This short story focuses on the theme of relationships between mothers and daughters, which also reflects the problem of parents and children on a larger scale. In her story, the author seems to reflect on her own experience. The mother of the girl prescribes her daughter certain rules and behaviors, expecting that she would strictly follow them. In turn, the girl feels constrained in these imposed behaviors, which limits her life. It should be stressed the mother gives both positive and negative advice, but the girl’s perspective and ideas are quite a few in the story, which can be interpreted as the overbearing of the mother in her daughter (Jayasree 83). On the one hand, the actions of the mother are guided by love, and she wants the best for her child. On the other hand, the mother is an old-fashioned and too strict woman, who leaves the main character without social interactions and personal opinion.
Another important problem that is raised by this story is that the society promotes stereotyped thinking in children. Namely, the thoughts that are translated by the mother to her daughter represent female discrimination, and it creates the gap between the sexes. According to the mother, a woman should be limited by her house, while men are not restricted. The mother also uses the word “slut”, which shows that he treats her daughter derogatively. One can conclude that the mother does not teach her daughter how to live in the modern and how to become happy. It would be better, however, if she left some place for the girl to think independently so that she can make her own mistakes and learn from them.
Work Cited
Jayasree, K. “Linguistic-Literary Camouflage in Jamaica Kincaid’s” Girl”.” IUP Journal of English Studies, vol. 13, no. 2, 2018, pp. 81-87.