Chapter 2: Exodus

            The second chapter of the book Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit gave me a lot to think about. But the biggest thing was an ever-increasing dislike of the mother. Her religious fervor is detracting from her being a loving mother. I understand that I am defining ‘loving mother’ by my meaning of the phrase and that, to the mother in concern she probably does think she is being a loving mother. But when your child goes deaf due to the clothes she is wearing, tries to tell you about it and instead of going to the hospital you claim religious enlightenment, there is something wrong. To then leave that child in the hospital before she undergoes a surgery the next morning is unbelievable to me. As a grown adult, any surgery, no matter how benign, makes me nervous. The emotional trauma that could cause a lone child upsets me greatly. It is disheartening that she wasn’t sure if her final wishes would be followed if she passed away, and just reinforces my view that her mother and father are sub-par parents. She mentions her parents visiting after the fact, but the lack of description or focus on those visits signifies to me a dearth of interest. She focuses much more on the interactions between herself and Elsie. From what it sounded like Elsie was one of the first people to talk to her and not at her. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like Elsie will be the outside stabilizing presence she needs. Her age and forgetfulness make her ill-suited for that role.

            The scene I chose was, in my mind, the beginning of her troubles in school. “At school I couldn’t seem to learn anything or win anything.” (Winterson 42) This scene demonstrated how school was a new and foreign environment for her. An environment she was having trouble adapting to. The issue shown in this scene is that she has been raised with certain ideas and expectations of what everybody ought to know. Her lack of knowledge that not everybody thinks the way that people in her home environment think is her downfall here. Her determination to do well can be seen by the amount of work she puts into her essay “What I Did in my Summer Holidays” (Winterson 43) Unfortunately certain views from her family comes to light that negatively affects her standing in the class. The teacher does not let her finish her reading, to giggles from the class. Although she had problems before this at school, I think this was the beginning of the other kids not liking her. Throughout the chapter and this scene, she draws on religious stories to fortify her resolve and determination. While impressive, I fear that it isolates her from different ways of thinking and perhaps new perspectives. The cause, almost assuredly, being her upbringing. While to early to break away, I think this is just one scene of many that will demonstrate that while not wrong, her way of thinking will certainly not make her many friends. I think this could be a catalyst to initiate change in her way of thinking, how long that will take is the question.