Jamaica Kincaid Girl
1.) Why is the text titled, “Girl”? Why is this important in a broader social/cultural context?
Jamaica Kincaid’s reading, “Girl” (139) is written from the perspective of a person, possibly a mother, who is responsible for raising a young girl. The narrator speaks from her life experience and wants to impart her knowledge to influence the girl’s behavior as she becomes a woman. Some of her advice revolves around domestic duties such as cooking, and cleaning, and the remainder focuses on how to act in public, or how to uphold a public reputation. Reading Kincaid’s essay through the lens of Western culture, the advice seems misogynistic and the daughter’s options appear limited. Kincaid does not mention the culture or the time period, but
Jamaica Kincaid’s reading, “Girl” (139) is written from the perspective of a person, possibly a mother, who is responsible for raising a young girl. The narrator speaks from her life experience and wants to impart her knowledge to influence the girl’s behavior as she becomes a woman. Some of her advice revolves around domestic duties such as cooking, and cleaning, and the remainder focuses on how to act in public, or how to uphold a public reputation. Reading Kincaid’s essay through the lens of Western culture, the advice seems misogynistic and the daughter’s options appear limited. Kincaid does not mention the culture or the time period, but