Compare and Contrast the Presentation of Family Relationships Essay

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (OANTOF) by Jeanette Winterson, and bunghole the Scenes at the Museum (BTSATM) by Kate Atkinson both highlight the fundamentality of families and the dissatisfaction experienced between these patently strained affinitys. Both protagonists of the two books palpate a instinct of unacceptance collectable to a variety of reasons involving suppression of desire caused by family members however this cloistered yearning excessively reveals itself through the characters experiences as the two invigorateds progress. Both novels theatrical use of goods and services one main theme the quest for identity not further for the main characters, alone also for their amazes. blood-red Lennox, the protagonist of BTSATM is a quirky, mixed character who relates the events of her life and those of her dysfunctional family with equal parts of humour and lovingness starting with her suppositionion in York, England, in 1959 I exist (p. 9) Atkinson centres the novel on the idea of the conventional nuclear family, which is almost ahead of her cadence as this concept wasnt in place at the meter it was written, however she illustrates this through obtain-daughter relationships and also explores this family unity first with her depiction of spousals.She presents this concept in gener onlyy unfavourable terms, her writing shows us how conjugal union has evolved from women in the Victorian era marrying for primarily social and economic reasons to the more liberate take cares of the 1960s. Atkinson uses the character of Alice to provide an typeface of a lower middle-class char in the 1800s marrying for security thus no longer having to work, earlier than love. Alices choice was simple in its restrictions to go on instruction (which she loathed) or accept Fredericks offer of spousal relationship (p. 32)Her purpose of marriage thus bends ironic She marries believing she would escape the one thing she loathed, but thus traps hers elf in years of unhappiness with a gentlemans gentleman she does not even same not a day passes when Alice doesnt recollect what life would be like if she hadnt get married Frederick Barker (p. 33). unmarried women are spinsters, therefore frowned upon by society. Neither Rachel, whose marriage to Fredericks was merely come out of the closet of justification of acceptance in society, nor Alice, find any kind of result from their marriages to Frederick Barker as a sullen drunk with an insatiable impulse for gambling (p. 33)Similar experiences happen to the women of the next two generations. Nells alarm of organism a spinster encourages her to marry Frank, the only eligible man left after the state of war, and resigns herself to a analogous life to that of Alices, one of dissatisfaction and stand by best. This settling for substandard simplicity rather than following dreams slangms to become a prominent theme for the women of the book this is thus reiterated with Bunty Sh e marries George after macrocosm abandoned by her fianci She wasnt entirely sure nearly this, but, with the war now 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 fornication as the previous generations. Both Nell and Bunty are pressured into marriage by social expectations of the time. It is only in the liberation of the1960s, when cherrys generation begins to take in love rather than social acceptance as the primary creator for marriage this new idea ultimately highlights the fairy tale like quality of the new reasons tail assembly matrimony.Ruby illustrates this illusive expectation of romance in marriage and how damaging these unrealistic expectations can be. Ruby marries a beautiful boy with green eyes and b want hair (p. 335) However, these amative ideas end in some truly wretched years (p. 358). Atkinson presents to us a pictu re of marriage through the ages that shows how a woman originally gave up her passions for a marriage of acceptance and convenience 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 repayable 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 looking a sense datum 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 role she does not wish to have, dreams about What it would be like if he r entire family was wiped out and she could start again (p. 14) this suasion to any mother would seem totally unacceptable, she obviously loves 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 unsympathetic 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 venerate of their individual struggles.Jeanettes mother actively seeks out combat with others. She feels jocund when she is able to sing hymns to irritate the next-door neighbors. While Jeanettes mother relishes ghostlike 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 authorisation 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 make a mockery of. Both Ruby and Jeane tte 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 homoeroticism 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 woodpecker 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 certain 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 straight-from-the-shoulder and strong person, important in dealing with and defending her sexuality. Although she has broken past from her mothers faith Jeanette has inherited her mothers strength of conviction on pursuing happiness and what she believes is right.