Girl by Jamaica Kincaid

In the short story "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid, the author uses short phrases to tell a girl how she should behave. The story is one long sentence, no periods, no starts or ends. The one sentence continues on for one and a half pages. It makes the story seem as if someone is giving instructions directly. It is almost a list of how to behave and become a desirable woman. The style could be a symbol meaning that this job as a woman is never ending. There are no stops ever in the life of a woman, it is ongoing and life consuming. Kincaid starts by telling how one should wash clothes and what days different colors should be washed on, then about how to cook and clean. Every once in a while she throws in slants about becoming a slut as "and this way they won't recognize immediately the slut I have warned you against becoming" or "prevent yourself from looking like the slut I know you are so bent on becoming". She keeps mentioning on the girl doing things to not become a slut. It is apparent that this could have been told to any girl growing up during this time period. The had strict rules of what to do and what not to do and this story clearly lays it out. if they do something wrong then they are automatically sluts or girls that no one wants to be around. It is sad that women have to go through this. Jamaica Kincaid must have been subjected to these rules as she grew up. This seems like a personal experience that all women can relate too. Maybe not to this extreme but at some point. This short story that was told from a personal experience, straight and clear cut. No periods just a long run on sentence which symbolized the never ending job of being a woman.