Girl by Jamaica Kincaid

The short chronicle Girl by Jamaica Kincaid is a story of the article of faith that happiness steams from a invigoration of domesticity. The central topics of gender roles in a family structure, and the expression of female person sexual urge and testament be examined. A look into the makes beliefs on the necessity of serving your wield up and remaining sexually conservative will be the focus. Secondly, the impressiveness of food and clothes in the story will be looked at, providing evidence to the central claim of being content with this lifestyle.Lastly, the relationship amid the fuck off and daughter will be discussed, reflecting on if the views of the make will ultimately make the decisions for the daughter, as to the passage she will follow in her make life. The portrayal of gender roles in this story shows the keep up as the abrasionwinner and the wife staying home to tend to the house and children. This could be considered traditional, however we would consider it outdated in Hesperian society today. This story has the beget, pick uping her daughter her place in Antiguan society, most a alike(p)ly in the fifties, and in a marriage.This is demonstrated though the teaching of everyday tasks she will need to know to conduce a household smoothly. It is also clear that the get under ones skins life reflects these ideals that a husband should be the one working and the wife is to be happy and content by taking pride in her home. The mother also has very strong views on behavior and throughout the story gives m whatever warnings on this such as on Sundays try and walk like a lady and non like the slut you atomic number 18 so bent on becoming. This is a very clear assertion giving us an idea of the mothers values with female sexuality as well(p) as a reflection on the values at that time.She wants her daughter to find a husband and she believes kept pure, and with the knowledge of how to run a successful household, she will be a prize for any man. Abstinence sounds great in theory, but this is non ceaselessly the case for young women. In this time, expectations are to be wed and then extradite sex. As much as the mother would like to keep her daughter from having sex, from warning her, and teaching her things like letting then hem of her dress down to be longer, she does realize this may not happen.It is interesting how she feels it necessary to teach her how to get rid of a baby. This germ to abortion at this time shows how crucial the need to keep up appearances at any court can be, even if it is illegal or against moral and religious beliefs. Food and clothes play an big role in many of the mothers teachings. The mother shows the daughter how to cook pumpkin fritters, bread pudding, pepper pot and doukona. Some of these dishes are traditional Antiguan which shows the importance of tradition and doing things the way they always have been done. The mother also teachers her how to set tables specifically for different meals.This shows how in the household, eating together is an weighty part of her ideal home and family. The role of bread in this story is crucial. At the end, he mother teaches her how to squeeze the bread to tell if it is fresh. The daughter, replies but what if the baker wont let me feel the bread? The mother frustrated after all of her lessons is upset that her daughter has not gotten the point that if you do all of these things, you will not have to worry rough it because the baker will respect you.The role of the clothes is kind of similar to that of food. She teaches her daughter to keep things clean, how to separate the colors from the darks and lights, as well as when to wash each. This item example shows how much importance the mother places on routine. She also mentions the pressing of her husbands chromatic pants, showing that the way he presents himself can be a reflection of her. Hemming dresses and skirts was looked at with relation to female sexuality earlier, but it also is an example of how much importance is placed on appearances.The relationship between the mother and daughter in this story is important to recognize because the mother seems to hold preconceived notions about what daughter will or will not become. Following most instructions her mother provides, the mother concludes the set with some mention of her daughter being bent on becoming a slut. It seems like she uses this word to encompass any from of deviance from the social norm. Its questionable as to why her mother has such a strong fear that her daughter will become hiswe do not have any specific examples identifying any reason for her to think such things of her own child. Therefore, we lack the ability to implore for or against such a point. However, this might be a difference in generation, perhaps the female childs mother is stuck in the ways to which she was taught by women in her family before hand. Perhaps her mother has a fear that her daughter is goi ng astray from her values or living a modernized life that she is so unfamiliar with.We tend to fear what is unfamiliar, especially when it happens so close to home. Parents always want to teach their children what they know, however, children dont always choose to follow. Whether the daughter chooses to listen and follow, or listen and lead her own life, it is clear that her mother has had a significant impact on the daughters life. The importance of domesticity to the mother, and having her daughter display a conservative sexuality ties back to the behaviours related to food and cloth in this story.The mother places this vital importance on household knowledge and respectable appearances, believing they are the key to overall happiness. This is clearly not the case. For some people this type of life could bring them a sense of fulfillment or accomplishment. However, for others, this may not feel like a life of their own and could live always feeling abandon or wanting something m ore. People should be given the choice to do what they want. Unfortunately in this time, women did not get that luxury.