English

In Jamaica Kincaids short story “Girl,” the narrative does not simply describe a transition into womanhood; it enacts the suffocating pressure of that transition through its very structure. While the piece is often mistaken for a prose poem due to its rhythmic quality, its power lies in its identity as a short story stripped of traditional plot, focusing instead on the psychological landscape of instruction. Through the relentless use of repetitionspecifically the anaphoric “this is how” and the repetitive use of the imperative moodKincaid emphasizes the theme of the burden of societal expectations, arguing that for a woman in this culture, identity is not grown, but rigidly manufactured. The most prominent use of repetition is the rhythmic “this is how” that anchors the mothers monologue. This phrase functions as a litany of social survival, covering everything from domestic chores (“this is how to hem a dress”) to moral policing (“this is how to behave in the presence of men”). By repeating this structure dozens of times, Kincaid creates a cumulative effect of exhaustion. The repetition suggests that the daughters life is not her own to design; rather, it is a series of pre-ordained scripts. The sheer volume of these “how-tos” implies that societal norms are so granular and demanding that they leave no room for the girls individual personality to breathe. Furthermore, Kincaid employs repetition through the imperative mood, beginning nearly every clause with a command: “wash,” “cook,” “sweep,” “don’t.” This repetitive grammatical structure transforms the mothers voice into an inescapable atmospheric pressure. The burden of expectation is portrayed not as a single conversation, but as a continuous, cyclical assault. Because the commands never cease and are rarely interrupted by the daughters voice, the repetition highlights the girls lack of agency. She is being “built” by her mothers words, and the repetitive nature of these commands suggests that societal expectations are a lifelong labor rather than a one-time lesson. Perhaps the most cutting use of repetition is the recurring warning against becoming a “slut.” The mother repeatedly returns to the girls gait and behavior, suggesting that even if the girl follows every domestic instruction, her “bent” toward “becoming a slut” is a constant threat. This specific repetition emphasizes that societal norms are not just about productivity (cooking and cleaning), but about reputation and surveillance. The repetition of this slur serves as a rhythmic reminder that the stakes of failing these expectations are total social exile. In conclusion, Kincaid uses repetition to turn a mothers advice into a prison of “respectability.” By layering command upon command and “how-to” upon “how-to,” the story moves beyond a simple list of chores to become a profound analysis of how gender roles are enforced. The repetition ensures that the reader, like the protagonist, feels the crushing weight of a life defined entirely by the expectations of others.