Essay # 1
English 313
Professor Huntley
“ Girl” is a close look at the relationship between a mother and daughter, and the roles that culture and community play. The mother does most of the talking or ranting while the daughter politely listens only speaking twice which the mother noticeably dismisses.
“ Girl” is different from typical literature in that it’s missing a plot, there’s no real story behind this piece nor is there any particular events or series of events leading to any sort of action normally seen in literature. Never are the characters formally introduced nor is the setting. Automatically from the first sentence till the end we hear the mother talking at the daughter about how to be a good woman.
Women in traditional roles must be valued and highly praised because the mother is making a point to get this across to her daughters how to be a good women. How to cook, how to clean, and how to please your man. The “Girl” never says a date or place but it would seem that this is years ago in a community that’s unlike the one we live in . Comments such as how to make medicine and catching fish to cook aren’t typical women duties today in the west.
The culture of this community and the traditions which are held important are seen in the mother’s ideology which comes from labor. “ Wash the white clothes on Monday”, and “ Cook pumpkin fritters in very hot sweet oil” its all house duties. She must love her daughter because she is preparing her for her place in society and