Oceans and Rivers
The novel makes frequent use of imagery of water; because Dog Woman and Jordan live in London, the Thames River plays a large role in their lives. Jordan is also fascinated by the idea of the sea, and spends a lot of time sailing on long voyages; later, Nicholas Jordan joins the Royal Navy, and the activist is very concerned with pollutants being dumped into water sources. The water imagery reflects the reality of Great Britain as an island, and thus a place where naval dominance provided the ability to explore (and eventually colonize) other regions of the world. Water is also a source of life, and the imagery of water in the novel is associated with birth and rebirth. For example, Dog Woman finds Jorden near the river, and although she doesn't physically birth him herself, this scene becomes a kind of birth.
London During the Plague
Dog Woman is living in London during a terrible outbreak of plague that took place in 1665 and 1666. She sees a lot of terrible suffering and death, and describes this suffering using graphic imagery. For example, she describes going to the mass graves where bodies are simply thrown into pits. This graphic and grotesque imagery is important because Dog Woman is usually very pragmatic and unemotional. She is also undisturbed by violence, and kills numerous people in horrifying ways. However, Dog Woman is traumatized by what she witnesses during the outbreak of plague, and even becomes convinced that she needs to leave London. The imagery is important because it shows how horrible these events were, and how they scarred even a tough character like Dog Woman.
The Brothel
During the time period when the Puritans control England, a prostitute asks Dog Woman for help: she and the other women who work at the brothel are killing Puritans who come to them, and need help disposing of the bodies. Dog Woman ends up spending time at the brothel, and she describes the various sexual activities happening there in graphic detail. Much of the sexual activities happening in the brothel are taboo and somewhat warped, which makes them especially hypocritical for the morally rigid Puritans. The imagery of the brothel highlights the hypocrisy of the Puritans, and also shows how sexual impulses can become somewhat warped and grotesque when people repress and stigmatize them, rather than embracing sexuality as part of the human experience.
The Execution of Charles I
In 1649, King Charles I was executed. Winterson depicts this historical event in her novel, representing Dog Woman, Tradescant, and Jordan as attending the execution on a cold January day. The detailed imagery of the scene shows Winterson's historical research, and reminds readers that while she inserts many fantastical elements into the novel, it also functions as a work of historical fiction. The imagery also makes it clear that witnessing this event had a strong and memorable impact on the characters, and likely on the actual people who lived through these events.
