Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal ?

1. Why Be Happy WhenYouCouldBe Normal? ByJeanetteWinterson Memoir’s analysis by Annalisa Bianco

2. Memoir’s structure • The memoirisdivided in 15 chapters more the coda: everychapterhas a titlewhichfunctionis introduce the readerwhat the chapterwill deal with. The narratorspeaks in 1stperson and the protagonist, the narratorand the eyewitness are the sameperson. • Itisdedicatedtoherthreemothers: • ConstanceWintersonheradoptivemother • Ruth Rendell “writer and literarymother” • Ann S. Birth mother

3. CHAPTER’S STRUCTURE AND ANALYSIS 1st chapter The Wrong Crib • The title is a methonimy and J. Winterson refers to the wrong crib. • In this chapter there is the introduction of the topic of the novel. 2nd chapterMy Advice to Anybody Is: Get Born • This chapter presents a provocative question for the reader: “Get Born!” are we all dead? • Moreover there is an introduction and description of Manchester before and after her birth.

4. CHAPTER’S STRUCTURE AND ANALYSIS 3nd chapter In The Beginning Was The World • Function: put the reader’s attention on the “word”. The language, the importance of the word,both in levels of reading and writing through emotional events experienced by the protagonist. • Emotional impact structuring elements of the novel logical and chronological leaps • Child – mother relation • Mother that leaves every reference to the sex out on purpose, even if written on the Bible, religious text as base of Jeanette Winterson’s education. • J. Winterson puts on the same level Bible and her novel. Both texts coexist and mingle.

5. CHAPTER’S STRUCTURE AND ANALYSIS 4th chapter The Trouble With A Book… • The chapter deals with the protagonist’s relationship with books and the different points of view about reading for J. Winterson and Mrs. Winterson. 5thchapter At Home • Books seen as “a new house”. • The writer brings out the emotional side of the literature.

6. CHAPTER’S STRUCTURE AND ANALYSIS 6th chapter Church • The maintopicisJeanetteWinterson’s pointofviewaboutchurch and her relation withthis. • Moreovershemakes some reflectionsabout love. 7thchapter Accrington • As the reader can understandfrom the title the writertellsabout the townwhereshelived: Accrington’s shops and inhabitants.

7. CHAPTER’S STRUCTURE AND ANALYSIS 8thchapter The Apocalypse • The intelligentreader can understandthat the titleisreferringto Mrs. Wintersonreligion. Thischapterdealswith the idea ofdeath and the discoveryofJ. Winterson’s omosexuality. • Also some episodsabouther and mother’s disapproval. 9°chapter English Literature A-Z • The writertells the importanceofreadingbooks and language. • The chapterdealswithtimethatpassesquickly. • Jeanette–literaturerelationship booksas “message in bottles”.

8. CHAPTER’S STRUCTURE AND ANALYSIS 10thchapter ThisIs The Road • Woman during the Industrial Revolution. • Woman in Manchester and woman in the North. • J. Winterson’s admissionto Oxford and her future. 11thchapter Art and Lies • J. Wintersoncreates a parallelismbetween art and lies. • At the end of the chapter the writertellsabout the periodofher life whenshewasstudying: shespokeabouther life spent in university, herpointofview on literature and hermother’s opinions and thoughts.

9. CHAPTER’S STRUCTURE AND ANALYSIS 12thchapter The Night SeaVoyage • The titlereminds the readertosomethingof dark and hard. • The word “night” makes the readerthingaboutdarkness, silence, fear and mistery. The expression “SeaVoyage” isusuallysomethingofdifficult, dangerous and troubled. 13thchapter ThisAppointementTakesPlace In The Past • Full ofconcepts and meanings: • RelationshipwithSusie • Meeting up withherfather • Meeting up withbiologicalmother

10. CHAPTER’S STRUCTURE AND ANALYSIS 14thchapter Strange Meeting • With the title the writermeans the meeting withherbiologicalmother. • The writerquotesanextractfromoneofherbooks “Stone Goods” in whichshedescribesthis meeting. 15thchapter The Wound • The titlebelongstoanyoneasforJeanetteWinterson, asforhermother, but at the end shefeels at home. Coda The Coda presents a briefsummaryofhow the “life” ofthis book and J. Winterson’s feelings on it. Moreover the writeradds some informationsabouther life, meetings and thoughtsabout love, maternity, love and life.