Analysis of “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
Jamaica Kincaid’s Girl presents a mother’s strict instructions to her daughter, reflecting traditional Antiguan gender roles. Through symbolic language, cultural references, and a one-sided conversation, the story explores themes of female oppression, societal expectations, and the loss of innocence. The mother’s warnings highlight the weight of reputation and the rigid standards imposed on women. Kincaid’s work can also be read as an allegory for Antigua’s colonial experience under British rule.
References
Jayasree, K. “Genre Crossing in Jamaica Kincaid’s ‘Girl’.” IUP Journal of English Studies, vol. 13, no. 2, 2018.
Kincaid, Jamaica. Girl. San Francisco Examiner, 1991.
Paravisini-Gebert, Lizabeth. Jamaica Kincaid: a critical companion. Greenwood Press, 1999.
Reference
StudyCorgi. (2025, February 20). Analysis of “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid. https://studycorgi.video/analysis-of-girl-by-jamaica-kincaid-2/