Chapter 7: Judges

This chapter contained what we expected to happen at some point, her mother choosing the church over her daughter and kicking her out. After Melanie left Jeanette started managing her own bible study and taking on other duties within the church. Eventually she engaged in another relationship with a member of the same sex, Katy. All seemed well for awhile until, on a week-long trip away, their excitement got the better of them and someone outside their door noticed their activities. Jeanette took the fall, leaving Katy out of her explanation, instead fabricating a story about the absent Melanie. Jeanette seemed better equipped to handle the fallout this time. Katy and Jeanette kept their calm and made a plan, a plan that unfortunately laid all the blame on Jeanette’s willing shoulders but a plan, nonetheless. During the fall out Jeanette kept her cool and resisted their damnation's. She stayed true to herself and refused to go through the church’s demon exorcising ordeal a second time. Throughout all of this her mother has been the most disappointing. Ideally a mother stands by and supports their child in all things. Unfortunately, Jeanette’s mother is not a unique case, especially among religious fanatics, or even just the average parent. Kicking out your child and not caring how they will survive, especially your daughter is mind boggling to me. Jeanette handled it well though, she restrained herself until she handled her current crisis. Finding a place to live away from home for the first time and making the decision to work more in order to make her way in life was very courageous.

            The scene that stood out to me in this chapter was near the beginning, on pages 146 to 147. The scene describes how Katy and Jeanette went away for a week at the Morecambe guest house for the bereaved. It was here that they were found out on the first night. They planned for the fallout, “The plan was the most fanciful of my brilliant career and from her point of view it worked perfectly. There was no hope for me.” (Winterson 146) This quote alludes to first off her plan and how the plan involved Jeanette taking all the blame. Jeanette went on to tell the church that she had secretly met with Melanie again, freeing Katy from all suspicion. This showed Jeanette’s willingness for self-sacrifice, ironically a virtue that church celebrates. Jeanette went into this ordeal with no intention of suffering the same fate twice, “I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew I wouldn’t live through any of that again.” (Winterson 147) The characters are expanded upon in this scene, Katy’s sadness about the situation and Jeanette’s willingness to take the fall alone saving Katy from, Jeanette put it, “She was stubborn and angry like me, but unlike me she couldn’t cope with the darker side of our church.” (Winterson 147) The scene ends with a note of sincere determination.