The Theme of Childhood in Joanne Harris’s Novel “Five Quarters of the Orange”

Abstract

The article analyzes the theme of childhood in Joanne Harris’s novel Five Quarters of the Orange. Childhood is presented as a multifaceted phenomenon that encompasses psychological, social, and cultural-historical dimensions. It is considered not only as a stage of the personal development of the protagonist, Framboise, but also as a conceptual foundation for comprehending the collective experience of European society during the Second World War. The aim of the article is to identify the key narrative and psychological mechanisms through which the author represents the world of childhood, as well as to examine the role of symbolism in constructing this image. The methodology of the study includes narratological analysis, elements of psychological criticism, and a conceptual approach. The research shows that the protagonist’s childhood is ambivalent: it represents a space of imagination, play, and sensory impressions, while at the same time functioning as a source of trauma, isolation, and alienation. Particular attention is paid to symbols such as the orange, culinary recipes, scents, and the orchard, which embody memory, fears, and the aspirations of the child. The narrative structure of the novel takes the form of the adult Framboise’s confession, as she returns to her past in an attempt to reinterpret it through the lens of maturity. The combination of the “child’s” and the “adult’s” voices creates a multilayered narrative in which personal memories become part of collective historical experience. The study concludes that the theme of childhood in Harris’s novel performs not only a narrative but also a conceptual function: it reveals the process of identity formation and highlights the interrelation between personal memory and historical context.