existence because she cannot return fully or make her former self disappear completely. She needs to understand and integrate both elements of her identity emerging from her background while developing personally.

    The chapter presents the vital role of storytelling as a central theme. The author employs mythical alternate narratives throughout the book to show how stories mold our reality. Through her narrative in "Ruth", Jeanette shows her acceptance of life as our self-created account. Jeanette demonstrates her growth through this phase by intentionally restructuring the narrative of her life into what she believes correctly represents herself. Jeanette understands that her upbringing is both a part of her overall life story and one of its many significant experiences.

    The major concepts of identity alongside faith and narrative power fully embody the core messages of the book. The story's resolution lacks clarity since real situations in life usually remain unresolved. This demonstrates that personal development continues throughout one's life. The realistic and meaningful quality of the end appears due to its organic development. Throughout life, Jeanette has enjoyed the freedom to build her own narrative even though she does not possess all the solutions.