Girl by Jamaica Kincaid - Essay Example

Though the girl tells her mother in the climactic point of the story: “but I don't sing benna on Sundays at all and never in Sunday school” (14), yet mother doesn’t acknowledge her reply and keeps instructing her. The main theme of this short story is to instruct the girl to adopt ladylike behavior and not to become a slut that the mother assumes she is bent on becoming. Her instructions are complete and address all aspects of keeping home, adopting ladylike mannerisms, and managing relationships.

The striking moment of illumination occurs when the mother tells her daughter “.don't feel too bad about giving up” (47) This is very personal advice that a mother can ever give to her daughter. The tone of the mother is very practical and matter-of-fact; perhaps this suggestion comes from personal experience. This particular advice is the most important instruction she gives to her daughter. Though she gives her a tip about bullying a man; or aborting a baby; but this is the moment of illumination for the girl to have been told that she doesn’t have to go through tough times in a relationship.

She can make a difference with her love but if nothing works out, she doesn’t have to sacrifice. It is good to give up rather than prolonging her misery. So, a careful reading of ‘Girl’ by Jamaica Kincaid indicates that it is a short story with a plot, main theme, two main characters, dialogue, conflict, climax, and an end.