The story being discussed herein, is “Girl” by author Jamaica Kincaid, 1978. There are many important themes in this story that were identifiable, such as establishing identity, mother daughter relationship, coming of age and domestic duties. However, compelling as those arguments might be, this story is exploring gender role expectations to portray the societal and or familial anticipations placed on the young woman as she transitions from childhood to adulthood. The bulk of this story consists of household duties and societal expectations expected of an early adolescent to middle adolescent aged girl.
The first piece of evidence supporting my argument that “Girl” is exploring domestic duties is the beginning passage. Kincaid writes:
“Wash the white clothes on Monday …show more content…
From this first passage the reader gets the impression that the narrator (Mother) is giving our protagonist (daughter) a list of instructions. Until the reader reaches, “Don’t walk bare head in the hot sun” (2) we are unsure to who the narrator is addressing and why. Once this passage is stated the reader starts to get the feeling that there is more here being addressed then household chores. So, already in the first 3 sentences the writer has addressed instructions for cooking, cleaning and healthcare at this point it becomes clear that we have a teacher student relationship between the mother and daughter.
The use of repetition in any story can signal that the writer is drawing extra attention to the subject or that the reader should consider the subject particularly important. The word “Slut” appears three places throughout this story each time the same message is conveyed. “…this is how to hem a dress when you see (14) the hem coming down and so to prevent yourself from looking like the slut (15) I know you are so bent on becoming (16)…” The reader might gather from
The first piece of evidence supporting my argument that “Girl” is exploring domestic duties is the beginning passage. Kincaid writes:
“Wash the white clothes on Monday …show more content…
From this first passage the reader gets the impression that the narrator (Mother) is giving our protagonist (daughter) a list of instructions. Until the reader reaches, “Don’t walk bare head in the hot sun” (2) we are unsure to who the narrator is addressing and why. Once this passage is stated the reader starts to get the feeling that there is more here being addressed then household chores. So, already in the first 3 sentences the writer has addressed instructions for cooking, cleaning and healthcare at this point it becomes clear that we have a teacher student relationship between the mother and daughter.
The use of repetition in any story can signal that the writer is drawing extra attention to the subject or that the reader should consider the subject particularly important. The word “Slut” appears three places throughout this story each time the same message is conveyed. “…this is how to hem a dress when you see (14) the hem coming down and so to prevent yourself from looking like the slut (15) I know you are so bent on becoming (16)…” The reader might gather from