There are many things a mother passes on to her daughter; morals, routines, clothes, maybe even a wedding ring. The mother in “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid tells her daughter how to follow a good path by doing “womanly” duties as opposed to doing whatever she wants. First, the mother tells her daughter a list of self-rules she should follow to flower into adulthood beautifully. The girl is told advice that her mother wants her to follow to become a mature, wife-material woman. Finally, the mother tells her daughter aspects of life to give her some of her own freedom. She obviously cares for her daughter, though she may presently be a little disappointed in her actions.
Self-rules are implemented by the mother to guide her to becoming the beautifully functioning adult she wants. One rule the mother wants her daughter to adhere to is to behave properly on Sunday at church. This helps the girl by teaching her to act appropriately in public. She wants her child to know how to dress beautifully so she looks like a proper adult. She tells her daughter not to eat fruit while walking down the street because it’ll attract flies. I think what she …show more content…
Indirectly, though, she wants to turn her daughter into successful wife-material. Included in her advice, the mother tells her daughter how to smile at different people. She wants her child to know how to present herself in front of others, especially men. The girl is also directed how to clean house and iron clothes correctly, preparing her for later life. She is told things like “this is how to sew a button,” “this is how to grow okra,” and “this is how to make a bread pudding” (Kincaid) to show her how to complete the tasks often expected of a wife. These tasks include cleaning, gardening, and cooking, skills that are often passed on to a daughter. Though she seems outwardly strict, the mother tells her daughter pieces of advice to have fun and live life as
Self-rules are implemented by the mother to guide her to becoming the beautifully functioning adult she wants. One rule the mother wants her daughter to adhere to is to behave properly on Sunday at church. This helps the girl by teaching her to act appropriately in public. She wants her child to know how to dress beautifully so she looks like a proper adult. She tells her daughter not to eat fruit while walking down the street because it’ll attract flies. I think what she …show more content…
Indirectly, though, she wants to turn her daughter into successful wife-material. Included in her advice, the mother tells her daughter how to smile at different people. She wants her child to know how to present herself in front of others, especially men. The girl is also directed how to clean house and iron clothes correctly, preparing her for later life. She is told things like “this is how to sew a button,” “this is how to grow okra,” and “this is how to make a bread pudding” (Kincaid) to show her how to complete the tasks often expected of a wife. These tasks include cleaning, gardening, and cooking, skills that are often passed on to a daughter. Though she seems outwardly strict, the mother tells her daughter pieces of advice to have fun and live life as