In honor of International Women's Day...

In honor of International Women's Day, I have decided to post my literary analysis of Girl, a short story written by Jamaica Kincaid. I wrote this piece for my literary analysis class in school. The page numbers I reference are from our class textbook.

Kincaid is a Caribbean women of color who regularly contributed to the "Talk of the Town" column in The New Yorker. In 1978, she published her first fictional piece Girl. To read more about Jamaica Kincaid click here or here. To read Girl click here.

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Jamaica Kincaid’s Girl holds a powerful feminist message that still rings true today. This short story is about a young girl being told lessons from an older, female adult figure that readers can infer is her mother. Despite being written in the late 1970s, Kincaid’s message is still relevant today. In today’s society and in Kincaid’s short story, young girls are unfairly forced to grow up sooner than their male counterparts. Instead of playing, as a child should, they must learn to perform basic domestic duties, such as cooking and cleaning. Moreover, seemingly harmless actions by females are sexualized; yet, at the same time, young girls and women are called derogatory names to belittle them and suppress their sexuality. Kincaid develops these points throughout the dialogue, while simultaneously showing how outlandish these ideas are.

To begin with, Kincaid shows that girls and boys are forced grow up differently. While the mother is talking, she talks about boys several times. Nearly three-fourths if the way through the mother’s seemingly endless rant, she tells the young girl “don’t squat down to play marbles- you are not a boy” (356). This is a very clear example of how young boys and young girls are treated differently. While the boys are playing, the girls are forced to take on stereotypical domestic work. Not only does this show the difference between the two genders, but it also shows that girls are forced to grow up earlier than their male counterparts. Thus, Kincaid shows this gender divide perfectly in her writing.

Furthermore, Kincaid’s Girl addresses female sexuality in two ways. As aforementioned, the mother talks about boys and men several times throughout her monologue. The first time boys are commented on is when the speaker says “you mustn’t speak to wharf-rat boys, not even to give directions” (355). Essentially, this is the mother’s way of saying stay away from and don’t talk to bad boys. Obviously this paints the boys negatively, but the mother’s warning is likely related to how others would perceive her daughter if she conversed with such boys. A common theme and phrase iterated by the mother throughout the story is that the girl is “bent on become” a slut (355-356). Talking to a boy is not an excuse to sexualize a girl or call her a slut.  To go further, this derogatory word is meant to demean the young girl for being sexual and suppress her sexuality. Many of the mother’s lessons are to prevent her from becoming that slut or to make the daughter appear as though she is not a slut. Yet, at the same time, she is taught “how to love a man” (356). This is another example of how boys and girls are treated differently that transcends the story. Therefore, Girl touches on how girls are both hypersexualize and sexually suppressed in society.

In addition, the organization of the short story was done intentionally by Kincaid to show how alogical the mother’s teachings are. Throughout the story, the main speaker gives lessons chaotically. Instead of telling the girl everything about cooking, the mother jumps from one point to the next. By organizing the message this way, Kincaid does two things. First, it makes the story more realistic because it is written almost like a train of thought. The mother brings up one point, which reminds her of another, which reminds her of another, and so forth. The second thing this does is show readers how random the lessons or the rules are that the girl in the story and girls in real life have to learn or to follow. Essentially, there is no real rhyme or reason why the lessons are being taught to the girl at this point in time or why they’re being taught to her at all. For example, the mom opens the story telling the girl “Wash the white clothes on Monday and… wash the color clothes on Tuesday…” (355). There is no logic to these instructions and the mother does not offer any explanation as to why the clothes must be washed on Monday and Tuesday or why whites must be on Monday and color clothes on Tuesday. These are just arbitrary instructions, which are then followed by more arbitrary instructions on a different topic.

Similarly, the entire story is one, long, run on sentence. It is broken in two spots by interruptions from the girl, but that never ends the flow of lessons. In the end, it doesn’t conclude with a period, but with this question: “you mean to say that after all you are really going to be the kind of women who the baker won’t let near the bread?” (356). By never concluding a sentence, Kincaid shows how these lessons or instructions pile on top of each other and create an unending stream of lessons for girls, the one in the story and those in real life, to learn and to follow. Likewise, ending it with this demeaning question instead of just ending it with a lesson and a period, not only proves the aforementioned point about sexuality, but also leads readers to believe that there is likely more lessons and rules to follow in the future. If the short story had ended with a period after a lesson, readers could assume that that was the end or the final lesson. However, like the sentences, the lesson are never truly concluded and the question at the end shows that more lessons will likely follow.

Moreover, the point of view and lack of descriptive characters was done purposely by Kincaid to allow any reader to better feel or understand what it is like to be a young girl growing up. This story challenges narration because it does not have a solid beginning, middle, or end. Likewise, the story itself can be read as a recollection or a memory, rather than an event that is taking place at this specific moment in time, especially since it lacks any quotation makes. As a result, the first person narration can also be read as a second person point of view. This perspective in this story truly allows readers to step into the shoes of the girl. By doing this, readers can experience what it feels like to be the girl while they’re reading the story. This is important because it helps readers better understand Kincaid’s message. Another way Kincaid helps readers step into the shoes of her characters is by not making them very descriptive. Kincaid’s characters have no physical descriptions or many defining characteristics. The most notable characteristic is that both characters are likely Caribbean. This inference can be made based on the food the mother teaches her to prepare and the “benna” music (355-356). Kincaid’s characters also lack proper names. This is important and yet another way she makes her story more relatable. The lack of defining features and names allows these two characters to be virtually anyone, including the reader. This, in turn, gives readers a better understanding of how growing up as a girl feels and Kincaid’s message about that unfairness.

In conclusion, Girl is Jamaica Kincaid’s statement on how girls are treated growing up. Primarily, Kincaid shows that young girls and young boys are treated differently growing up. Girl focuses specifically on how girls are unfairly forced to take on domestic roles and grow up sooner than their male counterparts. Furthermore, Girl not only focuses on the hypersexuality of girls, but it also touches on how girls are called derogatory names that are meant to belittle them and stifle sexuality. Moreover, Kincaid uses specific literary devices to show readers that the lessons are arbitrary and unending. Lastly, by not giving her characters names or lengthy descriptions Kincaid makes her story and characters relatable to nearly everyone. Despite being written nearly forty years ago, Kincaid’s story still rings true today. As a society, we can learn from these messages and begin to fix the problems of hypersexuality and treat all kids equally.

Summer Reading 2016: August

The Selection, The Elite, and The One
by Kiera Cass

This trio of books can essentially be described as The Bachelor in a post-war time period. Following a war between Asia and North America, new countries were formed including the setting of these novels, Illéa. Illéa was named after its creator, Gregory Illéa, with an eight-tiered caste system, which is explored more deeply in the third book, The One. America Singer and her family are considered fives in the caste system, making them artists. Her family is better off than some, but they often still struggle to afford food and other basic necessities. Since women take on the caste of the person they marry, they rarely marry down; however, America is fully ready to marry Aspen, a six, who she's been secretly dating for several years. America is the only child in the Singer family eligible to enter the selection, a competition between 35 girls from across Illéa to win Prince Maxon's heart and become the future queen. Her whole family, especially her mom, pressure her to enter the competition, but she refuses until after Aspen encourages her to, thinking that she won't be chosen, but still not wanting to hold her back. Alas, the day comes and much to America's dismay (and her mother's excitement) she is chosen for the selection and is soon shipped off to the castle. America and her fiery red hair quickly make her a fan favorite, but this shifts often throughout each novel. Similarly, her relationship with Prince Maxon changes frequently, and often quickly, throughout all the books. The girls quickly realize that living in the castle isn't all it's cracked up to be when they find themselves under rebel attacks several times in each book. The motive behind the attacks is explored more when the attacks become more frequent and more deadly. In the end, can America learn to love Maxon, letting go of her long-time lover Aspen? Will Prince Maxon choose America to be his bride? And will they both live to tell about it? Well, you'll just have to read them to find out. Series rating 6/10. Buy The Selection here on Amazon. Buy The Elite here on Amazon. Buy The One here on Amazon. Buy the box set here from Amazon.

Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby

Jo is a sixteen-year-old high school student living in Los Angeles who just so happens to be a paparazzo. Her small frame and height give her an advantage in the field and she can easily make a few hundred dollars a night, all of which she's saving to go to a photography school to make her dreams of becoming a portrait photographer come true. Her favorite star to shoot is teenage heartthrob Ned Hartnett, so when she's offered sixty thousand dollars to go undercover and take pictures of Ned at a retreat facility, she finds it way too hard to say no. Next thing she knows, she's face to face with Ned and the more she gets to know him the harder it is to sell his pictures. Faced with a huge moral decision, deciding whether or not to sell the pictures and make her dreams come true, or respect Ned's privacy, Jo's job just got harder when she finds out where the sixty thousand is coming from and why. Rating 5/10. Buy it here on Amazon.

If you read any of these books or have read them tweet me here!

Summer Reading 2016: July

Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

After her mom dies, Lina gets sent to Italy to live with a man she's never met (who just so happens to live in a World War II memorial aka a cemetery. Oh, and he's her dad, too!) to fulfill her mother's dying wish. Howard and Lina's relationship is awkward, to say the least, as they attempt to bond over food and her mom. However, Lina's trip to Italy takes a turn for the better when she's given her mom's old journal from her time spent in Italy as an art student. Lina finds herself visiting the same statues, fountains, bridges, churches, and places as her mom did, alongside her new Italian-American friend, Ren, all while trying to find out more about her mom's mysterious lover and why she left a place she loved so dearly. Rating 10/10 (Warning: This book may cause gelato cravings and inspire a trip to Italy). Buy it here on Amazon.

Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky

Meet Erin, Isabel, Apple, and our hilarious narrator, who are all totally obsessed with the 4-piece boyband, The Ruperts. When tickets for the boy's NYC Thanksgiving Special sell out before any of the girls can get their hands on one (let alone four), they plot to stay at the same hotel as their beloved band members. The p is that at some point they'll meet them and get tickets to the show; however meeting one of the band members and holding him hostage was definitely not part of that plan! Now that they have access to his phone and hotel room, these four girls have the power to ruin his life. But when he ends up dead, who's to blame, and will they end up meeting the rest of the boyband? Rating 8/10. Buy it here on Amazon.

Two Summers by Aimee Friedman

"What if..." are Summer Everett's two favorite words. She's about to board a plane to France where she'll meet cute boys, visit art museums, and help her father in his painting studio. But what if she'd taken that one phone call before boarding? Instead, her summer would be spent taking a photography course and growing closer to her long-time crush, Hugh Tyson. In both summers, Summer experiences ups and downs, including the heartbreak of find out her family secret, all while growing more confident in herself. Rating 6/10. Buy it here on Amazon.

Just One Wish by Janette Rallison

A hilarious story centered around a six-year-old with cancer? (I never thought I'd be typing that before) Annika Truman's little brother, Jeremy, has cancer. Annika Truman's little brother is also obsessed with the TV show Teen Robin Hood. So, in a last-ditch effort to get her brother to think positively about his upcoming brain surgery, Annika pulls out all the stops. She tells her brother that she has a genie with two wishes left. The last wish they'll use for his surgery, but he can use the second wish to ask for whatever he wants. Annika thinks he'll use it to ask for the Teen Robin Hood action figure that he's been wanting; instead, he asks for the Real Teen Robin Hood to teach him how to shoot arrows. Now, Annika must travel to Hollywood to track down Steve Raleigh, the actor who plays Robin Hood, and bring him to her hometown to meet Jeremy before his surgery. What could go wrong? Rating 10/10. Buy it here on Amazon.

If you read any of these books or have read any of these books tweet me here!