Jeanette Winterson
Jeanette Winterson is the main character and narrator in the memoir about her own life. She starts the story as an infant in an orphanage. She is adopted, but as her adoptive mother doesn’t like her, is abused. She grows quiet and unsocial in fear of punishment from her parents and finds comfort in books. When she starts liking girls, she finds out that she is a lesbian, much to the horror of her parents. Jeanette was plagued by depression and suicidal thoughts, even though she managed to find a stable life.
Mrs. Winterson
Mrs. Winterson is the adoptive mother of Jeanette Winterson, and she and her husband, Mr. Winterson, decided to adopt her when she was half a year old. Mrs. Winterson thinks of herself as a Christian, trying to follow the Christian norms and values, though the faith isn’t rooted in her heart. She forces her husband to hurt their daughter, as she believed that she is possessed by demons or even the devil himself on several occasions.
Susie
Susie is Jeanette Winterson’s current partner. They met in a part of the life in which Jeanette was depressed and suicidal, having tried to take her life because of everything she had been though. Together Susie and Jeanette are stronger than ever, and they encourage each other. They find Jeanette’s biological mother who helper Jeanette feel loved.
