One-Way Communication Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl” consists of pieces of advice and admonishments a mother gives to her daughter. The fragments are compiled into one long sentence, separated only by semi-colons, which allows the piece to be governed by the mother’s overwhelming sense of duty. It is this duty that makes communication between the mother and daughter virtually impossible in this piece, which is shown through the format of the story itself as well as through the mother’s fear-mongering attitude. Throughout the story, the mother imparts bits of advice to her daughter, almost exclusively centered around domesticity. She seems to have a sort of reverence for domestic tasks and teaches her daughter how to perform these duties, which include “how to sew a button…how to sweep a corner…[and] how to set a table for dinner with an important guest” as she deems properly (Kincaid 329). Her compulsion to educate her daughter and provide her with these words of wisdom suggests an impoverished, rural setting, where the proper execution of these chores and their passing on to the next generation would be essential for daily life. She also instructs her daughter to appear and behave respectably in the eyes of the community, with statements like: “…always eat your food in such a way that it won’t turn someone else’s stomach…” and “…don’t squat down to play marbles – you are not a boy, you know…” (329). This emphasis on domesticity and appearances provides an overt insight into the crucial role the community plays in the everyday life of 1950s Antigua and reveals the mother’s maternal intentions: to teach her daughter how to achieve happiness and gain respect within their society. However, these positive intentions are concealed by the mother’s aggression. This hostility is conveyed in the format of the story itself: it is composed of a single sentence arranged in a list-like style that evokes one long breath, which is underscored by only two interjections from the daughter to defend herself. This creates a feeling of oppression in the story, which stems from the mother’s overwhelming sense of duty, and highlights the sense of one-way communication, as opposed to a two-way exchange. It is also evident that one’s reputation is critical in this community, expressed through lessons like: “…this is how you smile to someone you don’t like very much…” and “…this is how to behave in the presence of men who you don’t know very well…” (329). A high social standing is the result of a solid base in domestic knowledge, which brings power and prestige to a woman – a very gruelling feat in this society. The mother wants these things for her daughter, but teaches her how to obtain them in a very critical manner. She seems to be teaching and scolding her daughter simultaneously – an approach that will inevitably result in fruitless communication. There is also a focus on what seems to be the daughter’s burgeoning sexuality and the mother’s disdain for it. Despite the brevity of the story, there are three instances in which the mother chastises her daughter, warning her against being “the slut [she is] so bent on becoming” (329). This assumption on the part of the mother, that her daughter is determined to be a slut and ruin her reputation, is not conducive to effective communication – she allows no opportunity for the daughter to prove herself and be a respectable member of society, preferring instead to reprimand her proactively. She is also teaching her daughter to be ashamed of her sexuality, and gives her absolutely no license to ask questions or explore it – a propensity that will very likely lead to problems in the