The Main Ideas Of The Short Story Girl By Jamaica Kincaid

Girl" is a short story written by Jamaica Kincaid, originally published in The New Yorker in 1978. The story is a powerful portrayal of the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, cultural expectations, and gender roles. The story is structured as a long and continuous sentence, without any dialogue or paragraph breaks, creating a sense of urgency and a stream-of-consciousness effect.

 

 

The story takes the form of a mother’s advice to her daughter, telling her how to behave and what to do in various situations. The mother’s words are a mixture of practical advice, traditional values, and warnings about the consequences of breaking cultural norms.

 

 

The story is set in an unnamed Caribbean island, and the mother’s advice reflects the cultural expectations of this society. The mother is teaching her daughter how to be a “proper” woman, in a society where gender roles are strictly defined and enforced.

 

 

The story begins with the mother telling her daughter how to wash clothes, emphasizing the importance of keeping them clean and avoiding stains. This seemingly mundane task is symbolic of the larger theme of the story – the mother is teaching her daughter how to maintain her reputation and social standing in a society where appearances matter.

 

 

Throughout the story, the mother gives her daughter advice on a variety of topics, including cooking, cleaning, sewing, and gardening. These tasks are all traditionally associated with women’s work, and the mother is preparing her daughter to fulfill her expected role as a wife and mother.

 

 

The mother’s advice is not limited to practical matters – she also instructs her daughter on how to behave in social situations. She warns her daughter about the dangers of becoming a “slut”, telling her to avoid certain behaviors that might be perceived as promiscuous. She also tells her daughter to be respectful and polite in front of others, and to maintain a sense of decorum at all times.

 

 

The mother’s advice is often contradictory, reflecting the conflicting expectations placed on women in this society. She tells her daughter to be proud of her heritage and her family, but also warns her not to become too “wild” or independent. She tells her daughter to be a good wife and mother, but also warns her about the dangers of men and the importance of protecting herself.

 

 

The mother’s advice is also tinged with sadness and regret. She tells her daughter about the experiences that have shaped her own life, including a failed marriage and the loss of a child. She urges her daughter to learn from her mistakes and avoid repeating them.

 

 

Throughout the story, the mother’s voice is authoritative and insistent, reflecting her desire to impart her knowledge and values to her daughter. However, the daughter’s voice is silent – we do not hear her thoughts or responses. This silence creates a sense of tension and distance between the mother and daughter, highlighting the difficulty of communication and understanding in their relationship.

 

 

The story ends with the mother telling her daughter to “sweep the yard”, a symbolic gesture that represents the need to maintain order and cleanliness in their lives. This final image underscores the mother’s desire to control her daughter’s behavior and ensure that she follows the cultural norms of their society.

 

 

Overall, "Girl" is a powerful and thought-provoking story that explores the complexities of mother-daughter relationships and the impact of cultural expectations on women’s lives. Kincaid’s use of language and structure creates a sense of urgency and intensity, highlighting the importance of the mother’s advice and the weight of the cultural norms that shape their lives.

 

Gender roles and cultural expectations: "Girl" illustrates how women in Caribbean society are expected to fulfill certain gender roles, such as being good wives and mothers, and adhering to strict cultural norms. The mother's advice to her daughter reflects these expectations and highlights the importance of maintaining one's reputation and social standing.

 

 

Mother-daughter relationships: The story explores the complexity of mother-daughter relationships, particularly in the context of cultural expectations and gender roles. The mother's authoritative voice and the daughter's silence create tension and distance between them, highlighting the difficulty of communication and understanding.

 

 

Traditional values and practical advice: Throughout the story, the mother gives her daughter practical advice on tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and sewing, while also imparting traditional values and cultural norms. These values and advice reflect the expectations placed on women in Caribbean society.

 

 

Contradictory advice: The mother's advice is often contradictory, reflecting the conflicting expectations placed on women in Caribbean society. For example, she urges her daughter to be proud of her heritage and family, but also warns her not to become too "wild" or independent.

 

 

Symbolism: The story makes use of symbolism, such as the washing of clothes and the sweeping of the yard, to underscore the larger themes of maintaining order and cleanliness in one's life, and the importance of adhering to cultural norms and expectations. These symbols highlight the weight of the cultural norms that shape the lives of women in Caribbean society.