why be happy when you could be normal? by jeanette winterson structural analysis desirèe mosca va
TRANSCRIPT
Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?
By Jeanette Winterson
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
Desirèe Mosca VA
LITERARY GENRE
Memoir
• focus on emotions, feelings
• unfold of the writer’s emotional life along her telling literature as finding place
• association of ideas, without respecting chronology
• pursuit of authenticity
A Memoir is not an Autobiography!
EXPECTATIONS FROM THE TITLE
Why? question start from a problem, doubt Be/Could undefined subject question for anyone
Happy aim of all human-beings
Normal standardization, suppression of individualism, acceptance
The reader expects the novel to be about choices and their implications: the influence of people’s opinion, the pursuit of the aim,the meaning of the choice…
DEDICATION
To my three mothers:
C. Winterson adoptive mother (upbrought Jeanette)
R. Rendell literary mother (helped Jeanette with the re-discovery of her past story)
A. S. biological mother (object of Jeanette’s search)
Even if quite different from each other, they were all fundamental figures for Jeanette
TRIBUTESThanks to friends, editors, supporters,
who believed in Jeanette and supported her
STRUCTURE
Fifteen chapters and a Coda
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTERS
a) TITLE: how does it introduce the content of the paragraph?
b) CONTENT: how is each chapter linked to the previous one?
c) CHARACTERIZATION: Jeanette vs Mrs. Winterson
FIRST CHAPTER The Wrong Crib
Wrong: idea of mistake, inadequacy, issue introduction of the main topic of the novel: adoption and life as an adopted child
SECOND CHAPTER My Advice To Anybody Is: Get Born
Advice to Anybody: literature as instrument for everybodyGet Born: “origin” as fundamental part of people’s story and identity pursuing of happiness as objective for life
Development of the main topic introduced in the previous paragraph
THIRD CHAPTER In The Beginning Was The World
Quotation from the Bible: religious texts as basis of Jeanette’s education and basis of Mrs. Winterson’s thought
Resumation of the binomia happiness-life, trough the comparison between Jeanette and her mother
FOURTH CHAPTER The Trouble With A Book…
Quotation from the chapter: Mrs. Winterson’s and Jeanette’s idea of reading and literature: differences between characters
Development of the content of the previous chapter: function and reading of books
FIFTH CHAPTER At Home
Home: “centre of gravity”, “place of order”, reference point Jeanette’s discomfort at home Jeanette’s discovery of an alternative home: books
Another point of view about books: the emotional bond between book and reader
SIXTH CHAPTER Church
Church: second crucial setting of Jeanette’s life: place of help, hope it comforted Jeanette hostile place (ex. exorcism) made her reflect about contradictions of love and religion
Description of another seminal place in Jeanette’s history
SEVENTH CHAPTER Accrington
Description of the small town, its inhabitants and shops
Wider portrait of the place in which Jeanette lived
EIGTH CHAPTER The Apocalypse
Apocalypse: reference to Mrs. Winterson’s belief about religion, meaning of life and idea about death; meatphor for the discovery of Jeanette’s omosexuality,a crucial event in her life
Resumation of two topics: religion and sexuality
NINETH CHAPTER English Literature A-Z
Books as “messages in bottles”, writers as friends, who could support Jeanette in her diffficulties
Further explanation about Jeanette’s conception of literature
TENTH CHAPTER This Is The Road
This is the road: (quotation from the previous chapter)Application and admission to Oxford and reflection about the role of women in society
ELEVENTH CHAPTER Art and Lies
Art: double reference to Jeanette’s university career and to her reflections about literature as art-formLies: reference to biases by the university tutor against Jeanette and women and by Mrs Winterson against Vicky and Jeanette
Development of the previous chapter, regarding life at University
Intermission
Reflection about life and art, fighting against chronological time.Jeanette’s predilection for imagination and emotions, not facts.
Another point of view about Art
TWELFTH CHAPTER The Night Sea Voyage
Night: darkness a great, dark secret is unvealed and it has got repercussions on Jeanette’s life and moodSea Voyage: reference to an episode of Jeanette’s life, metaphor of an important discovery (sheep drawer, treasure certificate)
THIRTEENTH CHAPTER This Appointment Takes Place In The Past
Appointment: multiple references: love affair with Susie, research about adoption with root, last meeting with the father and appointment with her biological mother
Consequences of the discovery described in the previous chapter
FOURTEENTH CHAPTER Strange Meeting
Meeting between Jeanette and her biological motherStrange: mix of multiple emotions felt by Jeanette
Description of the crucial appointment, anticipated in the previous chapter
FIFTEENTH CHAPTER The Wound
Wound: mark, that has got different meanings to differnt people. Both Mrs Winterson, Jeanette and Anne were wounded
Jeanette reflects on her vojage trough time and finally feels at home
CODA
Information about the following meetings between Jeanette and Ann, reflection about maternity and love, Determination to face the future
CHARACTERIZATION
Jeanette Winterson:
• She is the narrator as well as the protagonist;
• The reader knows her trough her most private feelings , thoughts and trough the account of some meaningful episodes of her life;
• The reader takes part in her sufference and troubles;
Mrs. Winterson:
• The reader knows her trough Jeanette’s description subjective portrait
• Information about her ideas, life-style and physical-appearance are provided, as well as numerous quotations she liked
• The attitude of the reader towards her is changable: on one side he feels compassion, on the other side he criticizes her because of her eccessive hardness