Feminist_View_of_Girl

Running head: A Feminist View of “Girl” 1 A Feminist View of “Girl” By Diane Crafton South University On-line A Feminist View of “Girl” 2 A Feminist Critical Perspective of “Girl” This paper will analyze Jamaica Kincaid’s short poem “Girl” from a feminist perspective. Kincaid’s use of specific language, especially one of negation, is found throughout the story. This emphasis on negation is also a powerful but implied deterrent in the story. Focusing the Girl’s attention on what behavior is acceptable the writer in the story logically though silently Points to the dangers in transgressing these rules and code. For instance, by telling the girl how She should act in order to be valued in what is clearly a patriarchal culture “on Sunday’s try to Walk like a lady and not the slut you are so bent on becoming,” (Jamaica Kincaid, 2005, Para: 5) The title of the story “Girl” is an essential part of the work itself. The title provides several Ideas. First, the title represents age of the daughter. She is not a woman, not yet on her own, but a girl, still reliant on another, still with much to learn. So the age symbolizes her mother’s awareness of her age. She does not deem her a woman or a young lady, but a naive girl in need of steady nurturing and supervision. “Always eat your food in such a way that it won’t turn someone else’s stomach” (Jamaica Kincaid, 2005, Para; 4) A second idea about the title is that it represents the daughter’s struggle to find the rising identity in the shadow of her mother and the ideal of the mother wants her to take on. She is not naive in the story, nor is her place defined; she is not “daughter,” “sister,” “mother,” or “wife,” but “girl”. This in itself must have been hard for any child to define where they belong in society. To be expected to conform the rules which society places on us is sometimes to much for one to bare. A Feminist View of “Girl” 3 Today, our lives are much easier because we have many more freedoms than we did back in the Early 1800’s and 1900’s. Since the women’s movement, women have been allowed to work outside of the homes without being patronized. “This is how you iron your father’s khaki shirt so that it doesn’t have a crease.” (Jamaica Kincaid, 2001, Para; 352) This symbolism of the power that her mother had over her during that time represents how much of the Caribbean culture there was in their family tradition. “Don’t sing biennia Sunday school; “when you are growing dasheen, make sure it gets plenty of water or else it makes your throat itch when you are eating it.” (Jamaica Kincaid, 20011, Para; 352) As for the emotions that we see in Jamaica Kincaid’s work, they are somewhat hostile; “the Slut you are so bent on becoming” has been found throughout her short story. The fear that her mother has placed upon her about if she did not stay within the traditional role in her family. “This is how you grow okra—far from the house, because okra tree harbors red ants;” “this is how to catch a fish." “This is how you smile to someone you don’t like to much; ““this is how You set a table for dinner with an important guest.” (Jamaica Kincaid, 2011, Para; 352). The traditions were expected to be performed without resistance or there would be consequences to pay, “looking like the slut I know you are so bent on becoming.” These steps to ensure that the daughter grew up on the traditional roles were far from being compassionate. One would even say unequal and unfair. And though we have managed to grow from our inexperience’s and transition to a more equal understanding of ourselves, there will always be inequality to some extent, somewhere. A Feminist View of “Girl” 4 References Kincaid, J. (2001). Girl. In D.L. Pike and A.M. Acosta’s (Eds.) Literature: A world of writing stories, poems, plays, and essays [Vital Source digital version] (p. 352). Boston, MA: Pearson Learning Solutions. Feminist Analysis – Week 2 Girl Final Essay, South University, 2001