Girl

Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl” has always been a favorite of mine. The words and sentences are mashed together, a seemingly endless list of instructions and guidance with no break or pause. It occurred to me in this reading that a child would interpret it that way— never-ending but well-intentioned advice from parents and others. The mother in this story is trying to make sure she imparts all the useful knowledge to her daughter, like how to do the laundry, the best way to make her clothes and grow vegetables, because those things are basic necessities of life. She tries to teach her valuable social lessons, like how to behave in public, in church, how to dress, etc., because she wants her daughter to be a successful, normal person who can interact with others. She is concerned about the girl’s morality, so she instructs her on her to behave with boys, and how not to be the “slut I know you are bent on becoming”. The mother may have some issues relating to her own past, and that is why she is so fearful for her daughter. She instructs her daughter how to be independent, by telling her how to catch a fish, how to “bully a man”, “how to make ends meet” and how to get rid of an unwanted pregnancy. When the girl expresses doubt about being able to confront a baker, her mother assures her that if she does all that she has been taught to do, she will not be the kind of woman easily intimidated by a baker.
The way the mother gets her point across may be a little odd to some of us, but I think the bottom line is that she loves her child and is doing what she thinks is best to ensure her future as an independent woman. It is clear from the many things listed in the story that much is expected from women in that culture, and all the more important for her to take care of herself and grow up the right way.