In the prose poem carefully crafted by Jamaica Kincaid, throughout “Girl” the use of Kincaid’s childhood, history of Antigua, word choice, tone, and symbolism reveals the underlying life lessons for a traditional community from a wise mother to her young rebellious daughter.
The daughter of Annie Richardson and Roderick Potter, Elaine Potter Richardson, later changed her name to Jamaica Kincaid, was born on May 25, 1949 in the town of St. John’s (Jamaica Kincaid Facts). The capital of a small Caribbean island of Antigua (Britannica, Kincaid, Jamaica 1949-). Kincaid was raised by her mother, Annie Richardson who was from the Dominica, and her stepfather, David Drew who was a carpenter and cabinetmaker (Jamaica Kincaid Facts). Kincaid was nine when her mother had her brother, Joseph. She no longer was an only child, which caused her relationship with her mother to drastically change. Quickly after Joseph came Dalma and then Devon.
Annie Richardson taught Kincaid to read before she at the age of attending school. When Kincaid was old enough she attended a British public school and was a very intelligent student. She spent the majority of her time at the library because of her love for reading, however this led to being picked on. After years of bullying, eleven year old Kincaid …show more content…
One of Kincaid's main theme is social status and class ranking this is proved by her choice of putting together these specific lines “On Sundays try to walk like a lady and not like the slut you are so bent on becoming; Is it true that you sing benna in Sunday school?” (“Girl”). In the poem this is a turning point because previously in the text it is use every commands you would expect any mother to tell you such as when to wash clothes. This begins to expose the society they live in and how if the daughter is not careful with her actions she could easily ruin her
The daughter of Annie Richardson and Roderick Potter, Elaine Potter Richardson, later changed her name to Jamaica Kincaid, was born on May 25, 1949 in the town of St. John’s (Jamaica Kincaid Facts). The capital of a small Caribbean island of Antigua (Britannica, Kincaid, Jamaica 1949-). Kincaid was raised by her mother, Annie Richardson who was from the Dominica, and her stepfather, David Drew who was a carpenter and cabinetmaker (Jamaica Kincaid Facts). Kincaid was nine when her mother had her brother, Joseph. She no longer was an only child, which caused her relationship with her mother to drastically change. Quickly after Joseph came Dalma and then Devon.
Annie Richardson taught Kincaid to read before she at the age of attending school. When Kincaid was old enough she attended a British public school and was a very intelligent student. She spent the majority of her time at the library because of her love for reading, however this led to being picked on. After years of bullying, eleven year old Kincaid …show more content…
One of Kincaid's main theme is social status and class ranking this is proved by her choice of putting together these specific lines “On Sundays try to walk like a lady and not like the slut you are so bent on becoming; Is it true that you sing benna in Sunday school?” (“Girl”). In the poem this is a turning point because previously in the text it is use every commands you would expect any mother to tell you such as when to wash clothes. This begins to expose the society they live in and how if the daughter is not careful with her actions she could easily ruin her