Chapter #3 ; Leviticus 💫

 LEVITICUS 🌿

Hi everyone, and welcome back to my blog for Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson. Just a reminder! This space is where I’ll be keeping track of my thoughts, reactions, and literary observations as I read through the novel.

Let’s dive in with Chapter 3: Leviticus.

Response #1: My Personal Reactions

As I continued reading Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, “Leviticus” stood out to me because it dives deeper into Jeanette’s emotional and spiritual confusion. This is the part where she begins questioning what she has been taught her entire life. 🧡 It’s fascinating and honestly heartbreaking to see her try to make sense of her feelings for another girl while still clinging to the faith she’s been raised with. This chapter really got to me emotionally. Jeanette starts facing real confusion about who she is and what she believes, and it felt very personal to read. I could feel her fear and guilt as she starts to question everything her mother and the church have taught her. At the same time, I admired her courage. ⁉️ She’s just a young girl trying to understand love, but she’s constantly made to feel like her feelings are sinful. It reminded me of times when I’ve felt torn between faith and what my heart tells me is right.

I found myself frustrated with her mother here, but also a little sympathetic. She’s not evil, just blinded by her beliefs. This mix of emotions made the chapter really human and relatable for me. 🍊

Response #2: Key Literary Elements

Winterson uses symbolism beautifully throughout “Leviticus.” The biblical name itself represents rules, purity, and religious laws, which ties directly into Jeanette’s world being ruled by her mother’s strict faith. The contrast between spiritual “cleanliness” and human love becomes a central theme.

There’s also a lot of imagery that brings out Jeanette’s inner struggle, like her descriptions of being torn between light and darkness. The use of first-person narration keeps us close to her emotions, and the tone shifts between innocent humor and deep seriousness, showing how she’s growing up but still trapped in a child’s way of understanding the world. 🍊✨

Another thing that stood out to me is Winterson’s use of biblical allegory. Each chapter named after a book in the Bible mirrors Jeanette’s spiritual journey. “Leviticus” focuses on rules and purity, the exact concepts that clash with Jeanette’s natural sense of love and affection. It’s clever how Winterson uses this structure to critique rigid religious expectations without directly attacking faith itself. Instead, she makes us question what true holiness means: obedience or compassion? That question lingers long after the chapter ends. 🕊️

Closing Thoughts

By the end of “Leviticus,” I felt a mix of sadness and admiration. Jeanette’s innocence is slowly fading, but her strength is becoming more visible. This chapter really made me reflect on how faith can shape people in both beautiful and painful ways. I’ve always had faith myself, but I also believe that real faith should come from love, not fear. 💛

I want her to realize that her worth and her faith can exist together, without having to choose between them. 🍊💫 I’m excited to see how her strength continues to grow in the next chapter! See you next time for Chapter 4! 🧡✨