Reading Response 6

Something that stood out to me in Winterson’s “Written on the Body” is the narrator’s expressed feelings of guilt or criminality for different reasons. There were several references in our reading I found, such as feeling like a “thief of stolen glances” when the narrator arrives in Louise’s home before her, and is observing the room and belongings as reflections of Louise and her life. Another example is the narrator feeling like a “jewel thief” for fondly remembering the line Louise said when she revealed that she was divorcing Elgin. There are also expressed feelings of feeling “naughty,” “guilty,” a “modest voyeur.” I thought that this self isolation or internalization of guilt by the narrator was very compelling and almost over-compulsive. The novel is driven by the narrators quick feelings, which are largely shame, guilt, or delinquent. The narrator only occasionally reminds themself that they are not alone in their “crime” or “sin” of adultery, but maybe there is more guilt/shame to be had from the homewrecker than the woman coming out of a stale marriage. The narrator’s emotions also change rapidly; from one moment treating Louise harsh or coldly for not divorcing her husband, having an STD, etc. and the narrator just starts suddenly going all in with what they want to say, before later regretting it and wishing they had chosen kinder words instead of immediately being on the offense against Louise whenever the narrator feels upset or disrespected.