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Situational Irony
Style
Explanation and Analysis:
“Girl” has a very distinctive style that comes through largely in form: it is told almost entirely as a monologue, in direct address to the second person “you.” Kincaid uses fairly plain language appropriate to practical instructions and realistic speech. Mother’s diction is always sharp and to the point, not veering into descriptions. She uses adjectives sparingly, and when she does, they are typically words like “good” and “bad.”
Although not properly following its narrator’s interior thoughts, “Girl” resembles stream of consciousness in its use of syntax. It is structured by Mother’s own associative leaps, some of them intuitive and some of them seemingly random. The story is all one continuous sentence, strung together with semicolons. The lack of a full stop contributes to the sense of a relentless barrage of advice.
“Girl” is also characterized by heavy repetition. Thirty-one of Mother’s sentences begin with the phrase “this is how”; four begin with “don’t.” The repetition creates a rhythmic cadence. This, too, gives the feeling of an overwhelming assault of information, all of it restrictive and constraining for the girl.
Overall, the style of “Girl” communicates the intensity of Mother’s expectations. The social norms, for which Mother is the mouthpiece, are inescapable.
Related Themes:
