Girl By Jamaica Kincaid Summary

The story “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid shows a story of family values. The author clearly shows a series of practices and moral principals that a mother is trying to pass along to her daughter. This mother wants to give her daughter advice about how to be a respectful woman in society. The theme of this story is about devotion to family, the relationship with between mother and daughter and sexual reputation as well.

The story brings a lot of discussions about how the daughter should interact with other people and how to behave in a relationship. The mother tries to make sure that the daughter knows the basic principles of a responsible young lady who eventually will get married and have a family. Also, the mother talks to her about certain things she should do. These consist of making sure she washes her clothes, cook, dress appropriately, treat people with respect, clean her house, set a table for dinner and not to go out with loser’s. Basically, all …show more content…
Kincaid, pg. 270-271). She also tells her daughter that she should try to walk like a lady and dress appropriately. Also, how she should behave in front of men so they don’t think she is sexually promiscuous. All these comments seem to be part of the mother definition of what a good woman should be.

Towards the beginning of the story the mother ask the daughter if she sings “benna” in Sunday school. (J. Kincaid, pg. 270) Benna is an energetic type of music. Then the mother proceeded to say, “Sunday try to walk like a lady and not like the slut you are so bent on becoming.” So, the daughter responds to the question, “but I don’t sing benna on Sundays school”, (J. Kincaid, pa.270). It is obvious that the mother wants her to be respected and not be seen by people as a

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Analysis Of Girl By Jamaica Kincaid