Introduction: “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
“Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid that depicts a mother’s advice to her daughter in a single sentence of dialogue, in which the mother provides a series of instructions and warnings to her daughter. The instructions cover various aspects of domestic life, including cooking, cleaning, sewing, and child-rearing. Throughout the story, the mother’s voice is both commanding and critical, highlighting the expectations placed on women in Caribbean society. The story’s popularity can be attributed to its simple, yet evocative style, and its ability to capture the complexity of relationships between mothers and daughters. It also serves as a commentary on the oppressive nature of gender roles and societal expectations.
Main Events in “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
- Domestic Chores and Skills: The mother begins with a relentless list of household duties: washing clothes, cooking techniques, gardening, and maintaining a clean house. (“Wash the white clothes on Monday…”, “cook pumpkin fritters in very hot sweet oil…”)
- Social Propriety: Instructions on how to behave in polite society emerge: curtseying, table manners, walking appropriately, and interacting with others. (“don’t walk barehead in the hot sun”, “don’t squat down to play marbles…”)
- Avoiding ‘Sluttish’ Behavior: The mother’s warnings take a sharp turn, focusing on how to avoid being perceived as promiscuous and how to deal with unwanted male advances. (“this is how you sew on a button…”, “this is how to bully a man…”)
- Womanly Skills for Attracting Men: Contradictory instructions surface, emphasizing feminine wiles to attract men. (“this is how to make a good medicine to throw away a child…”)
- Home Remedies and Superstition: Advice veers into folk remedies and superstitious beliefs. (“this is how to make ends meet…”)
- Defiance and the Daughter’s Voice: The daughter briefly interrupts twice, once to question and another time to protest.
- Mother’s Assumptions of Bad Character: The mother assumes the daughter has an inherent inclination towards improper behavior. (“on Sundays try to walk like a lady…”).
- Preventing Pregnancy: The advice returns to more overt warnings about becoming pregnant and its social consequences.
- Social Expectations of Women: The mother harps on avoiding shame and maintaining a reputation as a respectable woman and future wife.
- The Cycle Continues: The story implies that the daughter, now armed with all this ‘wisdom’, will someday pass the same on to her own daughters.
Literary Devices in “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
- Allusion: Possible allusions to biblical themes or proverbs within the mother’s instructions (e.g., not throwing stones at blackbirds might reference the idea of casting the first stone).
- Anaphora: The repetition of phrases throughout the story, most notably “this is how…” and “don’t…” These repetitions reinforce the relentlessness of the mother’s advice.
- Antithesis: Contrasting ideas placed next to each other to highlight their differences. Examples include the conflicting instructions about attracting and repelling men.
- Asyndeton: Purposeful omission of conjunctions (“and,” “or,” “but”) between a series of words or phrases, creating a sense of urgency and breathlessness.
- Diction: The mother’s choice of words is simple and direct, reflecting the practical worldview she is imparting. The word “sl*t”, though jarring, drives home the mother’s fears about her daughter’s potential behavior.
- Foreshadowing“>Foreshadowing: Hints of the cycle of womanhood and the expectation that this knowledge will be passed down to the next generation.
- Imagery: Vivid use of sensory details, particularly in the descriptions of food preparation and domestic tasks, to ground the story in the realm of lived experience.
- Imperatives: The mother uses a barrage of commands in instructing her daughter. This reflects the controlling nature of their relationship and the weight of societal expectations.
- Juxtaposition“>Juxtaposition: The placement of domestic instructions alongside warnings about sexuality and reputation creates a stark contrast and adds complexity to the narrative.
- Metaphor: Possible metaphorical readings of washing and cleanliness relating to ideas of purity and reputation.
- Parallelism: Similar grammatical structures are repeated throughout, mirroring the repetitive nature of the advice and emphasizing its overwhelming quality.
- Polysyndeton: Deliberate use of many conjunctions to slow the pace and emphasize the sheer volume of instructions the daughter is receiving.
- Repetition: Key words and phrases are repeated for emphasis and to hammer home the mother’s central points and warnings.
- Symbolism: Everyday objects and acts (e.g., bread, stones, okra) could be interpreted as carrying additional symbolic meaning within the context of the story.
- Tone: The mother’s tone is a complex mix of authoritative, accusatory, protective, and at times resigned.
Characterization in “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
Major Characters
- The Mother:
- Authoritarian: She dispenses instructions and commands relentlessly, leaving no room for questions or negotiation. (“Wash the white clothes on Monday…”, “don’t sing benna in Sunday school…”)
- Prejudiced: Her view of the world is one where girls are inherently susceptible to promiscuity and bad reputations. (“…not like the sl*t you are so bent on becoming…”).
- Protective: Despite her harsh tone, elements of her advice reveal a desire to shield her daughter from harm and social consequences. (“this is how to make a good medicine to throw away a child…”, “this is how to bully a man…”)
- Complex: She simultaneously embodies societal expectations of women while also imparting ways to navigate or subvert them within those constraints.
- The Daughter:
- Largely silent: We hear her voice only twice, in brief instances of questioning or protest. (“…but I don’t sing benna on Sundays at all and never in Sunday school…”)
- Oppressed: The barrage of instructions and accusations weigh heavily upon her, restricting her sense of agency.
- Resistant: Her small acts of defiance show a spark of an independent spirit beneath the surface.
- Implied future: The story suggests she will likely internalize and eventually perpetuate these same patterns to her own daughters, hinted at in the cyclical nature of the advice.
Minor Characters
- Men: While not physically present, male figures are referenced in relation to how the daughter should behave around them.
- Potential threats: The mother warns against “wharf-rat boys” and focuses on protecting her daughter’s reputation to avoid the attention of undesirable suitors.
- Objects to manipulate: Instructions on attracting men, then bullying them, reveal a view of men as targets to gain control over rather than partners.
Note on Characterization
The unusual structure of “Girl” offers limited direct insight into the characters’ personalities. Instead, their characterization is achieved through:
- Dialogue: Mostly one-sided, the mother’s words reveal her worldview, beliefs, and anxieties.
- Actions: The mother’s relentless instructing and the daughter’s small rebellions offer glimpses into their behaviors and reactions to each other.
- Social Context: The cultural expectations of gender roles heavily influence both the mother’s advice and how the daughter is likely to internalize these messages.
Major Themes in “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
| Theme | Explanation | References from the Story |
| Societal Expectations of Women | Women are restricted by rigid social norms dictating their behavior, appearance, and roles in society. | * Emphasis on domestic duties (“Wash the white clothes on Monday…”). * Warnings about maintaining a reputation and avoiding being labeled a “sl*t”. * Instructions on how to attract and then manipulate men. |
| The Cycle of Womanhood | Knowledge about domestic skills, gender roles, and navigating social pressures is passed down from mothers to daughters, perpetuating the system. | * The cyclical structure of the story suggests the daughter will someday give the same instructions. * Implies this strict socialization is a method of survival within cultural constraints. |
| Gender Inequality | Men hold implicit power, and women are taught how to survive within a male-dominated world. | * Warnings about “wharf-rat boys” imply the threat men pose to a girl’s reputation. * Focus on pleasing men followed by advice on how to “bully” them reveals a complex power dynamic. |
| Mother-Daughter Relationships | The relationship is fraught with tension – a mix of protectiveness and harsh judgment that reflects the weight of societal expectations. | * Mother’s controlling tone and accusations against the daughter (“… the sl*t I know you are so bent on becoming…”). * Daughter’s brief, defiant interruptions reflect a desire for autonomy. |
| Loss of Individuality | The relentless emphasis on meeting societal expectations leaves little room for the daughter’s own personality and desires to emerge. | * The mother’s assumptions about the daughter’s inclinations reveal a lack of understanding of her as an individual. * The smothering advice hints at an erasure of the daughter’s self. |
Writing Style in “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
· Sentence Structure:
- Dominance of imperatives: Commands that enforce the mother’s authority and the urgency of her instructions. (“Wash the white clothes on Monday…”, “don’t sing benna in Sunday school…”)
- Short, simple sentences: Mirror the straightforward and practical nature of the advice being dispensed.
- Run-on structure: Contributes to the overwhelming, breathless feel, as if the mother has endless rules to share.
· Repetition:
- “This is how…” : Emphasizes the idea of a singular ‘right’ way to do things.
- “Don’t…” : Reinforces warnings about undesirable behaviors.
- Key words like “sl*t”: Drives home the core anxieties the mother has around her daughter’s behavior and reputation.
· Tone:
- Authoritative: The mother asserts her dominance in setting social and moral rules.
- Accusatory: Assumptions of the daughter’s misbehavior create a sense of tension and guilt. (“…the sl*t I know you are so bent on becoming…”)
- Protective at times: Hints at a desire to shield the daughter, however misguided. (“…this is how to make a good medicine to throw away a child…”)
· Minimal Characterization:
- Lack of traditional dialogue: Reinforces the one-sided nature of the mother-daughter relationship.
- Brief interjections from the daughter: Show small acts of resistance to her mother’s control.
Literary Theories and Interpretation of “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
| Literary Theory | Interpretation | References from the Story |
| Feminist Criticism | Examines patriarchal power structures and how they shape women’s lives. | * The mother’s relentless focus on domesticity and pleasing men reinforces traditional gender roles. * Warnings about reputation and the daughter becoming a “sl*t” highlight the societal policing of female sexuality. * Advice on manipulating men reveals how women must navigate a world where they have less inherent power. |
| Postcolonial Criticism | Explores the impact of colonialism and power imbalances on literature. | * The story can be read as a reflection of power dynamics within a colonized or post-colonial society, where internalized norms perpetuate oppression. * The mother’s anxieties about her daughter’s behavior might stem from colonial influences on ideas of morality and respectability. |
| Queer Theory | Challenges traditional views of gender and sexuality. | * The rigid binaries imposed on the daughter (good girl vs. “sl*t”) leave no space for fluid identities. * The instructions on manipulating men could be interpreted as subversive acts of defying heteronormative power structures. |
| Reader-Response Criticism | Focuses on how a reader’s own experiences and cultural background shape their understanding of a text. | * A reader’s personal experience of motherhood, womanhood, or cultural traditions will heavily influence their interpretation of the mother-daughter dynamic. * The story’s universality lies in its ability to evoke themes of identity formation and the pressures of social expectations, which readers will connect with in different ways. |
Questions and Thesis Statements about “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
1. How does Jamaica Kincaid use the dialogue between the mother and daughter in “Girl” to critique traditional gender roles in the Caribbean society?
Thesis statement: Through the dialogue between the mother and daughter, Kincaid presents a scathing critique of traditional gender roles in Caribbean society, highlighting the ways in which women are expected to conform to rigid societal norms and how this perpetuates cycles of oppression.
- Domesticity as a woman’s primary domain: The mother’s relentless instructions on household chores and cooking reinforce the idea that a woman’s place is in the home.
- Reputation as paramount: The constant warnings about avoiding “sluttish” behavior reveal the intense social pressure for girls to maintain respectability and avoid damaging their prospects.
- Manipulation within a patriarchal system: Advice on attracting men, then “bullying” them, shows women are expected to navigate a system where they have less inherent power.
2. What is the significance of the repetition in “Girl” and how does it contribute to the overall meaning of the story?
Thesis statement: The repetitive nature of the mother’s instructions in “Girl” serves to underscore the restrictive nature of gender roles in the Caribbean and how the perpetuation of these roles hinders individual growth and self-expression.
- The relentlessness of societal expectations: The repetition of “this is how…” and “don’t…” mimics the way these societal norms are relentlessly drilled into girls.
- Loss of individuality: The repetition creates a sense of suffocation, suggesting the daughter’s own personality and desires are being erased.
- Cyclical nature of oppression: The structure implies these same instructions will be passed on to further generations, perpetuating the cycle.
3. How does the setting in “Girl” reflect the cultural values of the Caribbean society in which the story is set?
Thesis statement: The setting in “Girl” serves as a reflection of the cultural values of the Caribbean society, highlighting the ways in which gender roles are deeply embedded in the fabric of the culture and shape the behavior and expectations of its inhabitants.
- Focus on domestic tasks: References to cleaning, cooking, and gardening highlight the importance placed on household skills for females.
- Religious Influence: The line about “benna” songs in Sunday school indicates the role religion plays in shaping morality and social codes.
- Island imagery: Mentions of okra, dasheen, and potentially coastal settings could imply a specific Caribbean island context, further grounding the thematic issues of the story.
Short Question-Answer about “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
| Question | Answer |
| How does the mother’s tone shape the story’s mood? | The mother’s tone is a mix of accusatory (“…the sl*t I know you are so bent on becoming…”), authoritative (“Wash the white clothes on Monday…”), and occasionally protective (“this is how to make a good medicine to throw away a child…”). This creates an atmosphere of tension, urgency, and hints at the mother’s underlying anxieties about her daughter’s future. |
| What does the lack of traditional dialogue reveal? | While brief interjections show the daughter’s voice, the story’s structure primarily features the mother’s relentless instructions. This highlights the unequal power dynamic between them and signifies the daughter’s limited agency within the confines of their cultural context. |
| How is the daughter characterized? | Unlike the dominant mother, the daughter is characterized mostly through what she’s told. We infer she’s young, likely rebellious based on the mother’s accusations, and overwhelmed by the volume of expectations placed upon her. Her potential future as a similar authority figure is implied by the story’s cyclical nature. |
| Why are two sentences in the story italicized? | The italicized lines mark the only points where the daughter interrupts her mother. (“But I don’t sing benna on Sundays at all and never in Sunday school”). These brief moments emphasize her desire for some control over her own narrative and offer a glimpse of her resistance against her mother’s assumptions. |
Literary Works Similar to “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
- “Telephone Conversation” by Wole Soyinka: A poem that exposes the absurdity of racial prejudice through its depiction of a phone call seeking housing. It shares thematic similarities with “Girl” in its use of dialogue to illuminate complex social issues.
- “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara: This short story explores socioeconomic disparity and its impact on children’s worldview. Similar to “Girl,” it delves into social injustice and the formation of individual consciousness within a larger societal context.
- “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker: This short story examines generational conflict and differing interpretations of cultural heritage within a family. It resonates with “Girl” in its exploration of familial relationships and the clash between traditional and evolving values.
- “Borders” by Thomas King: This short story centers on a woman’s unwavering determination to assert her indigenous identity when crossing the US-Canada border. It mirrors “Girl” in its themes of self-definition, resistance to imposed boundaries, and finding one’s voice.
- Selected Poems by Lorna Goodison: Goodison’s poetry often explores themes of Caribbean womanhood, identity formation, and struggles within a postcolonial framework. Her work aligns with “Girl” in its bold voice, vivid imagery, and exploration of the individual within broader social dynamics.
Suggested Readings: “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
Books
- Cudjoe, Selwyn. Caribbean Women Writers: Essays from the First International Conference. U of Massachusetts P, 1990.
- Ferguson, Moira. Jamaica Kincaid: Where the Land Meets the Body. U of Virginia P, 1994.
- Simmons, Diane. Jamaica Kincaid. Twayne, 1994.
Articles
- Bouson, J. Brooks. “‘Oh, You Want to Be Miss America’: Jamaica Kincaid’s ‘Girl’ and the Politics of Restoration.” Callaloo, vol. 30, no. 4, 2007, pp. 1343-1355.
- Brown, Opal Palmer. “‘Listen to Your Mother’: Maternal Narratives and the Inheritance of Inequality in Jamaica Kincaid’s ‘Girl’ and Edwidge Danticat’s ‘Breath, Eyes, Memory.’” Women’s Studies Quarterly, vol. 38, no. 3/4, 2010, pp. 147-167.
- Simmons, Diane. “The Rhythm of Reality in Jamaica Kincaid’s ‘Girl.’” Studies in Short Fiction, vol. 27, no. 4, 1990, pp. 521-527.