Name: Kyara M.

Robles
Prof. Almansa
GEEN 2312- Literature & Writing
Date: 08/20/2021

Discussion “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid

1. As you read the story, identify the main speaker, and explain how her character is
revealed. (Find at least two (2) specific phrases.)

I could tell the main speaker was a mother by these two phrases or sentences: ¨This is
how to make a good medicine for cold¨ and ¨ this is how you sweep a whole house¨.
We tend to relate these actions to a mother´s features in a household. A mother knows
how to take care of the house and family.

2. How would you feel if she were speaking to you? How do you feel as you listen
to her?

If she were speaking to me I’d definitely feel uncomfortable, I would feel like I am
even restrained from breathing just by hearing all those restrictions and ways of doing
something, as if I was a soldier. I do feel she is overbearing her daughter a bit too
much as I listen to her.

3. How would you describe the mother-daughter relationship? Consider the mother’s
tone and the daughter’s two interjections (written in italics) as you answer this question.

I think their relationship is not so good at all, the mother doesn’t know who her
daughter really is or thinks but she doesn’t care either, she just worries about teaching
the norms that have been passed on through her past generation. Maybe the mother
thinks that by just imposing those rules, the girl will be successful in her life.
4. Consider three (3) specific pieces of the mother’s advice and explain: a) the
purpose of the advice, and b) what does her advice imply about their culture?

1. ¨This is how to hem a dress when you see the hem coming down and so to prevent
yourself from looking like the slut I know you are so bent on becoming…¨

2.  ¨On Sundays try to walk like a lady and not like the slut you are so bent on
becoming…¨

3. ¨Don’t squat down to play marbles—you are not a boy, you know…¨

I think these three pieces of advice I chose have a similar purpose: her mother
wants this young lady to understand that she is not from the opposite gender and
that she´s got to have a good womanly reputation, so she scolds her by showing
her how things should be perfectly done in order to be a respectful woman.

I believe her pieces of advice towards her daughter show how archaic their culture
was in the story. If you were to break any of those rules you were considered a
¨slut¨ according to the mother´s words.
As we can see, in many cultures such as this one, young growing women are very
limited in their way of behaving, dressing, or talking. While it is true, we got to
have good manners, education, and values, but I think this type of lady-like
behavior education we see here is too much.

5. Why do you think the author wrote the story in one paragraph with the daughter’s
words in italics?

I think is written like this because is a way of letting the readers know that is no
longer the mother speaking in those certain moments since we know that, in the
whole story, the mother is the one who´s speaking. Also, I think the girl was brave
enough to defend herself in those few responses because talking back to an adult
who´s scolding you would be a disrespectful act.