ipl-logo

Comparison Of Identity In Zami And Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit

2898 Words12 Pages

Zami by Audre Lorde and Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson both complicate the traditional "coming out" narrative by exploring the complexities of identity formation. While both novels deal with themes of sexuality, they also challenge the idea that sexual identity is the only defining aspect of a person's identity.
In Zami, Lorde presents a complex portrait of her own identity as a Black, lesbian, feminist writer. The novel explores the intersections of these identities, as well as the ways in which they have been shaped by Lorde's experiences of racism, sexism, and homophobia. Lorde's narrative is fragmented, moving back and forth through time and space as she reflects on her own history and the histories of her community. …show more content…

Narrative Structure: Zami is a non-linear narrative that moves back and forth through time and space, while Orange Is Not The Only Fruit is a more traditional linear narrative. How does each novel's narrative structure affect its exploration of identity formation?
2. Cultural Context: Zami is set primarily in the 1950s and 1960s in the United States, while Orange Is Not The Only Fruit is set in 1970s England. How do the cultural contexts of these novels shape their representations of identity formation?
3. Intersectionality: Zami explores the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality in Audre Lorde's identity, while Orange Is Not The Only Fruit explores the intersections of religion, sexuality, and family in Jeanette's identity. How do these novels use intersectionality to complicate the traditional "coming out" narrative?
4. Parent-Child Relationships: Both novels explore the relationship between the protagonist and their mother, and how this relationship is shaped by their sexuality. How do these relationships differ in each novel, and what do they reveal about the challenges of coming …show more content…

The novel is written in a highly stylized and metaphorical language, blending elements of fairy tales and biblical imagery. This style reflects Jeanette's dual identities as both a devout Christian and a lesbian, and her struggle to reconcile these seemingly contradictory aspects of herself. Winterson's use of language is also deeply connected to her exploration of gender and sexuality, emphasizing the ways in which language can be used to marginalize and exclude certain identities and

Show More
Related
1186 Words | 5 Pages

In order for a book to satisfy the identity plot, it has to contain some elements: The narrative revolves around the question of how to define and understand a character's identity; the character must always be a member of a minority within a larger society; the character is at odds with the minority group of which she is a part; the character is conflicted about her differences from the minority

Read More
631 Words | 3 Pages

The novels' portrayal of gender is more nuanced than their portrayal of race. The novels delve deeply into the intricacies of gender identity, including the intersections of gender, sexuality, and motherhood. The novels also highlight how gender influences relationships and social dynamics within communities. In contrast, while race is an essential factor in the novels, it is not as nuanced as the portrayal of gender. The novels highlight the experiences of Black people and their struggles in a racially oppressive society.

Read More
192 Words | 1 Pages

A common theme each novel has is the struggle of identity while surviving. Many real people in the world have this struggle of being successful or just

Read More
1491 Words | 6 Pages

A double theoretical framework will be beneficial to offer critical analysis regarding the rhetoric illustrated in “Breakthrough” and “I am a Black Woman”. The two theoretical frameworks that will be used are: The Womanist theory theoretical framework and Aristotle’s ethos, pathos, and logos theoretical framework. Aristotle’s framework will focus on three core factors in directly analyzing both works: ethos (ethics and credibility), pathos (emotion and value), and logos (logical reasoning and comparisons). In addition, the Womanist theory will also be compared and distinguished with the three Aristotle frameworks by including three versions of the Womanist theory: womanish behavior and grown up expressions, the love for women sexually and/or non-sexually, and the parallelism to a Womanist being a feminist as to purple is being of lavender. Also, the diverse “loves” of a black woman can be expressed through pathos by a black woman’s emotions for certain things and people.

Read More
755 Words | 4 Pages

Identity is what makes up every individual. Some people think an identity is just their physical traits, but it is so much more. Everyone's identity is made up of their goals, thoughts, feelings, actions, etc. Within the stories, “Abuela Invents the Zero”, “The House On Mango Street”, and “The Outsiders”, there is a similar theme that shows that the characters don't know their own worth or belonging. Abuela feels like a nothing, Esperanza knows she doesn't belong there, and Ponyboy and Cherry feel separated by the stereotype.

Read More
1128 Words | 5 Pages

Lorde, throughout her text, makes it incredibly clear that she is comfortable with who she is and the labels she identifies with. However, she acknowledges that others may be fearful of her because she is a black lesbian poet or anything else she identifies with. My opening up about my mental health sparked another personal journey for me: discovering my identity. My predetermined identity labels like my age, gender, and race have never been the source of my questioning, but instead things like style, personality, and image. Just as Lorde had put fear into perspective and stole its power, I too had put it behind me.

Read More
437 Words | 2 Pages

The search for identity is a central theme in Melina Marchetta’s young adult novel “Looking for Alibrandi.” The author employs a range of techniques to explore this theme, including characterization, literary devices, and setting. One of the most prominent techniques Marchetta uses to convey the theme of identity is characterization. The novel’s protagonist, Josephine Alibrandi, feels like she doesn’t belong to any community, neither at school nor at home.

Read More
1724 Words | 7 Pages

Throughout literature the constant theme of identity has been explored, with Northrop Frye even suggesting “the story of the loss and regaining of identity is, I think, the framework for all literature.” For characters, true identity isn’t always apparent, it needs to be searched for. Sometimes the inner struggle for identity stems from ones need for belonging. Whether one finds their sense of identity within friends, family, or in a physical “home”. It’s not always a place that defines identity.

Read More
1146 Words | 5 Pages

A novel can hold countless deeper meanings that are easy to look past. Although literary theories help uncover some of these hidden meanings and further explore the novel in a new way (“Introductory Paragraph”). For instance, while analyzing The Lucky List and pinpointing some of these literary archetypes, the reader will recognize that identity comes from how you deal with obstacles and challenges life throws at you. For example, the character archetype of the lover, the symbolic archetype of the small town, and the situational archetype of the quest all illustrate the theme of identity in the novel.

Read More
1724 Words | 7 Pages

In this type of narratives, women are represented as subjects, capable of relating their own story. However, despite the increased room for the subjective representations of consciousness, the maternal perspective is still silenced under the weight of the daughter 's emerging subjectivity. In Oranges, the mother herself renounces to her power to speak. When she starts suspecting that her daughter’s lesbian tendencies, and thus the girl’s deviance from the heterosexual norm, may be due to the power they were given inside their religious community, she decides to step back, affirming that ‘the message belonged to men’.

Read More
525 Words | 3 Pages

Most people do not think of small towns to be safe and very calm, but this is not the case sometimes. Shirley Jackson in her time wrote a story about a town doing something terrible. Which then became controversial with one of the most hated stories of its time. Although it was a hated story, it shed light on small towns everywhere, and people thought that just maybe a small town can be as dangerous as Jackson depicted it. “The Lottery” was the title, and as said, very controversial in its wake.

Read More
1100 Words | 5 Pages

Lorde's legacy continues to inspire activists and artists today, as she remains a powerful voice for social justice and equality. Lorde explains why poetry is a necessity to women and what being a woman truly means, especially as a black woman herself. She claims that finding your voice is a means of understanding oneself and reinvigorating old ideas in an emotion-rich light. Audre Lorde's points that women must recognize the importance of

Read More
1468 Words | 6 Pages

Thus, this essay will examine how identity is portrayed in each novel. Firstly, the representation of the Other in The Icarus Girl is evident as Jessamy struggles to associate with one identity because of her mixed cultural ethnicity. It must be acknowledged that the fear of her identity from arises from the impact of post-colonialism, as the text illustrates how Jessamy is “haunted by the colonial experience and its aftermaths” (Mafe 23). The possibility of associating with her Nigerian heritage makes her uncomfortable because she is unfamiliar with everything that her heritage represents: “It was Nigeria.

Read More
1682 Words | 7 Pages

Female African American writers tend to focus more on the experience of black women (which we will consider for this novel). Black women are often introduced as the minority in the race, especially seen in writings during the 1970’s. Most of these writings have female characters who have domestic duties, which can reveal the passing of traditions and cultures from one generation to the next and the role of a woman in an inconvenienced household. They also deal with the image and perception of the Black woman, whether through looks, skin color, or her voice. The woman’s narrative is often formed gradually, often times alongside a woman who has already discovered herself, but we must consider that “it may take the form of exploring one’s own abilities, needs, and desires” (Tyson, 391).

Read More
479 Words | 2 Pages

Additionally, the narrator realizes her consciousness is constantly changing as she “loves the thing untouched by lore…the thing that is not cultivated… the thing built up” (473). The narrator’s consciousness faces another struggle between trying to find equal good in both the culture of her people and the new culture that has been introduced to her. Yet, she stands boldly “one foot in the dark, the other in the light” (473), as she forms a bridge between the two cultures and is stuck while she tries to understand her sense of self. Finally, the silent voice, a metaphor for her faith, calls out to her.

Read More

More about Comparison Of Identity In Zami And Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit

Related Topics

Open Document