Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? Literary Elements

Memoir

The memoir is set in 2012 in the context of the author’s experiences.

First-person narrative

Cheerless, hopeless, resentful

Jeanette Winterson is the protagonist of the story.

The major conflict is when the young Jeanette is subjected to abuse by her adoptive parents. Mrs. Winterson argues that she picked the wrong crib from the adoption center. More often, Mrs. Winterson could ask her husband to verbally and physically abuse Jeanette. Therefore, Jeanette lacked parental love at an early age.

Despite sufferings in her early life, Jeanette gets an opportunity to join Oxford University to study English. Later, she becomes a successful writer.

Jeanette's lack of freedom while she was young, foreshadowed her writing career. While she was locked at home, Jeannette loved reading books because they were the only hope and ray of sunlight in her life. Later in life, Jeanette became a successful author.

Christianity is often underestimated. For instance, Jeanette is adopted by Christian parents who should show her love and affection. On the contrary, Jeanette's adoptive parents are abusive and ungodly in their actions. Therefore, being a Christian does not mean that one is holy.

The story alludes to the challenges adopted children go through in their life. Similarly, the story alludes to same-sex relationships and the individuals' obstacles before achieving their aspirations.

The imagery of reading a book is prevalent in the entire test because readers are allowed to see what is inside a book. Therefore, the author depicts sight imagery when writing, "Books, for me, are a home. Books don’t make a home – they are one, in the sense that just as you do with a door, you open a book, and you go inside. Inside there is a different kind of time and a different kind of space.”

The paradox of Christianity is paramount in the book because Mrs. and Mr. Winterson claim to be staunch Christians, but their actions speak the opposite. Jeanette suffers and their care because they physically abuse her at all times.

Jeanette's love for reading English books parables Mrs. Ratlow, and when they meet, they bond easily.

The phrase 'Open it' refers to unfolding opportunities. Jeanette refers to a book as a home, and one needs to open it to uncover the hidden opportunities.

The book is personified as a lovely companion to Jeanette’s loneliness.