' Winterson's use of the word 'vacant' to show the lack of emotion Jeanette's mother has for her as a result of this confession. She does not hate her but she is unable to show her any feelings, not the conventional mother-daughter relationship one would imagine. However it hasn't always been this way, at the beginning of the novel Jeanette looks to her mother as her idol, her heroine and they have a good, strong relationship despite her being adopted. For example Jeanette describes an event in which they sing hymns together, she says her 'Mother sang the tune and [she] put in the harmonies' Although this is true literally, this could also be interpreted metaphorically in that without one another they are not complete, the tune would not be complete without the harmonies as a daughter is not complete without her mother. It is because of this close relationship at the beginning that the breakdown is so upsetting for the reader as we come to know both these characters and identify with their relationship with one another. Her mother even reverts to saying Jeanette is 'no daughter of [hers]' .
This is reminiscent of Jane Eyre as Jane's relationship with her aunt is very similar. Like Jeanette, Jane is adopted, except Jane is adopted by her aunt. One could assume that because it is her aunt she would be treated better as she really is true family, but this is not the case. Jane's Aunt Reed is very bitter towards Jane because she was bound to her by the death of Mr Reed and treats her as if she is 'less than a servant.' Jane, as a child, reflects that, 'It must have been most irksome to find herself bound by a hard wrung pledge to stand in the stead of a parent to a strange child she could not love, and to see an uncongenial alien permanently intruded on her own family group'. Although there is conflict between them it is almost as if Jane understands to some extent why her Aunt behaves this way because it is difficult to lose your husband and then raise a child that is not yours and who does not match your mannerisms.
