The Main Ideas Of The Short Story

A Girl is a short story that is written by Jamaica Kincaid. This is the story of anti-colonists, power, and the relationship between a mother and daughter. Many sensitive themes are covered in the story where the Girl recalls all the advice which her mother gave her to become a perfect woman in the society.

The concepts & Ideas of “A Girl” – The Short Story

 Today we will unfold and explore all the concepts in Girl and break them down to help you understand the plot better.

A. Mother-Daughter Relationship

The mother-daughter relationship portrayed here is highly complex and full of conflict even though being from the same gender. The mother feels she must inform her daughter about societal standards and expectations. The mother is judgmental and strict. On the other hand, the daughter wants to live carefree and is rebellious.

The girl wants to live according to her own terms and make her own choices. However, the mother constantly keeps telling her daughter what to do and what not to do. Although they love each other yet their conflicting thoughts and opinions create stressful tension towards both.

B. Significance of Education

The Girl does not fail to pinpoint the importance of education for women. Women who are educated have higher chances of being self-sufficient and independent. Her mother commands the “girl" to read books on history and cultures to become a high-value woman. She wants her to be educated and successful to not fall back on the male dominant world for reliability.

Through education, the author also emphasizes the power of knowledge. Knowledge can command your mind and make you more powerful in society.

The story also tells how knowledge and language give some the power to influence others. The Girl has a rebellious streak, but still, she always seeks approval from her mother to feel validated.

Education is essential for any girl and the skills one gain from it can help them shape a happier life regardless of their situation, background and status.

C. Gender Inequality in Society

Gender inequality in the society is huge. Women even today are subject to it, and those facing too extreme consequences for it are under great stress and anxiety. In the story, the mother states advice and wisdom to her daughter on being a reputable woman in the society. Although the mother is part of society, she seems to clutch her daughter to be like every other ordinary woman instead of wanting her to do better.

Maybe the mother wanted her to be a respected woman and not looked down at by neighbors and everyone else. This could be seen as a mother’s care for her daughter to save her from the injustices of a male-controlled society that would otherwise call her daughter" unwomanly."

The term “girl” and slight references in the story reflect that the Girl is right on the cusp of adulthood and the mother wanting her to know all the life rules which she should at this age.

Back then, many women lacking these so-called “womanly traits” would make them unattractive. Worst thing is that even if we blame it on the men, it is often the mother and elderly female genders as well who control and badmouth women rather than supporting them to be independent.

Gender inequality has pushed women to get more controlled and be on the guard rather than voicing their own opinions. View Examples

D. Societal Expectations from a Woman

The story" Girl" is from a feminist. It is in first person narrative, and all the rules are written as" you” because Jamaica wants all girl readers to relate to it. This tells the executions and burdens put up on women in a male-dominated society.

In this story, the mother instructs her daughter on how to do everything starting from laundry, cooking, how to be a wife and lays down all rules for her. One rule is more serious, like attending church, while the other is simple everyday practices that a girl should know and follow.

 The mother is traditional and wants her daughter to be a good example in the society. However, from the Girl's perspective, it is difficult for her to listen to her mother’s opinion and shape her life accordingly. She wants to be more independent and become the master of her own decisions.

Although the book is named after a girl, many indirect references exist to men. Certain rules and statements confirm that a woman is expected to behave in a certain way, or men would not like them or call them by bad names.

 The mother's rules are simply laying down on how to be a woman in society, or else she could come out as “Manly" or "Boy," which is demeaning for girls. We also see the writer wondering that maybe the rules would be less complex and simpler if it was for a boy.

The mother is not just concerned about being a good woman in society and a wife for her husband, but she also wants her to be good enough for her neighbours, known ones and other people in general. The traditional mother believes that these rules and advice would help her become a woman, which may be what the mother herself desired to be or wants her daughter to set a good example rather than being looked down at.

E. Role of Family in Passing on Stereotypes

 Home is the first place to which a child looks unto. Although, as humans, we hate biases and stereotypes yet, we all fall into its clutches at some part or another. The story Girl shows a relationship between mother and daughters which shows the kind of expectation a family has with a girl child.

Family is the first people which a child gets to meet.

The mother could be the representation of the entire family or the society in which we live. The mother's advice to follow stereotypical roles and do household chores embodies generational biasness’s which is passed down ages ago onto us.

If the mother had been more supportive and open-minded, she could have stated her daughter's advice on how to break through these societal norms and discriminatory rules and emerge victorious. But she chooses to turn her daughter into the same vessel she is and pass on the same knowledge.

Hence, it won't be wrong to say that families are often the first ones to impose differences between men and women. The cycle continues bringing in no change and leading the society to never change.

Points to remember

The Girl is a beautiful story which would be relatable to every woman in the present generation. This story talks about words of wisdom passed on by a mother to her daughter on how to be reputable woman in society or else she would be demeaned.

The girl has a more independent outlook which is different from her traditional mother. Yet she wishes to seek approval from her mother and not discredit her.

The story left behind many questions or us to wonder. Would the mother pass the same advice to a boy child? If not, why is that? Why are we still teaching girls to live in a way that honours males and not females? Is the mother’s belief due to peer pressure, or does she want her Girl to follow societal norms and family standards?

 Some of the rules seem questionable, but they are still being followed. It also shows how society neighbors and family shape a big way in influencing over the upbringing of a girl child.

This story is good example for girls, and portrays important themes like need for gender equality by highlighting the struggles girls face today.