Jamaica Kincaid Girl

The story “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid is a narrative presented as a set of life instructions to a daughter by her mother to live as a proper girl. While the setting of the story is not expressly stated by the author in the narrative, the reader is able to understand the culture for which “Girl” was written. The POV in the story, “Girl” is difficult to define as it is in the perspective of the mother; however, there are two instances in which we read what the daughter is thinking or speaking. Within

parents play an instrumental role in how we perceive ourselves and the world around us. The short story “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid exhibits the relationship between an Antiguan mother and her daughter in a patriarchal society where the list of rules and regulations for women is exhaustive and almost never-ending. By analyzing the unique and often tense dynamic between the mother and daughter, “Girl” showcases the direct influence mothers have on their children, and how traditional and patriarchal customs

always know best and do everything out of love for their children. The short story “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid demonstrates this in a list of instructions a mother gives to her daughter to help her live a successful life. Directions that are listed involve food, clothes, social skills, health, and protection of public image. Together these tasks assist in characterizing the mother and daughter. In “Girl,” Jamaica Kincaid employs characterization through the characters’ actions, conflict, and dialogue

In the short story, “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid, the narrator commands a list of orders to her preadolescent daughter in one single sentence. The author includes figurative language to emphasize her points and demands upon her daughter. Although the mother is stern throughout the entire short story, it explains the type of relationship she shares with her daughter and the expectations she holds for her future. Kincaid expresses her expectations for her daughter through strict similes and powerful

sundry of circumstances, young girls are often born solely to serve and breed. The prose poem “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid, serves as an accurate depiction of the monotonous day to day life of a girl, as well as a bold wake up call to the ignorant people of society. The brilliant and seemingly neverending stream of so called “words of wisdom” are structured in a series of independent clauses, which is one of the most elusive yet obligatory grammatical devices. Kincaid purposely structures the text as

Jamaica Kincaid was a celebrated Antiguan- American novelist, gardener and essayist, but the basic role of she is girl. In her early age, she had a very complicated relationship with her mother. The story “girl” is ostensibly a series of instructions from her mom gives to her. Like every mothers’ no breathe nagging in the real world. She tells her daughter about cleaning, cooking, behaving like a lady and how to on getting a man, etc. Unluckily, her daughter is not an active listener. She interrupted

September 2015 In Jamaica Kincaid’s story “Girl”, Kincaid explores the value of women and society’s definition of perfection by using satirical elements. In this piece, a mother gives her daughter explicit directions on how to obtain perfection. She lists over fifty specific, minutiae commands that will help her daughter reach the ultimate end goal. At first glance the piece may seem to advocate for sexist ideals, but when examined more closely, it becomes clear that Kincaid uses exaggerated satire

out her priceless knowledge. “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid is a twisted version of this event, depicting a Mother giving her daughter a harsh lesson to her daughter on the realities of becoming a respected woman. Reading the title it was apparent that the word girl would be a significant symbol to the story itself. This title makes the reader believe that she is talking to her young daughter which seems to be true but never once does the mother call her daughter a girl. Giving the impression that her

“Girl” , a short story written by Jamaica Kincaid, allows the reader a point of view from a strict, demanding mother to a young girl. The structure of “Girl” is displayed in a way that the reader captures the commanding tone the mother unleashes as well as a feministic perspective. This story is of relevance to my childhood growing up in a non-progressive household. Several examples regarding marriage, keeping up a household, and behaving like a lady were highlighted topics in the story as well as

Society is often seen to have different biases or perspectives on topics such as the role and perception of women. The short story, “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid, consists primarily of a catalog of commands and instructions, the purpose of which is to make sure that the mother’s daughter is constantly in check and not getting into any trouble. Jamaica Kincaid utilizes a wide range of techniques such as symbolism and diction in order to showcase the theme of how the depiction of women rely mainly on how

the pressure to act a certain way, or conform to some idea of “perfection”(oppression?). In the poem “Girl,” author Jamaica Kincaid uses a variety of stylistic devices to portray the common frustration and plight of young females through a lecture given by a mother to her daughter in which the former guides the latter on proper behavior and fulfillment of her social duties. The first way Kincaid uses style is her individual sentence structure. The poem starts off with a list of domestic rules. “

Jamaica Kincaid's story "Girl" consists of a young girl who receives a long list of instructions given in a harsh manner by a motherly figure. These demands connect the girl's gender to the role she must play in order to be viewed as the right kind of woman to both society and men. She must conceal herself enough so people do not think she is a sexual being, but be revealing enough to attract a man. By writing “Girl”, Kincaid makes the argument that “public forms are very important and . . . subtle

In her story, Girl, Jamaica Kincaid points out many stereotypical roles of the average woman in the Caribbean. The roles that these defining roles that the women take on might seem rather explicit. They seem rather sexist and do not give women the power to depict what she can and cannot do herself. Nevertheless, Kincaid’s story gives these women the empowerment and freedom that so rightfully deserve. “this is how you iron your father’s khaki pants so that they don’t have a crease; this is how you

“Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid addresses many issues. Some of the issues that the piece discusses are gender roles, social class, feminism, and culture. The literary work is one long sentence with semicolons separating the list of things the girl is told to do and not to do by her mother. The short piece came off differently when reading it and when watching Kincaid read the piece. When Kincaid read the piece it was as if the piece is meant to mock the mother. The girl is mocking all of the things that

In Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl,” there is a mother-daughter narrative in which the mother is instructing the daughter regarding the standards of society and expectations of a woman. The daughter’s objections have very little impact on the long string of dos and don’ts presented by the mother. The advice is not a direct conversation, but a recollection of advice remembered by the daughter. The mother wishes to prevent her daughter from being promiscuous while also teaching her household duties and social