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.

She tells her daughter how to wash clothes, cook, iron, and plant. In the story, the girl has a feeling of resentment towards her mother because she feels that it should be her choice to be domestic or not. The way this story is narrated in second person point of view makes it more like a how-to manual and it is much more effective. The second person point of view makes the narrator sound more aggressive and harsh, forcing the reader to feel the demands more personally. If it were written in first or third person, it would not have the same demanding tone.
Throughout the story, the mother repeatedly seems to accuse the girl of becoming a “slut.” The girl, however, seems to be well behaved. The narrator implies why it is so important to be a good girl because she does not want the girl to be a slut while also wanting her to know all of the chores around the house. “But I don’t sing benna on Sundays at all and never in Sunday school” (Kincaid 120). The way the story infers the expectations, it allows the reader to relate to the girl. “You mean to say that after all you are really going to be the kind of woman who the baker won’t let near the bread?” (Kincaid 120-121). The voice of the narrator indicates how she expects the daughter to act. The mother does not want people to think negatively about her daughter. This may also be a result of the values or worldview the narrator has.
Furthermore, the worldview and values of the narrator are much different than those of most kids today.

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

man.
Being a “good girl” according to the narrator consists of various stipulations. The second person point of view gives the tone and voice of the narrator more meaning. Chores such as washing the laundry or sweeping the house and guidelines such as not squatting down to play marbles, or how to love a man, describe how to be a good girl. This seems to be very important to the narrator, as she tells the story in a very demanding and formidable tone.