Essay on Short Story Analysis of Girl by Jamaica Kincaid

Short story analysis of Girl by Jamaica Kincaid Have you ever wished that someone had given you a guide on how live the right way? Jamaica Kincaid does just that in her short story, Girl. The narrative is presented as a set of life instructions to a girl by her mother to live properly in Antigua in the 1980’s. While the setting of the story is not expressly stated by the author in the narrative, the reader is able to understand the culture for which Girl was written. Jamaica Kincaid seems to be the passive narrator, receiving the instructions from her mother on how to live in their present social setting. The mother figure focuses on two main categories in her guidance, social manners and domesticity. First, guidance is given for a†¦show more content†¦Written in 1983, Kincaid narrates the thoughts and moral beliefs of the time by her mother. In Girl, Kincaid uses repetition of the term â€Å"slut† to emphasize that her mother did not want her to develop a bad moral reputation (Kincaid 118-119). Later in the narration though are her mother’s thoughts on abortion, â€Å"this is how to make a good medicine to throw away a child before it even becomes a child† (Kincaid 119). It shows that while the mother instructed her in moral principles, she also understood that things happen to a young woman. The practical nature of this instruction seems to indicate more modern thought while still living in a society of traditions. Another hint of the time period is the mention of divorce and how to live after it, â€Å"this is how you love a man†¦and if they don’t work out, don’t feel bad about giving up† (Kincaid 119). This could indicate that divorce is an accepted practice in the more modern society that Jamaica Kincaid wrote Girl in. The location of the story plays a large role in understanding the character’s interactions. The story opens with instructions on cleaning clothes upon a â€Å"stone heap† (Kincaid 118). In 1983 America, most households would have already had washing machines or at least a wash board and bucket rather than the older form of washing clothes at the river and utilizing stones. The nextShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Short Story Girl By Jamaica Kincaid844 Words   |  4 PagesIn the short story â€Å"Girl† by Jamaica Kincaid, a mother gives her daughter strict and organized set of verbal guidelines that teach her how to be a proper woman in that society. These guidelines focus primarily on how to act and behave as a wife. However, these guidelines and rules set out for her daughter’s future have an underlying sense of stigma and judgement. I believe the way the cultural tradition in the depicted society treats women is very different compared to how men ar e treated. TheRead MoreSummary Of Girl By Jamaica Kincaid1204 Words   |  5 PagesAn Analysis of Character Representation in Girl Throughout history women have been an oppressed group of individuals and therefore have had to find ways to satisfy society. Women have at times needed to follow particular guidelines in order to maintain standing in society. Jamaica Kincaid’s in her book â€Å"Girl† conveys a mother and daughter to represent particular social issues during post colonialism. In Girl the daughter serves as a representation of what the mother believes to be society’s idealRead MoreLiterary Criticism : The Free Encyclopedia 7351 Words   |  30 Pagesnavigation, search In literary criticism, a Bildungsroman (German pronunciation: [ˈbÉ ªldÊŠÅ‹s.Ê oËÅ'maË n]; German: novel of formation, education, culture),[a] novel of formation, novel of education,[2] or coming-of-age story (though it may also be known as a subset of the coming-of-age story) is a literary genre that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood (coming of age),[3] in which character change is extremely important.[4][5] Contents [hide] 1

The Benefits Of Co Sleeping - 873 Words

The goal of this essay is to look at the pros and cons of co-sleeping through the analysis of the benefits for both the baby and the parents, the evolutionary argument, and the risks and downfalls associated with the practice. Co-sleeping offers health benefits through additional breast milk intake, an improved attachment bond, and improving a child’s ability to fall asleep. However, the negatives include many risks, most of which can be avoided with proper care, but which put an infant in danger of SIDS. These can take the forms of suffocation factors, environmental hazards, and the lesser problem of sleep-dependency. I take the position that co-sleeping is healthy and natural, and that I would rather see it encouraged and not discouraged, but I also recognize that there are a variety of risks involved with the process. Many of the benefits of co-sleeping stem from the interactions that can readily happen within the open, close proximity environment co-sleeping enables. One of these benefits is breast feeding, which can influence many other aspects of infant health and behavior. Breast feeding is much easier to perform when co-sleeping, as the infant is nearer to the parent and the position already accommodates for mother and baby’s comfort. Breast feeding and co-sleeping a cyclical relationship, as each promotes the other. A mother that co-sleeps will find herself breast sleeping more throughout the night and this nightly breast feeding will facilitate more co-sleepingShow MoreRelatedCo-Sleeping1392 Words   |  6 Pagessuggests that co-sleeping benefits infants because it decreases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, increases the amount of time breastfeeding, and helps stabilize the child’s physiology. Annotated Bibliography: Source #1 Goldberg, W. A., amp; Keller, M. A. (2007). Co-sleeping during infancy and early childhood: key findings and future directions. Infant amp; Child Development, 16(4), 457-469. doi:10.1002/icd.522 This article describes the benefits of co-sleeping by pointingRead MoreHow Co Sleeping Can Affect A Family1723 Words   |  7 Pagesways that co-sleeping can affect a family. Co-sleeping is a hypernym of sleeping arrangements defined by Wendy Goldberg as â€Å"the presence of a caregiver who sleeps within close enough proximity of the infant to permit the exchange of at least two sensory stimuli† (par. 8). Goldberg is a psychology professor at the University of California, with specializations in infant sleep and transition into parenthood, among other things. While the medical community is at odds on the topic of co-sleeping, both sidesRead MoreEssay about Co Sleeping1435 Words   |  6 Pages Stephen Dufrechou 12/03/13 Benefits of co-sleeping with your infant for the first six months For as long as we can remember we are always told to never sleep with your baby that you could suffocate them by rolling over on them or what not. In a study by Davies, he found that prior to the 1700s co-sleeping was a normal thing around the world. It was not until the 1800s when the western society moved away from co-sleeping to an independent sleeping arrangement claiming the child willRead MoreA Goodnight Sleep: Is Co-Sleeping a Good Idea? Essay646 Words   |  3 PagesSome parents of infants think co-sleeping is beneficial, however; experts do believe that this practice is very dangerous. Every parent has the decision to co-sleep (sharing a bed with your baby), its weather they do or not that counts. There are reasons parents decide for or against, for example; if you’re a heavy sleeper, you might accidently roll over and suffocate your child. You might not realize that something like could happen, but it can. â€Å"Most parents just figure it will be easier for them Read MoreLong Before We Are Very Smart Beings Essay1344 Words   |  6 Pagesneeds, before they begin to cry, by doing this they should have a better personality. Constantly touching your child and help them with their self-regulation. This can be done by physical touch. Your child should not be taught to sleep alone, instead co-sleep. Do not let your child cry it out, because they will give up on you and think you will never come and take care of them. Once your child is around the age of 3, then they can try to sleep by themselves. It is best though for your kid to make thisRead MoreSleeping Problems Of Children And Children1592 Words   |  7 PagesEngl 101 academic writing Dr. Chism Sleeping Problems in Children If you ask all the parents in the world about the cutest moment of their baby, the most common answers should be while the baby is sleeping. However, young children may demonstrate a variety of difficulties related to sleep. Millions of parent’s sleeping schedule are disordered by those lovely little nightmares. In this Inquiry essay, I have chosen to write about that what may cause sleeping problems on infants that also affectRead MoreWhy I Believe in Attachment Parenting Essays1522 Words   |  7 Pagesfoundation of attachment in order to have proper brain development. I cover why I believe so much in this parenting style. It is a very connected way to raise and respond to children. It covers the elements that make-up this parenting style including: co-sleeping and baby wearing. Also, cover some of the objections to this parenting style and address them with counter claims. Children get to separate from the parent(s) when they are ready and aren’t pushed to advance to early in life. When the child becomesRead MoreCo-sleeping: Sleep and Bed2308 Words   |  10 PagesAlthough taboo in Western culture, co-sleeping is making a comeback. After the retraction of previous statements against co-sleeping, Dr. Richard Ferber, child sleep guru, has now sided with a family’s decision to share a bed with their infants. Although the American Society of Pediatrics warns that sleeping with your infant can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, the exact cause of SIDS is still unknown. The emotional benefits of sharing a bed with your baby can be enormous and someRead MoreThe Emerging Use of Mattresses in History: Cultural Differences in Sleeping Patterns979 Words   |  4 Pages Cultural differences in sleeping patterns The way that we sleep feels so natural, it may come as a surprise that sleeping in separate beds on an elevated mattress is quite particular to specific cultures and regions. The first hunter-gatherers obviously did not have stationary places to rest upon and even the concept of an individual bedroom is fairly recent in the West. However, given the ubiquity of Western culture, many non-Western customs regarding sleeping habits have changed and grownRead MorePromoting a Healthy and Safety Environment in an Early Childhood Education Setting1353 Words   |  6 PagesThe essay will discuss three important aspects of sleeping facilitiesï ¼Å' nutrition and hand washing for a healthy environment in early childhood education. Learning and developments of children are greatly enhanced by a healthy environment. It will also explain three policies that relate to these aspects. Strategies will also be mentioned to elaborate on the aspects and policies. Families, communities and centres should work together to provide and promote a healthy upbringing of young children. It

Mental Retardation Essay Example For Students

Mental Retardation Essay In order to be considered mentally retarded, you must have an IQ below 75, havesignificant limitations in two or more adaptive skill areas, and the conditionis present from childhood (defined as age 18 or younger). People can be mentallyretarded as all different levels. About 78% of mentally retarded people willonly be a little slower than the average person, while in others it is veryapparent (Arc of New Jersey). There are many causes of mental retardation. Onecause of mental retardation is of genetic conditions. That includes; abnormalgene mixes from parents, errors when genes combine, overexposure to x-rays, andmany more reasons. More than 500 genetic diseases are associated with mentalretardation. Down Syndrome is an example of a chromosomal disorder (MentalRetardation Issues). Chromosomal disorders occur every once in a while, and arecaused by too many or too few chromosomes in the restructure of the chromosomes(The Arc of New Jersey). Another cause is problems during pregnancy. It couldhappen if the mother drinks or does drugs while pregnant with the baby. Otherrisks include malnutrition, certain environmental contaminants, and the mothercould get ill during the pregnancy. Pregnant women who are infected with HIV maypass it on to their child. Also very stressful and physical pregnancies andbirths can cause damage to a childs brain (Introduction to MentalRetardation). Mental Retardation also occurs frequently after birth. Childhooddiseases such as big coughs, chicken pox, measles, and hip disease, which maylead to meningitis and encephalitis, can damage the brain, as can accidents suchas being hit in the head, near drowning situations, and most other accidentsinvolving the head. Another that can be harmful to a child mentally isenvironmental fumes, lead, mercury, and other dangerous toxins (Introduction toAn American History of Mental Retardation). BibliographyIntroduction to An American History of Mental Retardation. 3-28-00. http://member.aol.com/MRandDD/introhx.htm. Introduction to Mental Retardation. 2-25-00. http://thearc.org/faqs/mrqa.htmlMental Retardation Issues. 2-27-00. http://members.amaonline.com/nrogers/mr.htmThe Arc of New Jersey. What is MR. 2-27-00. http://www.arcnj.org/html/what_is_mr.html

When The King Of Scotland Died Without An Heir To The Throne The Nephe

When the king of Scotland died without an heir to the throne the nephew of the king also the king of England nicknamed Edward the Longshanks (Edward I) took the throne for himself and complete control of Scotland. William WallWhen the king of Scotland died without an heir to the throne the nephew of the king also the king of England nicknamed Edward the Longshanks (Edward I) took the throne for himself and complete control of Scotland. William Wallace was Born in January of the year 1272. He was the second of three sons. He was born in the town of Elerslie, which was in Scotland. His Father Sir Malcolm Wallace held the title of knight but had little to no political power. Wallace's Father was involved in a revolt called Turnberry Band when William was 14 years old and was sent to live with his uncle Argile. His Uncle taught William Latin and French and how to be a swordsmen.When William's father returned from the revolt at Turnberry Band William was 17 years old. Fighting between rival families and rival towns were heating up. Civil War was about to Break out in Scotland. Brawling and riots inside towns turned into full scale battles, Where in the Battle of Loudoun Hill William's father was involved and killed. William Stayed with his mother For two years until he met Murron Braidfoot and married her in the year 1272. There are many tales on how William Wallace became and outlaw after his marrige, one such is that one day Wil liam was fishing at a near by lake when a group of english soilders approached him and demanded william give them the fish he had caught. William trying to get food for himself and his wife said they could only take half. The soilders enraged lunged at William. But William fought off and killed both of the guards, forever becoming an outlaw. In The month of may 1272 A group of english soilders under the command of The English Sheriff of Lanark, William de Hazelrig ordered the death of William's wife. It seems that William had already started his revolt against England when his wife was murdered in an attempt to arrest Wallace. Wallace's huge act of rebellion attracted the attention of common folk and Scots nobles alike, all of whom were unwilling to bear Edward the Longshanks laws. Rebelion forces under William Wallace were scattered all over scotland but they all submerged together and met a larger more equipped english army at the Battle of Stirling. The Battle of Stirling happened a little differently than portrayed in the film Braveheart. On September 11, 1297, The English forces were arrayed around Stirling Castle, while the Scots were opposite them across the forth, which wound through a valley. All that seperated the two armies was a bridge across the forth. Because of poor commanding by the English leaders, The english were trapped as they crossed the bridge and were slaughtered by the Scots. In March of 1298 Wallace was Knighted by the scottish noble man Robert the bruce and was appointed guardian of Scotland. Edward I finally headed for Scotland with his army in July of 1298 Sadly the english army was much larger than the Scots and despite Wallace's best efforts the english decimated the Scots at the battle of Falkirk. Wallace himself barely escaped and Some historians do belive that Robert the bruce helped Wallace escape from english soilders. After Scotland's loss at Falkirk Wallace resignes as guardian of Scotland, no one knows what Wallace did for the next 3 years But some belive he led mild raids into england which only enraged King Edward I more. Many belive that someone betrayed Wallace at his capture near Glasgow by english forces where he was immiediatly sent to london to be executed for treason. The Sentance was immiediatly carried out Wallace was wrapped in oxhide and dragged several miles to Smithfield. Where he was hanged until almost unconscious and then tied two a table and disemboweled where the english set his entrails on fire while still attached to his body, he was possibly castrated as well and then beheaded.