Jamaica Kincaid’s “girl”

Analysis

Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl” is a remarkable piece that gives readers the knowledge of her childhood. In this "Girl" short story, the character gives the daughter a list of instructions on what she must do to become a woman. Kincaid’s short story reveals the significance of a woman's role. Kincaid uses special techniques for readers to recognize how difficult a women's job is. The author also gives us clues through the story that she demands for equality. Jamaica techniques also gives readers the knowledge the information on how a woman was portrayed in Antigua and it gives readers the knowledge of what is expected among them. This can be seen through Kincaid's techniques such as point of view that reveals expectations of a women, imagery illustrates a woman's role, and symbolism that help reveal a woman's significance. "Girl" delivers the message of recognizing equality among women and men.

The author's technique of point of view describes a women's significance. When readers first approach the story, they are given a list of instructions and commands to follow. The point of view is in the first person. It allows readers to become present in the story. Readers are able to experience having the list of commands. Through putting this story in first person, helps readers see what is required fro a woman to do. readers are able to see what chores a woman must do, how she must take care of her family, and what her morals and values should be. Through the point of view, readers are given the interpretation of what is expected of a woman. The point of view also helps reveal thoughts. through the mother character, the point of view reveals how she wants her young daughter to become a woman. She expects her daughter to know how to do these tasks. At the same time she demands that her daughter become the individual to take charge.

Kincaid's use of imagery describes a woman's role. The author chores (a woman must do) to make her point transparent. She states in the story a certain way to wash clothes, and to sew buttons. “Wash the clothes on Monday, and put them on the stone heap, and wash colors on Tuesday... put them on a clothes line...this how to sew a button on your clothes”(644). I interpret these chores to be expected among woman because she must please her family. The mother in "Girl" illustrates that the daughter must know how to iron a man's clothes. I interpret this to mean that a woman priority is to give complete satisfaction for a man. She must serve him. The mother also gives her daughter morals and values to obtain. The mother tells her daughter how she must love a man. I interpret this as a man's expectation on how he wants a woman to love him. Imagery is also used because throughout the story it shows that a woman must behave like a woman. Te mother demands her daughter to walk like a lady. She also state a certain way a woman must behave when in the presence of a man, otherwise he will think she is uncouth. This illustrates how a woman must act when act in order for a man o have respect for her. It clarifies what a man's expectations of a woman's behavior is to be like. It is suggested that a woman must look lady like in order to become excepted. "This how to hem a dress to prevent yourself looking like a slut." (644). This quote helps readers to acknowledge that a woman has an expected appearance. "Girl also declares independence for women through imagery. The mother gives her daughter knowledge of how to bully a man. I interpret this that a woman must know not to take orders from a man. She must know to stand up and