This Is How You Turn a Girl Into a Woman - 899 Words

Stories have a beginning, middle, and an end. This is not your typical short story piece. Girl by Jamaica Kincaid is an expressive, one-page portrait of womanhood. This methodical monologue is narrated by a strict and caring mother. Kincaid writes a â€Å"how-to guide† on the transformation from a little girl into a woman, by means of exposing gender roles. Most sentences start with â€Å"This is how you...† which directly informs the reader of what, or what not, to do to be a respectable woman. Girl is written in a very poetic style that is reminiscent of modern slam poetry. The words on the page beg to be read aloud. Coming in at under 700 words, the message of this story packs a punch. Though written as one block of text, Kincaid has†¦show more content†¦The author is telling the reader that one is allowed to make mistakes. Learning from ones mistakes takes the most courage and strength. Sometimes, one may need to give up, dust themselves off, and try again. One issue this story touches on is that of abortion. â€Å"This is how to make a good medicine to throw away a child before it even becomes a child; this is how to catch a fish; this is how to throw back a fish you dont like and that way something bad wont fall on you;† These lines are so powerful in representing womans choice. Catching a fish, then throwing it back out when do you dont like it is much like the decision to, or to not, have an abortion. It is a choice to be made when you decide if you are capable. This passage tells the daughter that only she, herself, is the one who decides what to do- to throw the fish out to avoid a bad mistake in the future. Lets discuss the term â€Å"slut† in this story. â€Å"On Sundays try to walk like a lady and not like the slut you are so bent on becoming;† This is the first line in which she writes about this topic. The term â€Å"slut† is used in foretelling her daughter what she will think of her if she doesnt heed her words of wisdom. Upon first reading this passage, I was a little shocked. I believed the mother was being too harsh with her wording, then I realized the mother is speaking from a place of concern for her daughter. I dont believe the authors meaning ofShow MoreRelatedWomen : A Man Who Is Surrounded By Other Women809 Words   |  4 Pagesoff our preferences combined with how we are influenced by others. You can use this knowledge to your advantage! If you see a girl you like and you want to attract her, then make sure you have some friends who are girls, or at the very least some interested girls around you. As Katherine said, a man who is liked by women obviously has a way with women. He s not a jerk. He s not an idiot. He s not shy or awkward. And that makes him a potential guy in any woman s life. 8. Don t Show AttentionRead MoreWho Wants You Be Touched?978 Words   |  4 Pages5, 2007. This particular song is the second most successful song that Three Days Grace has done. 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