Jamaica Kincaid's Girl

In Jamaica Kincaid’s story, “Girl,” Kincaid introduces a mother lecturing her daughter on the duties and responsibilities of being a respected woman. The mother explains ways in which the girl should appropriately perform particular tasks and expected mannerisms of women in varied environments. The girl is instructed on how to correctly clean house, do laundry, prepare meals, and treat her spouse. The mother also offers advice that is seemingly based on her own learned superstitions. This is demonstrated by the line, “this is how to throw back a fish you don’t like, and that way something bad won’t fall on you” (Kincaid 17). Although a clear plot is not demonstrated in the story, the element of conflict provides the reader with a plot of