Jamaica Kincaid Girl

Girl Being a “good girl” in Antigua during the 1970’s is a lot different than it is in America in 2018. It takes a lot of rules and hard work to fit in and fill the role of the mother. In the short story “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid, the speaker focuses on domesticity and social manners in her guidance to the daughter. Due to the demanding and formidable tone, the short story forces the girl to follow the guidelines given by the narrator. Comparing the different points of view, the story has more meaning because it is written in second person point of view, instead of first or third person. It is written like a manual, which automatically compels the daughter to obey the rules. “Wash the white clothes on Monday and put them on the stone heap” (Kincaid 119). This is the mother instructing the daughter on how to do the laundry. Without the straightforward tone, the voice of the narrator wouldn’t sound as strict. It then would change the effect on the reader by sounding too subtle. The narrator or mother in the story goes on to describe other chores around the house and how to do them.

Not only is there more poverty and diversity in Antigua, but there is also a difference in the food they eat and the different chores they must perform around the house. “This is how to make doukona; this is how to make pepperpot; this is how to make a good medicine for a cold; this is how to make a good medicine to throw away a child before it even becomes a child” (Kincaid 120). This shows an example of the different food, such as doukona, which we don’t really prepare in America as it is made from plantains. It also explains how to create medicine for colds and to rid a baby. Those kinds of things we, as Americans, do not make we buy instead. The way the story is narrated it shows the importance of ladylike manners while still knowing how to do things like fish, and bully a