Summary

The short story “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid represents a series of instructions and pieces of advice given by a mother to her daughter. The advice is mostly connected to housework, practical skills, and domestic chores, but also to how a girl is supposed to behave in the presence of men. The mother also offers advice on the relationships between men and women and is sympathetic when she tells the girl that some relationships simply do not work out. Oftentimes, the mother warns and criticizes the girl, whom she believes might be becoming too rebellious. The girl tries to interrupt her mother’s monologue twice, to defend herself from her accusations, and to express her confusion.