Girl By Jamaica Kincaid Analysis

“Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid is written about a girl who is being told how to behave by her mother. The mother is constantly telling her how to act. Though at times it definitely feels like the mother is scolding her, especially when it comes to acting like a slut. The mother keeps giving her advice that she thinks will help her daughter succeed in life. I think the mother obviously cares very much about her daughter or she would not bother giving her all this advice, but it comes across as over bearing at times. The mother gives her domestic advice she will use daily like cooking doing laundry, sewing, ironing, setting the table and sweeping. She also reminds her to wash herself every day, even if it is with your own spit (Charters P.530). She gives her advice on how to interact with people she likes and dislikes. She tells her to act like a lady by walking like a lady on Sundays and by not swatting down to play marbles like a boy. Also don't sing Benna in Sunday school, the girl replies but I don’t sing Benna on Sundays at all and never in Sunday school; you mustn't speak to wharf-rat boys, not even to give directions (Charters P.530). The mother also gives her advice on love and how to deal with men. This is how to bully a man; this is how a man bullies you; this is how to love a man, and if this doesn't work there are other ways, and if they don't work don't feel too bad about giving up (Charters P.530). The last piece of advice the mother shares is how to make ends meet; always squeeze bread to make sure it's fresh; the girl replies but what if the baker won't let me feel the bread? You mean to say that after all you are really going to be the kind of woman who the baker
This story is also about a little girl, Jing-mei and her mother, Mrs. Woo. Though Jing Mie Woo’s mother is not constantly telling her how to behave like the mother in girl. She too does have an expectation of her daughter and what she will