“Girl”: The oppressive attitudes exhibited in a mother-daughter relationship
In today’s society parenting styles are more on the side of trial and error, however twenty years ago parenting styles were of a dominant demeanor. In this short story, the oppressive, arduous manner of the mother reflects back to how parents nurtured their children. “Girl”, by Jamaica Kincaid, employs the structure of word choice to capture the commanding tone which creates themes: that depict the mother- daughter relationship. These aspects show a mother instructing a daughter on how to be a virtuous and esteemed girl in a patriarchal society.
The word choice throughout the story explicitly portray the oppressive attitude of the mother. In the opening of the story …show more content…
The devotion the mother has for the power of domesticity is shown through an abundance specific instructions, such as “how to cook pumpkin fritter, sweep, grow okra, buy bread and wash” (Kincaid 56). This theme brings the importance of respectability to light. For instance, sewing up a dress becomes more than an act of maintenance because it saves a woman’s sexual reputation within the community. From these two themes arises values that the mother tries to implant within the daughter. The values range from the ability to have self-worth to the importance of ironing a crease on a blouse. Throughout this story, the mother teaches the daughter how to live a life without promiscuity by calling her out; for instance, “on Sundays try to walk like a lady and not like the slut you are so bent on becoming” (Kincaid 56). This quote exemplifies the values of self-worth and respectability. Similar to this value, others are implicitly implied. Kincaid states, “ [A]lways squeeze bread to make sure its fresh; but what if the baker won’s let me feel the bread?; you mean to say that after all you are really going to be the kind of woman who the baker won’t let near the bread” (Kincaid 56). In this closing line of the story, the mother is implicitly explaining the value of being socially accepted. When the author uses the words “feel” and “squeeze” to turn the act of buying bread into a metaphor for sexuality which a value that the mother tries to instill within her. The themes that come from the direct intent and oppressive attitude allow for values to
In today’s society parenting styles are more on the side of trial and error, however twenty years ago parenting styles were of a dominant demeanor. In this short story, the oppressive, arduous manner of the mother reflects back to how parents nurtured their children. “Girl”, by Jamaica Kincaid, employs the structure of word choice to capture the commanding tone which creates themes: that depict the mother- daughter relationship. These aspects show a mother instructing a daughter on how to be a virtuous and esteemed girl in a patriarchal society.
The word choice throughout the story explicitly portray the oppressive attitude of the mother. In the opening of the story …show more content…
The devotion the mother has for the power of domesticity is shown through an abundance specific instructions, such as “how to cook pumpkin fritter, sweep, grow okra, buy bread and wash” (Kincaid 56). This theme brings the importance of respectability to light. For instance, sewing up a dress becomes more than an act of maintenance because it saves a woman’s sexual reputation within the community. From these two themes arises values that the mother tries to implant within the daughter. The values range from the ability to have self-worth to the importance of ironing a crease on a blouse. Throughout this story, the mother teaches the daughter how to live a life without promiscuity by calling her out; for instance, “on Sundays try to walk like a lady and not like the slut you are so bent on becoming” (Kincaid 56). This quote exemplifies the values of self-worth and respectability. Similar to this value, others are implicitly implied. Kincaid states, “ [A]lways squeeze bread to make sure its fresh; but what if the baker won’s let me feel the bread?; you mean to say that after all you are really going to be the kind of woman who the baker won’t let near the bread” (Kincaid 56). In this closing line of the story, the mother is implicitly explaining the value of being socially accepted. When the author uses the words “feel” and “squeeze” to turn the act of buying bread into a metaphor for sexuality which a value that the mother tries to instill within her. The themes that come from the direct intent and oppressive attitude allow for values to