Melissa Andrews

Professor Kati Lewis

English 2600
6/28/2018

Unity of Effect in Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl”

Edgar Allen Poe’s theory of the “unity of effect” states that an author will deliberately

use different elements of literature in a way that creates a unifying effect within the whole of a

story. The unifying effect takes the form of the main, most important point that the author is

working to convey. An example of this theory can be found in Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl,” where

Kincaid uses point of view, plot, characterization, and setting to comment on the unrealistic and

sexist cultural expectations of women. The elements Kincaid utilizes create the unity of effect

expertly, and leave the reader with an understanding of what’s wrong with these cultural ideals.

Kincaid uses point of view in “Girl” in an interesting way, but it ultimately helps drive

the story and contribute to the unity of effect in an effective way. The story is told from what the

reader can assume to be a mother’s point of view, with two deviations to the daughter’s point of

view. These deviations are formatted differently, in italics, in order to alert to reader to a switch

from mother’s perspective to daughter’s perspective - who the piece is directed at. Though these

switches are brief, they are powerful. For example, the mother asks if it’s true the daughter has

been singing benna in Sunday school, to which the daughter replies “...but I don’t sing benna on

Sundays at all and never in Sunday school…” As the majority of the story is told from the

mother’s point of view, the reader is met with the idea that the girl does not have her own

identity yet. Kincaid interjects the change of perspective in order to begin to establish her as her

own character, which ties in to the plot of the piece. In the daughter’s response to her mother’s

question, we begin to understand that the blossoming of her own identity, and transition to
adulthood is being led by her mother’s advice and the expectations of women that come from the

culture. We, as readers, can assume that the advice the mother is giving to her daughter comes

from a place of experience, and interactions and advice from her own mother. From the frame of

the mother’s point of view, the idea that these expectations are ingrained in their culture, and

have been passed down from mother to daughter over years and years is enforced.

Another element of literature that Kincaid uses is that of plot. Because “Girl” is not

written with events or exposition taking place, the plot is more implicit, and told through a series

of lessons being taught by the mother. These lessons include washing clothing, cleaning a home,

cooking food, and interacting with other people - specifically men. Examples of this sentiment

can be found in multiple places throughout the piece, including “always eat your food in such a

way that it won’t turn someone else’s stomach;” “ this is how you iron your father’s khaki shirt

so it doesn’t have a crease;” “this is how you smile at someone you don’t like at all;” and “this is

how you behave in the presence of men who don’t know you very well.” All of these instructions

make one thing very clear - this young woman has a position to serve those around her before

herself. In the world of literature, and the real world, this is a common sentiment. Though some

parts of society are working to move away from these expectations of women, they are still

deeply ingrained within cultures, and Kincaid’s piece examines such. We are shown through the

work that the daughter is expected her serve her father and her family, while remaining pure and

worthy, before serving a husband. It is also of importance to note the line “you are not a boy, you

know,” due to the implication that she can’t behave a certain way based on her gender.

Contextually, this comes after being told she can’t squat down to play marbles, but the line lends

itself to a greater interpretation of cultural norms and expectations. It can be applied to almost
every aspect of a woman’s life - she will not be afforded certain opportunities and advantages

because she is a female.

Characterization also plays a hand in creating a unity of effect within “Girl.” Though

there is little about the character herself, as her adult identity is still forming, we do have clues as

to who she is as an adolescent. In her response to her mother’s question about singing benna in

Sunday school, we see that she says this is never something she would do, insinuating that she

knows better than to do so - as has been taught by her mother. Her mother tells her to “...try to

walk like a lady and not like the slut [she is] so bent on becoming,” presenting the readers with a

good girl/bad girl binary. Based on what her mother says, and repeats again later in the text, the

daughter is “bent on becoming a slut,” but we have no further evidence to indicate this is the

case. However, being told this repeatedly would have an impact on anyone’s character - and

most likely will make the girl resentful of her mother and her culture. This characterization helps

us understand how society has begun to move away from these ideations of women, stemming

from the expectations placed on women. It is also relevant to understand the characterization of

the mother, as it can be assumed she was taught these same things in the same way as she is

teaching her daughter.

“Girl” would not be complete without its setting. When we speak about expectations,

especially those for women, it is important that we consider culture. Kincaid paints a picture of

the Southern United States, and as readers, we must understand how much of an effect this has

on those expectations. There are multiple mentions of foods that are common in the South; for

example, pumpkin fritters, okra, and bread pudding. These are all talked about in the context of

learning to cook them - as is expected of a woman. We can consider that as we move away from

these expectations, there is still a stereotype of “Southern values,” which include the things
Kincaid speaks about in her work. There is also a mention of doukona, which is a Jamaican

pudding, and another of benna, which is a genre of Antiguan and Barbudan music. Together,

these mentions lead the reader to further understand that character’s cultural heritage. The

entirety of the setting - food and music included - comes together to reinforce these cultural ideas

about what is expected of women, and the things they should grow up knowing.

Kincaid’s “Girl” uses different elements to effectively create a unity of effect that

converges to one point - women, in all different cultures, have unjust and unrealistic expectation

placed on them. It pushes the reader to examine these expectations, and apply them to both the

time and place they are existing in. Kincaid’s work evokes images of strength and ability, but

also sexism and cultural pressure. Combining the elements of setting, point of view,

characterization, and plot create an overall statement about the expectations places on women.

Work Cited

Kincaid, Jamaica. “Girl.” The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 19 June 2017,
www.newyorker.com/magazine/1978/06/26/girl.