Synopsis
Covers the whole plot, including the ending.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Pacing
- Variable
- Mood
- Whimsical, Philosophical, Bawdy, Fantastical, Subversive
- Read it if
- You enjoy experimental literary fiction that plays with historical settings, myths, and gender roles, featuring a strong, unconventional narrative voice.
- Skip it if
- You prefer linear plots, realistic settings, or straightforward character development.
Sexing the Cherry Plot Summary
Covers the whole plot, including the ending.
The Foundling and the Dog-Woman
In 17th-century London, a very large woman known only as the Dog-Woman, who lives an unusual life by the Thames, finds a baby boy in a basket. Despite her initial hesitation, she takes him in and names him Jordan. The Dog-Woman is a very strong woman with practical wisdom, often seen with her pack of dogs. She raises Jordan with fierce love and an uncommon education, teaching him to see the world through her unique perspective, preparing him for a life that will be far from ordinary. Their early life together forms a bond that goes beyond typical family relationships, setting the stage for Jordan's future adventures and thoughts.
Jordan's Fascination with the World
As Jordan grows, he shows a strong curiosity about the world beyond the Thames. He spends his youth watching the busy city, the ships, and the people, absorbing stories and knowledge. His unusual upbringing by the Dog-Woman, who encourages his independent thought, fuels his desire to understand reality, space, and time. He becomes especially interested in maps and exploration, dreaming of distant lands and other worlds. This period of his life is marked by a growing intellectual hunger and a romantic idealism, which will eventually lead him to search for the legendary Twelve Dancing Princesses and the very edge of the known world.
The Quest for the Twelve Dancing Princesses
Driven by a strong desire to travel and a romantic ideal, Jordan decides to go on a dangerous journey to find the legendary Twelve Dancing Princesses. These princesses are not just folklore figures, but for Jordan, they represent a deep mystery, embodying beauty, freedom, and an elusive truth about love and existence. His quest takes him across vast oceans and through various fantastical places, blurring the lines between reality and myth. He meets many different characters, each with their own unique philosophies and stories, further shaping his understanding of the world. This journey is not just physical but an inner one, as Jordan deals with his own desires, identity, and the nature of love and obsession.
The Dog-Woman's Philosophical Rants
Throughout Jordan's story, the Dog-Woman offers her own fiercely independent and often wild philosophical rants. These parts contrast sharply with Jordan's more romantic and thoughtful journey, providing a grounding, yet equally rebellious, perspective. She speaks out against societal rules, especially those that oppress women, the hypocrisy of organized religion, and the absurdity of power structures. Her monologues are honest, bawdy, and show a deep sense of justice. She represents a wild, untamed femininity, challenging traditional ideas of beauty, morality, and strength. Her voice is a powerful counterpoint, anchoring the story's fantastical elements in sharp social commentary.
Jordan's Love for the Princess
During his travels, Jordan finally meets the Twelve Dancing Princesses and falls in love with one of them, a figure of ethereal beauty and elusive charm. This love becomes the main focus of his quest, changing it from a general search for meaning into a deeply personal pursuit. His descriptions of his beloved are full of poetic longing and a sense of the sublime, yet also hint at the difficulties and perhaps impossibility of fully possessing another person. This relationship, or rather the pursuit of it, forces Jordan to confront desire, the limits of reality, and the challenges of true connection in a world where everything is constantly changing.
The Princess's Perspective
Mixed with Jordan's story, the voice of one of the princesses appears, offering a different view of their mythical existence. She speaks of her desire for freedom, her wish to escape the endless dancing and the limits of her enchanted world. Her story reveals the burdens of eternal beauty and the limitations of being an object of desire. She wants a life of agency and self-determination, separate from the romanticized image Jordan and others project onto her. This counter-narrative challenges Jordan's idealized vision, showing the complexities of gender roles and the objectification inherent in romantic pursuit, even in a fantastical setting.
Time and Space Collapse
A main feature of the novel is its fluid and often anachronistic handling of time and space. The story often collapses centuries, with characters and events from the 17th century existing alongside modern ideas and technology. This temporal fluidity is not just a style choice but a basic part of the book's exploration of reality and perception. Characters speak in ways that go beyond their historical settings, and the world itself seems to bend to imagination. This constant shifting creates a sense of timelessness, suggesting that certain human experiences, desires, and struggles are universal and go beyond specific historical contexts, blurring the lines between past, present, and future.
The Dog-Woman's Reckoning with Society
Throughout the story, the Dog-Woman remains a strong force against societal pressures. Her unconventional life, her large size, and her outspoken nature make her a target of fear and suspicion. She faces accusations of witchcraft and general moral wrongdoing from the more conservative parts of London society. Despite this, she remains defiant, refusing to conform or be silenced. Her resilience in the face of judgment highlights her role as a symbol of untamed nature and radical individuality. Her conflicts with authority figures show the widespread intolerance and narrow-mindedness of societies, both historical and contemporary, and comment strongly on the persecution of those who deviate from the norm.
Jordan's Return and Transformation
After his many travels and encounters with the princesses, Jordan eventually returns, changed by his experiences. He has gained a deeper, though more complex, understanding of love, reality, and desire. However, the absolute truth or the definitive possession of his beloved remains out of reach, reflecting the novel's inherent slipperiness of meaning. His quest becomes less about finding a tangible object or person and more about self-discovery and accepting ambiguity. He carries with him the weight of his experiences, the beauty of his romantic ideals, and the lingering questions that continue to define his existence, reflecting the ongoing human search for meaning.
The Nature of Storytelling and Truth
The novel consistently blurs the lines between fact and fiction, history and myth, inviting the reader to question the nature of storytelling and truth. Both Jordan and the Dog-Woman are unreliable narrators in their own ways, presenting their versions of events with passion. The shifting perspectives, anachronisms, and fantastical elements all contribute to a sense that reality is not fixed but a construct shaped by individual perception and narrative. Winterson uses this technique to suggest that stories are not just reflections of truth, but active creators of it, and that telling a story shapes what we believe to be real, making the reader an active participant in finding meaning.
The Dog-Woman's Final Musings
In her final sections, the Dog-Woman offers moving and often funny thoughts on the lasting aspects of human existence. She thinks about the raw, vital forces of love and sex, the resilience of the human spirit, and the cyclical nature of life and death. Her perspective, though still bawdy and irreverent, takes on a deeper, almost mournful tone, as she considers her own death and the legacy of her unconventional life. She remains a powerful symbol of defiance and authenticity, ending her story by reaffirming the importance of living fully, embracing one's true nature, and challenging the limits imposed by society and conventional thought.
The Endless Dance
The novel does not offer a clear resolution but ends with a sense of ongoing movement and change. The quest for the princesses, the nature of love, and the limits of reality remain fluid and open to interpretation. The idea of the 'dance' – whether it's the princesses' eternal movement or the constant flux of life itself – becomes a main metaphor for the book's conclusion. It suggests that truth and meaning are not static destinations but continuous processes, always unfolding and redefining themselves. The ending reinforces the novel's core message: that imagination, desire, and storytelling are powerful forces that continually shape our world and our understanding of it.
Principal Figures
The Dog-Woman
Protagonist/Supporting
A monstrously large, fiercely independent woman who defies societal norms.
The Dog-Woman is a colossal, physically imposing woman from 17th-century London, known for her immense strength and her pack of loyal dogs. She is earthy, bawdy, and utterly unconcerned with societal expectations or gender roles. She embodies untamed nature and radical individuality, speaking with a blunt, philosophical voice that often challenges the reader directly. Her worldview is one of fierce independence, skepticism towards authority, and a deep, unconventional love for her adopted son, Jordan. She is a symbol of female power and resistance against patriarchal structures and hypocrisy.
Relationships: Jordan (Adoptive mother, mentor, philosophical foil); Society (general) (Antagonistic, defiant, critical observer)
Jordan
Protagonist
A curious, romantic young man raised by the Dog-Woman, obsessed with exploration and the Twelve Dancing Princesses.
Jordan is the foundling son of the Dog-Woman, raised in an unconventional environment that fosters his intellectual curiosity and romantic idealism. He is a seeker, driven by an insatiable desire to explore the world, understand the nature of reality, and find the legendary Twelve Dancing Princesses. He is deeply introspective, poetic, and prone to philosophical musings about love, time, and the universe. His quest is both literal and metaphorical, representing the human search for meaning and connection. He is often naive but possesses a profound capacity for wonder and devotion.
Relationships: The Dog-Woman (Adoptive son, student, recipient of her unconventional wisdom); The Princess (Object of his romantic obsession and philosophical quest)
The Princess
Supporting
One of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, a figure of ethereal beauty and a symbol of elusive desire.
The Princess (often singular, representing the collective) is one of the mythical Twelve Dancing Princesses whom Jordan seeks. She is a figure of captivating beauty, embodying an idealized and unattainable love. Her own narrative reveals a desire for freedom and agency, challenging her role as a passive object of male desire. She represents the elusive nature of beauty, the constraints placed upon women, and the gap between romantic idealization and lived experience. Her voice brings a crucial counter-perspective to Jordan's quest, highlighting the complexities of gender and desire.
Relationships: Jordan (Object of his romantic pursuit, philosophical counterpoint); Her sisters (Companion in their enchanted existence)
Preacher Scroggs
Antagonist/Mentioned
A zealous, morally rigid preacher who embodies societal hypocrisy and intolerance.
Preacher Scroggs represents the oppressive, judgmental forces of 17th-century society. He is a figure of rigid morality and religious zealotry, often appearing in the Dog-Woman's narratives as a source of persecution and condemnation. He embodies the hypocrisy and narrow-mindedness of those who seek to control and punish anyone who deviates from conventional norms. His pronouncements highlight the societal pressures and dangers faced by figures like the Dog-Woman, serving as a foil to her radical freedom and a symbol of institutionalized intolerance.
Relationships: The Dog-Woman (Antagonist, accuser, symbol of societal judgment)
Jack
Supporting/Mentioned
One of the Dog-Woman's many lovers, representing her earthy sensuality.
Jack is one of the Dog-Woman's many lovers, a figure who appears in her recollections and represents her uninhibited sensuality and connection to the physical world. He is not a deeply developed character but serves as a testament to the Dog-Woman's rejection of conventional morality regarding sex and relationships. He is a reminder of her vibrant, unapologetic embrace of pleasure and her refusal to be confined by societal expectations of female behavior. His presence underscores the Dog-Woman's radical freedom and her connection to elemental, unrefined aspects of life.
Relationships: The Dog-Woman (Lover)
Other Sailors/Explorers
Supporting
Figures Jordan encounters during his travels, offering diverse perspectives.
During his extensive travels, Jordan encounters various sailors, explorers, and inhabitants of different lands. These characters, often unnamed or briefly sketched, serve to broaden Jordan's understanding of the world and expose him to a multitude of philosophies, superstitions, and ways of life. They contribute to the novel's rich tapestry of human experience, offering different perspectives on time, space, love, and reality. They are often sources of stories, legends, and practical knowledge, further fueling Jordan's intellectual and spiritual quest, and blurring the lines between the mundane and the fantastical.
Relationships: Jordan (Fellow travelers, sources of information and new perspectives)
Themes & Insights
The Nature of Reality and Perception
The novel constantly questions what is real, blurring the lines between history, myth, and individual perception. Through anachronisms and shifting narratives, Winterson suggests that reality is not fixed but a construct shaped by imagination and storytelling. Jordan's quest for the princesses is a search for ultimate reality, while the Dog-Woman's practical yet fantastical worldview challenges traditional ideas. The book says that truth is subjective and fluid, making the reader question the reliability of any single narrative, as seen in the contrasting accounts of events and the presence of fantastical elements within a historical setting.
“What is real and what is not? It is a question I have asked myself many times. The answer, I think, is that we make it up as we go along.”
Love, Sex, and Desire
A central theme is the many-sided nature of love, sex, and desire, explored through the contrasting experiences of Jordan and the Dog-Woman. Jordan's romantic, idealized love for the Princess is a search for an ultimate, almost spiritual connection, bordering on obsession. The Dog-Woman, conversely, embodies a raw, earthy, and uninhibited sexuality, celebrating physical pleasure and rejecting societal limits on female desire. The novel looks at the complexities of longing, the elusiveness of true possession, and the societal pressures that shape how love and sex are seen and expressed, showing both their transcendent and physical aspects.
“To be loved is to be at home in the world. And yet, home is a place that is always being built.”
Freedom and Confinement
The struggle between freedom and various forms of confinement is a common theme. The Dog-Woman represents radical freedom, defying societal norms, gender expectations, and religious dogma, even as she faces persecution. Jordan seeks freedom through exploration and the pursuit of an idealized love, but finds himself confined by his own desires and the limits of reality. The Princesses, despite their magical existence, are confined by their eternal dance and their role as objects of desire. The novel examines how individuals deal with external pressures and internal limits, exploring the desire for liberation and the different ways characters try to break free from their personal and societal cages.
“I am a woman and I want my freedom. And if I cannot have it, then I will make it.”
Gender and Power
Winterson challenges traditional gender roles and power dynamics through her characters. The Dog-Woman is a powerful, dominant female figure who defies patriarchal authority and redefines femininity outside of conventional beauty standards and submissiveness. Her monologues directly address the oppression of women and the hypocrisy of male-dominated society. Jordan's romantic quest, while seemingly traditional, is complicated by the Princess's own voice, which reveals the limits of being an object of desire. The novel critiques the historical and ongoing power imbalances between genders, supporting female agency and self-determination.
“A woman's place is in the home, they say. I say a woman's place is wherever she damn well pleases.”
The Power of Storytelling and Language
The novel is deeply metafictional, always drawing attention to how it is made and the power of language. It shows how stories shape our understanding of the world, create reality, and pass meaning across generations. The narrative structure, with its shifting perspectives and anachronisms, highlights the subjective nature of truth and the author's ability to manipulate time and space through words. Both Jordan and the Dog-Woman are storytellers in their own right, crafting narratives that reflect their unique worldviews. The book celebrates the imaginative capacity of language to build worlds, define identities, and challenge traditional thought.
“Stories are like rivers, they flow from one place to another, carrying all sorts of things with them.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Anachronism
The deliberate placement of elements from different historical periods together.
Winterson frequently employs anachronism, blending 17th-century London with modern sensibilities, objects, and ideas. This device challenges the reader's sense of linear time and historical accuracy, suggesting that certain human experiences and philosophical questions are timeless. It blurs the lines between past and present, creating a dreamlike, fantastical atmosphere where the conventional rules of history do not apply. This technique allows for a broader commentary on human nature, transcending specific historical contexts and emphasizing the enduring nature of themes like love, freedom, and the search for meaning.
Unreliable Narrator
The use of narrators whose credibility is compromised or subjective.
Both Jordan and the Dog-Woman can be considered unreliable narrators, each presenting their unique, often highly subjective, versions of events and philosophical interpretations. Jordan's narrative is steeped in romantic idealism and a quest for an elusive truth, while the Dog-Woman's is characterized by bawdiness, fierce independence, and a radical, often exaggerated, perspective. This unreliability forces the reader to actively engage with the text, question the nature of truth, and piece together meaning from multiple, sometimes contradictory, viewpoints. It underscores the novel's theme that reality is constructed through individual perception and storytelling.
Metafiction
A literary device where the text draws attention to its own status as a fictional construct.
Winterson frequently employs metafiction, reminding the reader that they are engaging with a story. This is evident in the Dog-Woman's direct addresses to the reader, the explicit discussions about storytelling, and the overt manipulation of narrative time and space. The novel self-consciously explores the act of writing and reading, questioning the boundaries between author, reader, and text. This device invites the reader to consider how stories are made, how they influence our understanding of the world, and how fiction can illuminate truths that conventional narratives might obscure. It makes the reader an active participant in the creation of meaning.
Myth and Folklore Reimagined
The reinterpretation and integration of classic myths and fairy tales.
The novel extensively reworks and integrates elements from traditional myths and folklore, most prominently the tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. These stories are not merely retold but are reimagined and infused with new meaning, serving as allegories for contemporary concerns. By placing these timeless narratives within a fractured historical context, Winterson explores their enduring psychological and philosophical resonance. This device allows her to delve into universal human desires, fears, and archetypes, while simultaneously critiquing and expanding upon their original interpretations, giving familiar tales a subversive and modern edge.
Sexing the Cherry Quotes
“What you see is what you get, but not always what you expect.”
“I am a woman and a son of a bitch. I am a monster and a lover. I am a man and a mother.”
“There are no new desires, only new objects of desire.”
“The past is not a package to be wrapped up and put away. It is a living thing, a part of us, that we carry everywhere.”
“Love is not a place, it is a voyage.”
“We are not made of flesh and bone, but of stories.”
“Every secret takes on a life of its own, growing and twisting until it is no longer recognizable.”
“The future is a foreign country; they do things differently there.”
“What is normal anyway? It's just a setting on a washing machine.”
“The world is full of invisible things, and not just the wind.”
“I was born with a caul over my face, which means I can see ghosts and talk to animals.”
“There is no such thing as a fixed point. Everything moves, even if it looks like it's standing still.”
“Happiness is a garden, not a house. You have to tend it, water it, watch it grow.”
“The greatest journey is the one you make inside yourself.”
Quiz
10 questions on the plot and the characters. Each answer comes with a short explanation.
Question 1
Who discovers the infant Jordan floating in the Thames?
- The Twelve Dancing Princesses
- The Dog-Woman
- John Tradescant the Elder
- Fortune
Show answer
B. The Dog-Woman The Dog-Woman, a giantess, is the one who finds Jordan as a baby floating in the Thames and raises him.
Question 2
What is the primary profession or role of Jordan, the protagonist raised by the Dog-Woman?
- A gardener and collector of exotic plants
- A sailor and explorer
- A revolutionary leader
- A storyteller and playwright
Show answer
B. A sailor and explorer Jordan becomes a sailor, traveling the world and bringing back exotic goods and stories, much like the historical John Tradescant the Younger.
Question 3
Which historical figure's voyages and collections are a significant inspiration for Jordan's character and adventures?
- Sir Francis Drake
- Captain James Cook
- John Tradescant the Younger
- Walter Raleigh
Show answer
C. John Tradescant the Younger Jordan's character is heavily influenced by John Tradescant the Younger, a 17th-century botanist and collector who traveled widely.
Question 4
What is the Dog-Woman's defining physical characteristic, beyond her immense size?
- She has hair that changes color with her mood.
- She has an extra digit on each hand.
- She is covered in thick, coarse hair like an animal.
- She has eyes that glow in the dark.
Show answer
C. She is covered in thick, coarse hair like an animal. The Dog-Woman is described as being covered in hair, giving her a bestial appearance, which contributes to her unique identity.
Question 5
The novel frequently shifts between different time periods and locations. Which of the following best describes the primary historical setting from which the narrative often departs and returns?
- Victorian London
- The English Civil War era (17th Century)
- Elizabethan England
- Post-World War II Britain
Show answer
B. The English Civil War era (17th Century) While the novel spans centuries, a significant portion of the historical narrative is set during the tumultuous period of the English Civil War.
Question 6
What concept does the 'sexing the cherry' phrase in the title primarily refer to within the novel's context?
- The act of literally determining the gender of a cherry tree.
- The attempt to classify and understand the true nature of love and desire.
- A specific gardening technique for cultivating rare fruit.
- A metaphor for genetic manipulation and scientific discovery.
Show answer
B. The attempt to classify and understand the true nature of love and desire. The phrase 'sexing the cherry' becomes a metaphor for the human attempt to define, categorize, and control love, sex, and identity, much like trying to assign a definitive 'sex' to something as fluid as desire.
Question 7
Who are the 'Twelve Dancing Princesses' in the novel, and what is their symbolic role?
- Literal princesses who appear in a fairy tale within the book, symbolizing escapism.
- A group of women who challenge societal norms and represent female agency and rebellion.
- Mythical figures from ancient Greek mythology, guiding Jordan on his voyages.
- The twelve daughters of the Dog-Woman, representing her maternal instincts.
Show answer
B. A group of women who challenge societal norms and represent female agency and rebellion. The Twelve Dancing Princesses are a collective of rebellious women who defy patriarchal expectations, embody female desire, and challenge traditional gender roles, often appearing in different guises across time.
Question 8
What is the name of the woman Jordan falls in love with, who is often elusive and appears in different forms across his travels?
- Fortune
- Grace
- Charity
- Liberty
Show answer
A. Fortune Jordan's beloved is named Fortune, a figure who embodies the unpredictable and often fleeting nature of love and destiny.
Question 9
The novel explores the fluidity of identity. Which of the following best encapsulates how characters' identities are presented?
- Identities are fixed and determined by birth and social status.
- Identities are singular and unchanging throughout a person's life.
- Identities are permeable, shifting, and can be adopted or shed across time and circumstance.
- Identities are solely defined by physical appearance and gender.
Show answer
C. Identities are permeable, shifting, and can be adopted or shed across time and circumstance. A core theme of the novel is the mutable nature of identity, where characters can embody different roles, genders, and even personalities across various timelines and narratives, challenging fixed notions of self.
Question 10
What literary device is most prominently used in 'Sexing the Cherry' to create its non-linear and dreamlike narrative structure?
- Strict chronological order with a single point of view.
- Extensive use of stream-of-consciousness narration.
- Magical realism, interweaving historical fact with fantastical elements and temporal shifts.
- A series of epistolary letters exchanged between characters.
Show answer
C. Magical realism, interweaving historical fact with fantastical elements and temporal shifts. The novel is a prime example of magical realism, blending historical facts and realistic settings with fantastical events, anachronisms, and the blurring of time and space, creating its distinctive narrative style.
Sexing the Cherry FAQ
What is the central premise of 'Sexing the Cherry' and who are the main characters?
'Sexing the Cherry' follows the intertwined narratives of the Dog-Woman, a colossal and fiercely independent woman living in 17th-century London, and her adopted son, Jordan, who yearns for adventure and a mysterious Green-Haired Girl. Their stories explore themes of identity, love, and the fluid nature of time, often blurring historical and fantastical elements.
Who is the Dog-Woman and what role does she play in the novel?
The Dog-Woman is a literal giantess, a figure of immense physical strength and unbridled passion, who rescues the infant Jordan from the Thames. She embodies an earthy, defiant spirit and serves as a symbolic mother figure, challenging societal norms and embarking on a journey of self-discovery and revenge against the oppressive forces of her time.
Describe Jordan's primary quest or motivation throughout the book.
Jordan is driven by an intense, almost obsessive love for a fantastical Green-Haired Girl he believes to be one of the twelve dancing princesses. His quest is not merely to find her, but to understand the nature of love, desire, and the self, leading him on voyages across seas and through different temporal realities.
How does the novel incorporate elements of historical fiction?
The novel is largely set during the English Civil War and the Interregnum, with characters like the Dog-Woman interacting with real historical figures such as John Tradescant and observing key events like the Restoration. However, these historical backdrops are often blended with anachronisms and fantastical elements, questioning the very concept of historical accuracy.
What is the significance of the 'twelve dancing princesses' motif in the story?
The twelve dancing princesses, particularly the Green-Haired Girl, represent an elusive ideal of love, beauty, and freedom that Jordan endlessly pursues. They also symbolize the multiplicity of female identity and the subjective nature of desire, as Jordan's perception of them shifts and evolves throughout his journey.
Are the Dog-Woman and Jordan literally mother and son, or is their relationship more symbolic?
While the Dog-Woman literally rescues and raises Jordan, their bond transcends biological ties, becoming a profound exploration of chosen family and unconditional love. Their relationship also serves as a thematic counterpoint, with the Dog-Woman representing grounded, physical reality and Jordan embodying a more ethereal, aspirational quest.
What is the significance of the character Fortunata and her relationship to Jordan?
Fortunata is one of the twelve dancing princesses, specifically the Green-Haired Girl Jordan obsesses over. She represents the object of his desire, but also his disillusionment, as he eventually realizes she is not a singular, constant entity but rather a projection of his own desires and fears, existing across different times and guises.
How does the novel play with the concept of gender and identity?
The novel subverts traditional gender roles through characters like the powerful, masculine Dog-Woman and the more sensitive, questing Jordan. It also explores the fluidity of identity, with characters sometimes appearing in different forms or times, suggesting that gender and self are not fixed but rather constructed and performed.
What is the role of language and storytelling in shaping reality within the book?
Language is presented as a powerful tool for creation and manipulation, with characters like the Dog-Woman using their words to define their world and challenge authority. The narrative itself often blurs the line between story and reality, suggesting that the act of telling a tale can bring a new reality into being.
How does the Dog-Woman's physicality influence her psychological state and interactions?
The Dog-Woman's immense size and strength make her an outcast, fostering both a deep sense of independence and a profound alienation. Her physicality empowers her to defy societal norms and seek revenge, but also contributes to her loneliness and her unique, often brutal, perspective on human nature and justice.
Analyze Jordan's psychological journey from innocent boy to disillusioned man.
Jordan begins as a naive, romantic idealist, projecting his desires onto the Green-Haired Girl and seeking an idealized love. His journey is one of disillusionment as he confronts the complexities of reality, the multiplicity of identity, and the subjective nature of love, ultimately leading him to a more nuanced understanding of himself and the world.
How do the characters' relationships reflect different aspects of love and desire?
The Dog-Woman's love for Jordan is fiercely protective and unconditional, representing a primal, earthy bond. Jordan's love for the Green-Haired Girl is idealized and obsessive, reflecting romantic yearning and projection. The novel contrasts these, exploring how love can be both a source of profound connection and intense suffering.
What psychological impact does the constant shifting of time and reality have on the characters?
The fluid nature of time and reality disorients the characters, challenging their sense of self and their understanding of the world. For Jordan, it fuels his quest and confusion, while for the Dog-Woman, it reinforces her defiance against fixed categories, allowing her to exist outside conventional constraints.
Is the ending of 'Sexing the Cherry' optimistic or pessimistic?
The ending is open to interpretation, offering both a sense of resolution and continued ambiguity. While Jordan finds a form of peace and the Dog-Woman achieves a kind of enduring presence, the novel ultimately emphasizes the cyclical nature of life, love, and storytelling, suggesting that journeys never truly end.
How does the novel challenge traditional notions of linear narrative and historical truth?
'Sexing the Cherry' deliberately disrupts linear time, allowing characters and events from different centuries to intertwine and overlap. This stylistic choice suggests that history is not a fixed, objective record but rather a fluid, subjective narrative, constantly being rewritten and reinterpreted through personal experience and imagination.
What is the meaning behind the title 'Sexing the Cherry'?
The title is highly symbolic. 'Sexing' can refer to determining the gender, implying a search for essential truth or identity, but also to the act of engaging with something deeply and intimately. The 'cherry' can symbolize innocence, desire, or the fruit of knowledge. Together, it suggests an exploration of fundamental truths about love, gender, and existence.
How does Winterson use the fantastical elements to convey deeper philosophical messages?
Winterson employs fantasy to break free from the constraints of realism, allowing her to explore abstract concepts like the nature of time, identity, and love in concrete, imaginative ways. The fantastical elements, such as the Dog-Woman's size or the time-traveling princesses, serve as metaphors for psychological states and philosophical inquiries.
Can the Dog-Woman be seen as a feminist icon, and if so, why?
Yes, the Dog-Woman can be interpreted as a powerful feminist icon. She defies patriarchal norms, embraces her raw strength and sexuality, and rejects societal expectations placed upon women in her era. Her pursuit of revenge against injustice and her unapologetic self-sufficiency embody a radical form of female agency and liberation.
About the author
Jeanette Winterson is an English author. Her first book, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, was a semi-autobiographical novel about a sensitive teenage girl rebelling against convention. Other novels explore gender polarities and sexual identity and later ones the relations between humans and technology. She broadcasts and teaches creative writing. She has won a Whitbread Prize for a First Novel, a BAFTA Award for Best Drama, the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, the E. M. Forster Award and the St. Louis Literary Award, and the Lambda Literary Award twice. She has received an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to literature, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
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