This story always intrigued me as a child and when I read the names of the mice I knew who they were and what she was talking about instantaneously. But why was this story chosen? She needed a project and so she chose a story from the Bible but the writer's choice is much deeper than that. The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendnego is a story about three brothers who work for a King. The boys are good hardworking men of God. They worship him above all and never give into temptation. Then one day the King asks them to bow down and worship a golden idol. They refuse and are punished by being thrown in the furnace, but they do not burn. A bright light emerges from the furnace and there can be seen four figures, the three boys and another figure. This figure is seen as Jesus Christ. This story is referenced to show Jeannette's own struggle with her sexuality. She refuses to give into the 'idol' of heterosexuality.
I liked how you compared the story of the three brothers with Jeanette. I never knew the story about the brothers before and I think that the author did a great deal of research to have such subtle things in her story that really make you think.
ReplyDeleteBible references occur throughout the text as Winterson uses it [the references to The Bible] to discredit the nature of storytelling, and the basis for written history...but that is another story.
ReplyDeleteWinterson references the three brothers again later in the text as they reappear as Three Ravens. This might symbolize how she [Jeanette] comes to accept her sexuality. Abendnego hands her his heart of stone, a beacon back to her reality...the stone is her "way home"
Very nice comments here!
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