"Girl" (Narroration Style)

In the short story “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid, their was a very interesting style of narration used. It seemed that the story was written as directions the whole time. It was the mother telling the daughter how to do simple deeds around the house. She also explained how the daughter should care for herself as well. Throughout the story the mother was explaining everything in a very stern and strict way. This shows that the setting of the story takes place many years ago. Now-a-days you wouldn’t hear your mother teaching you life lessons and using inappropriate language. For example, in the story the mother says, “this is how to hem a dress when you see the hem coming down and so to prevent yourself from looking like the slut I know you are so bent on becoming.” The narration throughout the story made it seem that all the information being told to the daughter needed to be learned and done for the rest of her life or else she wouldn’t be living her life the correct way.