Girl

Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl” Response Paper

It can be assumed that this daughter probably just started her monthly period, from the line towards the beginning to “soak [her] little clothes right after [she] takes them off.” This kind of event, the ability to bear children, is representative of a little girl becoming a woman. In this sense, the speech of the mother makes a little more sense. She is explaining to her daughter all the things she will need to know as a woman. The regrettable part for the girl is that she will have to grow up so quickly. No more playing with marbles, no more picking flowers, or singing benna on Sundays. In an instant she has earned increased responsibility for her actions.

Kincaid seems to greatly understand how a mother, who has grown up being the subordinate to a Man, has trouble changing her ideals and tries to pass them on to her daughter. She probably writes from experience, which helps the characters