Conflict between the Individual and Society in Jeanette Winterson’s Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit

Year 2021, , 1 - 10, 30.05.2021

Emrah Atasoy

https://doi.org/10.53048/johass.836754

Abstract

Jeanette Winterson’s novel, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (1985) illustrates the story of a young girl, Jeanette, who experiences suppressive upbringing at the hands of her mother and her surroundings. Through the portrayal of her transition into adulthood, the novel touches on numerous challenging issues such as gender, identity, and the reliability of the mainstream patriarchal discourse. The main character’s gradual transformation reveals the controversial aspects of her society juxtaposed with her sexual orientation as a lesbian and her oppositional stance against the ingrained doctrine of the Church. This study will, in this respect, discuss Jeanette’s rebellion as an individual against her oppressive society in Winterson’s Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit through specific references from the primary source and relevant secondary sources in an ultimate attempt to reveal how identity, gender roles, and truth are all discursive practices.

Keywords

Jeanette Winterson, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, gender, identity, patriarchal discourse

Jeanette Winterson’ın Tek Meyve Portakal Değildir Romanında Birey ve Toplum Çatışması

Abstract

Jeanette Winterson’ın Tek Meyve Portakal Değildir (1985) başlıklı romanı, annesinin ve çevresinin baskıcı yetiştirme tarzına maruz kalan genç kız Jeanette’in hikâyesini anlatmaktadır. Roman, bu genç kızın erişkinlik dönemine geçiş tasviri aracılığıyla, toplumsal cinsiyet, kimlik ve baskın ataerkil söylemin güvenirliği gibi birçok tartışmalı konuya değinmektedir. Ana karakterin kademeli dönüşümü, Jeanette’in içinde yaşadığı toplumun tartışmalı boyutlarını ortaya çıkarmaktadır. Bu süreçte, karakterin lezbiyen olarak cinsel oryantasyonu ve kilisenin kökleşmiş öğretilerine karşı muhalif tutumu önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Bu bağlamda bu çalışma, Winterson’ın Tek Meyve Portakal Değildir romanında lezbiyen karakter Jeanette’in içinde yaşadığı baskıcı topluma karşı nasıl başkaldırdığını tartışacaktır. Bu tartışma, birincil kaynaktan ve konu ile alakalı ikincil kaynaklara spesifik göndermeler üzerinden gerçekleşecektir. Çalışmanın nihai amacı ise kimliğin, toplumsal cinsiyet rollerinin ve gerçeğin söylemsel pratikler olduğunu ortaya çıkarmaktır.

Keywords

Jeanette Winterson, Tek Meyve Portakal Değildir, toplumsal cinsiyet, kimlik, ataerkil söylem

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