In “Girl,” Jamaica Kincaid’s use of repetitive syntax and intense diction help to underscore the harsh confines within which women are expected to exist. The entire essay is told from the point of view of a mother lecturing her daughter about how to be a proper lady. The speaker shifts seamlessly between domestic chores—”This is how you sweep a house”—and larger lessons: “This is how you smile to someone you don’t like too much; this is how you smile to someone you don’t like at all…” (Kincaid 1). The way in which the speaker bombards the girl overwhelms the reader, too. Every aspect of her life is managed, to the point where all of the lessons she receives throughout her girlhood blur together as one run-on sentence.
Everyone has once been someone that they aren’t necessarily ashamed of, but something they aren’t anymore. When you’re in school, everyone is different; between the popular kids, the jocks, the cheerleader, the dorks, the Goths, and all the other “types” of people. In “Her Kind,” Anne Sexton shows that she has been a lot of different women, and she is not them now. In this paper we will be diving into the meanings behind the displaced “I,” the tone and reparation, and who Anne Sexton really is and how that affects what she is trying to let people see through this poem.
Even with the advancement of women in society, their roles and societal expectations have not changed. Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl” are two stories with varied elements set in different periods in history, that show the role society has deemed as belonging to women. "The Story of an Hour" was written in the year 1894, almost a century before Kincaid wrote "Girl". However, despite the large gap in the times of the authors, a common theme emerges and that is the theme of the oppression of women and the role they are expected to assume in society.
The “Girl” written by Jamaica Kincaid is essentially a set of instructions given by an adult, who is assumed to be the mother of the girl, who is laying out the rules of womanhood, in Caribbean society, as expected by the daughter’s gender. These instructions set out by the mother are related to topics including household chores, manners, cooking, social conduct, and relationships. The reader may see these instructions as demanding, but these are a mother’s attempt, out of care for the daughter, to help the daughter to grow up properly. The daughter does not appear to have yet reached adolescence, however, her mother believes that her current behavior will lead her to a life of promiscuity. The mother postulates that her daughter can be saved from a life of promiscuity and ruin by having domestic knowledge that would, in turn also, empower her as a productive member in their community and the head of her future household.
In Cane by Jean Toomer, women are, as critic Meagan Abbott writes, “damaged by functioning primarily as vessels of others’ meaning.” Using a combination of prose and poetry, Toomer metaphorically alludes to the affects of sexuality on Karintha, the protagonist of the first short story in Cane, “Karintha,” over time. Because of her sultry beauty, Karintha is prematurely thrust into the sexual arena through no doing of her own, becoming burdened rather than invigorated by her beauty. Her early exposure to licentious prowling leads to the loss of her identity. Toomer’s language exposes Karintha as a damaged “vessel” of a patriarchal society, one in which men are the decision makers, holding positions of power and prestige, ultimately empowering them to define reality.
As a female university student, I feel deeply related to Marjorie since her personality is quietly similar to mine. Analogously, I could feel Bernice’s “vague pain” (Fitzgerald, 3) and realize her sensitivity as the things have happened to me when I was younger. In order to comprehend author’s main idea, I did numerous researches about the jazz age. Thus it can be seen, reader’s background is also crucial when responding to this literary texts. The writer’s main target audiences are women, who have different desires and needs than men. The meaning of the text often competes when we have a better understanding of our self-identities. We interpret the text based on our own psyches, experiences, and judgments. Literature, are like music, without interaction with its audiences, no profound meaning would be
In the 1950’s, a woman’s life path was pretty clear cut, graduate from high school and find a good man while your ultimate goal is to start a family and maintain an orderly house. This is shown when Kingston says to the little girl “Some one has to marry you before you can become a housewife.” She says this as if becoming a housewife is a top priority for a woman. However presently, most women in America hold very respectable jobs and the role as housewife is slowly disappearing from American culture. Another example of modern day women showing strength is portrayed when the narrator’s mother goes on a cultural rampage and forces the narrator to go to the drug store and demand a piece of candy simply because the druggist missed the address of the house. This scene is shown in pages three, four, and five. By doing so the narrator comes off as poor and illogical.
The prevailing standards of masculinity have placed a trivial label on female values compared to the values of men. Most noticeably, A Room of One’s Own, authored by Virginia Woolf, effectively conveys the inequalities between men and women. During this era, Woolf recognizes the literary cannon works of women; her successful recognitions allow for the questioning as to why these accomplished female authors are not given the acknowledgment to which they are entitled. This inquiry is also conveyed in the work of Carol Shield’s, Unless. Unless effectively conveys the progression of anger, which is blamable for Norah’s breakaway from reality. This break from reality causes Reta’s melancholic feelings to transform
Years went by and the mother watched as her newborn turned into a little girl. She garbed her daughter in beautiful dresses and flowery tops. She put bows in her hair and taught her about kindness and what it was like to be a lady. As her daughter grew into a pre-teen they began to discuss the world around them. The mother read from the paper to Emma about Eleanor Roosevelt and her role as chair on the commissioning of the status of women (Yoder, 2013, 98). They watched movies with the glamorous Audrey Hepburn and talked about how she could be both feminine and strong (Diamond, 2005). Emma took it all in...
The short story, Girl, by Jamaica Kincaid, can very easily be related directly to the author’s own life. Kincaid had a close relationship with her mother until her three younger brothers were born. After the birth of her brothers, three major values of her mother became apparent to Kincaid. In turn, Kincaid used the three values of her mother to write the short story, Girl. Specifically, these values led to three themes being formed throughout the story. It appears in the short story that the mother was simply looking out for her daughter; however, in all reality, the mother is worried about so much more. Kincaid uses the themes of negativity towards female sexuality, social norms and stereotypes, and the significant
Throughout history, men are taught that they are the head of the household. This idea is implicated in everyday society. At some point in history women were expected to submit to a men commands. One poem in particular that gives us an inside idea of what it was like growing up during the 1950s is called Sixth Grade written by Marie Howe. This poem speaks about sexual harassment that can be interpreted as six grade version of rape, innocence, and gender role. Howe uses limited use symbolism but crucial to connect her to her audience and to make a statement about where the origin of male violence originated.
The poem Girl by author Jamaica Kincaid shows love and family togetherness by creating the next generation of women. The poem is basically a guidebook for life on how a woman should take care of their family. Jamaica Kincaid demonstrates the proper task a woman should display. Girl symbolizes the proper way to respect yourself not only as a person, but as a woman. When a woman carries herself respectfully man admire her more. A man is usually attracted to women when mother-like characteristics. Women should hold high expectations of herself more than anybody. Women are not able to perform the set of tasks that a man is able to perform without being called a slut.
I always thought that I had the reins of the horse when we rode across the vast stretches of the wheat field. I thought he was being supportive when he held my palms and pressed them tightly against the reins. I thought he was teaching me. Sadly, all that he did was control he and drive me around the way it pleased him.
Jamaica Kincaid, an author who originates from Antigua wrote the short story “Girl”. In the textbook, “The Norton Introduction to Literature, Shorter 12th Edition”, Jamaica Kincaid writes a story about what seems to be about her life and her own personal experiences growing up. Kincaid lets you in on what it is like growing up as a female in her culture. Being from the Caribbean Islands, she comes from a place where females have certain jobs, as well as males. In her country, gender roles make up a big part of your life and your upbringing. I chose this story because I feel like I can relate to this story the most. I was brought up in similar ways as Kincaid was. Being from a traditional Italian family, gender roles play a huge part in my life.
Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl” shows in society how a woman should be placed and what it means to be a woman. A women doesn’t question her partner, instead she is subservient to him. A woman’s duties include staying at home taking care of the children and cooking; while the man works and brings home the money. A feministic approach to Kincaid’s “Girl” points to the idea of the stereotypes that women can only be what they do in the home, they should only be pure and virtuous, and their main focus should be satisfying their husband.
Many critics have come to agree that Alice may be a “rebel” by trying to break out of the everyday stereotypes of women. Alice’s faith and interest seems to break the shell of a Victorian woman. One critic in particular, Megan S. Lloyd, believes that Alice’s characteristics are a vital characteristic of a revolutionary woman, and also very important to “an ideal role model for our society.”