Identity Through Writing
Some authors write to express themselves; others write to find themselves. Jamaica Kincaid wrote to find out more about herself in her writing. She wrote to find her identity. Leaving behind everything around her to find out who she is, is what she does through her writing. Having an unusual childhood, readers can see that in the story Girl she writes about society’s views on an American girl during the 1980’s.
Kincaid has a rebellious childhood, as she leaves everything around her to find herself. Kincaid was born May 25, 1949 in Antigua. She left the island at the age of seventeen (17). She left her family and moved to the United States. Kincaid writes her stories to help find identity in herself. As we can see in Girl there is no exception.
The story, Girl, is a list of things that society teaches a Girl living during the 1970’s and 1980’s. Things such as “on Sunday’s try to walk like a lady and not a slut”, and “this is how you smile at someone you don’t like at all”. (Abcarian, 2004) Half of the lessons in the story are typical, others are obscured and show that the author was frustrated at society at the time. Kincaid was frustrated with the culture of America and society’s rules and standards for women at the time.
During the 1970’s and 1980’s Women in America had more rights then they did in decades prior, but women still had many stereotypes. Most women were still house makers and those that worked did not get as much credit as they deserved. Frustrated with cultures views of women, Kincaid wrote to express herself, but also to find herself. Her story is basically asking herself “Is this what society has for me?”, “Who am I in this culture?”
Kincaid was searching for herself, her freedom and her identity away from culture in this story. Her childhood of running away, made her grow up her way, without influence of her parents. The stories she wrote, helped her find herself. When society was wanting women to be, or act, in one way, she asked “Why?”. Kincaid may have inspired other women authors to write stories that helped other women find their identities, Kincaid might have helped them by helping herself. Maybe that is Kincaid’s identity.
Kincaid has a rebellious childhood, as she leaves everything around her to find herself. Kincaid was born May 25, 1949 in Antigua. She left the island at the age of seventeen (17). She left her family and moved to the United States. Kincaid writes her stories to help find identity in herself. As we can see in Girl there is no exception.
The story, Girl, is a list of things that society teaches a Girl living during the 1970’s and 1980’s. Things such as “on Sunday’s try to walk like a lady and not a slut”, and “this is how you smile at someone you don’t like at all”. (Abcarian, 2004) Half of the lessons in the story are typical, others are obscured and show that the author was frustrated at society at the time. Kincaid was frustrated with the culture of America and society’s rules and standards for women at the time.
During the 1970’s and 1980’s Women in America had more rights then they did in decades prior, but women still had many stereotypes. Most women were still house makers and those that worked did not get as much credit as they deserved. Frustrated with cultures views of women, Kincaid wrote to express herself, but also to find herself. Her story is basically asking herself “Is this what society has for me?”, “Who am I in this culture?”
Kincaid was searching for herself, her freedom and her identity away from culture in this story. Her childhood of running away, made her grow up her way, without influence of her parents. The stories she wrote, helped her find herself. When society was wanting women to be, or act, in one way, she asked “Why?”. Kincaid may have inspired other women authors to write stories that helped other women find their identities, Kincaid might have helped them by helping herself. Maybe that is Kincaid’s identity.
