Symbolism In GIRL By Jamaica Kincaid

Symbolism in GIRL

Amani K. Allen

South University Online

Composition III/Literature ENG1300

Week 4 Assignment 2

John Philips

09/01/2015

Symbolism in GIRL by: Jamaica Kincaid Symbolism is a figure of speech often used in literature. Symbolism allows the author to set a type of mood in the story or to create some time of emotion in which the reader can feel as they read the story. Authors will use words, objects, phrases and even colors to help symbolize things in the literary work. In this short story by Jamaica Kincaid, titled GIRL she uses symbolism by using things like Benna, the house and the clothes, and food. All the symbols used help the reader engage in the story and really think about what each thing really is trying to symbolize.

Benna is a type of music. Even before knowing what kind of music specifically benna is, we know it is something that mother does not want girl to be singing in church. So where does benna actually come from, and why is mother so opposed to her singing it, especially at church? Benna is a type of Antiguan music. Benna is now known as a type of music called Calypso. Benna comes from a word in West Africa, which means song and dance, bought to the West Indies by the slaves. Each song like most songs had a specific topic in which they were singing about. Benna music had a bit of a twist to it. Unlike the religious and story like telling music that slaves often sung, Benna was a type of music sung by emancipated slaves as a way to express themselves. Benna often had a bit of humor in it along will a little cruelty and sexual content (ANTIGUA & BARBUDA'S CULTURAL HERITAGE.). From knowing just a little bit about benna style music, we can see that it would not be the most appropriate thing to be singing in church. Although mother does not approve of girl singing such music in church, she never mentions that she should not sing it at all, as it seems to be part of their culture, but due to the fact that mother is all about appearance out in the social and public world to do such singing of music is not of a proper girl, but it seems as though singing it in the home may not be something mother disagrees

The food described in the short story better helps us with understanding the culture in which we are dealing with. “Cook pumpkin fritter on very hot sweet oil”, (Kincaid 1983 line 3). Pumpkin fritters are an African and Caribbean dish. Not only does she mention the pumpkin fritters but she mentions bread pudding, and doukona; a spicy Caribbean dish. This particular symbol is a symbol for culture in the story. Along with mother giving girl knowledge on how to properly clean a house, hem clothing, iron clothing and even wash clothing. She is teaching her how to properly cook like a young lady is supposed to know how to do. In a lot of cultures food is the center of a lot of things. Also in a lot of cultures guys will look for a good woman who can cook. Mother is trying to teach girl how to be a proper girl so that not only people but young men will look at her as a very clean and proper women, than just a slut who knows nothing. Mother feels that a good woman is a domestic woman. Food may play a bigger part than we may think. Food represent not only culture but the mothers pride. Like many family’s, we may have family recipes that we pass down through the family that we are very proud of, and like mother she it is a proud moment for her to be able to teach her daughter certain recipes that have been passed down, so that her daughter can continue to do the same with her