Child abuse Quote by Jeanette Winterson
““And I suppose the saddest thing for me, thinking about Oranges , is that I wrote a story I could live with. The other one was too painful. I could not survive it...I can say that there is a character in Oranges who...looks after the little Jeanette and acts like a soft wall against the hurt(ling) force of Mother...I wrote her in because I couldn't bear to leave her out. I wrote her in because I really wished it had been that way. When you are a solitary child you find an imaginary friend. There was no Elsie. There was no one like Elsie. Things were much lonelier than that.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Oranges by Jeanette Winterson, 1990
The narrator creates a protective character to cope with loneliness and trauma, illustrating how imagination can soften harsh realities.
In simple terms: Creating a protective figure helps endure pain.
Key Takeaway
Use imagination to buffer emotional hurt.
Themes
loneliness
imagination
coping
protection
trauma
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
personal
When to use this quote
- writing therapy
- childhood isolation
- creative storytelling
- mental health support
Key Concepts
psychology
character creation
emotional resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you create safe spaces in your mind?
- What are the risks of relying on imagined protectors?
A Different Perspective
Imaginary companions may delay confronting real issues.
