Compare and Contrast the Presentation of Family Relationships Essay

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (OANTOF) by Jeanette Winterson, and Behind the Scenes at the Museum (BTSATM) by Kate Atkinson both highlight the fundamentality of families and the dissatisfaction experienced between these seemingly strained relationships. Both protagonists of the two books feel a sense of unacceptance due to a configuration of reasons involving suppression of desire caused by family members however this secret yearning also reveals itself through the characters experiences as the two novels progress. Both novels sh are one main reputation the quest for identity non only for the main characters, but also for their frets. cherry Lennox, the protagonist of BTSATM is a quirky, complex character who relates the events of her life and those of her dysfunctional family with extend to parts of humour and passion starting with her conception in York, England, in 1959 I exist (p. 9) Atkinson centres the novel on the idea of the conventional nuclear family, which is cl ose to ahead of her time as this concept wasnt in place at the time it was written, however she illustrates this through get under ones skin- young woman relationships and also explores this family unity first with her line drawing of marriage.She presents this concept in gener every(prenominal)y unfavourable terms, her writing shows us how marriage has evolved from women in the Victorian era marrying for primarily societal and economic reasons to the more turn views of the 1960s. Atkinson uses the character of Alice to provide an example of a lower middle-class muliebrity in the 1800s marrying for security so no longer having to work, rather than shaft. Alices choice was simple in its restrictions to go on teaching (which she loathed) or accept Fredericks offer of marriage (p. 32)Her purpose of marriage thus fits juiceless She marries believing she would escape the one thing she loathed, but thus traps herself in years of unhappiness with a man she does not even like not a day passes when Alice doesnt imagine what life would be like if she hadnt espouse Frederick Barker (p. 33). Unmarried women are spinsters, therefore frowned upon by society. uncomplete Rachel, whose marriage to Fredericks was merely appear of justification of acceptance in society, nor Alice, find any kind of fulfilment from their marriages to Frederick Barker as a sullen drunkard with an insatiable appetite for gambling (p. 33)Similar experiences happen to the women of the next two generations. Nells fear of being a spinster encourages her to marry Frank, the only pensionable man left after the war, and resigns herself to a similar life to that of Alices, one of dissatisfaction and second best. This settling for substandard simplicity rather than following dreams seems to become a prominent theme for the women of the book this is thus reiterated with Bunty She marries George after being abandoned by her fianci She wasnt entirely sure about this, but, with the war at present drawing to a close, the possibilities were beginning to fade (p. 108).Buntys marriage was thus, to the reader, predictable to fail as it follows the same unfulfilling course of antipathy and adultery as the antecedent generations. Both Nell and Bunty are pressured into marriage by loving expectations of the time. It is only in the liberation of the1960s, when ruby-reds generation begins to see love rather than social acceptance as the primary motive for marriage this new idea ultimately highlights the fairy tale like quality of the new reasons behind matrimony.Ruby illustrates this illusive expectation of romanticism in marriage and how damaging these unrealistic expectations can be. Ruby marries a beautiful boy with green eyes and shady hair (p. 335) However, these romantic ideas end in some truly wretched years (p. 358). Atkinson presents to us a picture of marriage through the ages that shows how a woman originally gave up her passions for a marriage of acceptance and conven ience in society, to one of Rubys idea of true love, however ultimately all marriage is predetermined, and is thus harmful to all women This is due to previous generations being so unsuccessful.This can be compared with Jeanettes mothers motivations for marriage in OANTOF as a way of progressing further in the church rather than love itself, however she secretly desires Pastor Spratt. The want for and lack of maternal love between Nell and Bunty leads on to the central point of the novel, the relationship between Bunty and her youngest daughter, Ruby. The social restrictions of the 1950s leave Bunty feeling a sense of imprisonment to survive within the domestic expertise as a wife and mother a slave to housework and shes chained to the cooker (p. 44).Bunty, trapped in a place she does not wish to have, dreams about What it would be like if her entire family was wiped out and she could start again (p. 14) this thought to any mother would seem totally unacceptable, she obviously l oves her children, however due to her own relationship with her mother, she is incapable of expressing this love. Bunty begrudges her daughters because they have entrapped her in an unsatisfactory life, this view is similarly held by Ruby, however she dislikes Bunty as a mother due to the romanticised notion of fairy godmother like figures that society enforced upon little girls.Ruby represents her mother as a monster, almost leaving the reader unresponsive and ignorant to Buntys pressures, however this highlights the reality of conventionality within mother-daughter relationships. Although Ruby may try to leave the reader disliking Bunty, it actually creates the opposite feeling as many mothers themselves reading the book will relate to Buntys situation as it is very normal and there is fascination and empathy behind the readers view of Bunty. This can be compared with Jeanettes mother in OANTOF as they are both similar in respect of their individual struggles.Jeanettes mother act ively seeks out combat with others. She feels delighted when she is able to sing hymns to irritate the next-door neighbors. While Jeanettes mother relishes religious fighting, other indication of her hypocrisy stands out in the novel for example her picture of her old flame yet she condemns lesbianism. This fight against the world is similar to Buntys however a contrast could be distinguished as Bunty does not have the ability or confidence to broadcast her struggles or deploy any mechanism to help her, due to her social unacceptance if she did so.We feel sympathy for Bunty, even thought Ruby outwardly wants the reader to see her flaws, we know she is not living the life she wishes to lead and has only married for functionality, whereas this contrasts the view we have on Jeanettes mother as she is made a mockery of. Both Ruby and Jeanette feel a sense of rejection from their mothers. For Ruby this is due to her and her family stopping Bunty living the life she wished for, but also due to the belief of causing Pearls death.For Jeanette this is because of her mothers fight with her homosexuality rather than her daughter herself, which has cursed her mothers plan for Jeanette to be a servant to God For Jeanettes mother, Jeanette is merely a tool for filling expectations of the church thus when she leaves, she leaves acceptance also. Both mothers and daughters share a similarity which makes their unacceptance ironic Bunty in that she was never accepted by her mother stuck right in the middle(p. 94), and Jeanettes mother by the fact she had a lesbian encounter herself.This can be compared with Jeanettes and her mothers relationship. Although there are obvious difficulties in Jeanette and her mothers relationship, Jeanette learns much from her mother and her mothers role in the church. Jeanette is similar to her mother in the sense that she learnt to be an outspoken and strong person, important in dealing with and defending her sexuality. Although she has broke n away from her mothers faith Jeanette has inherited her mothers strength of conviction on pursuing happiness and what she believes is right.