The essay entitled “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid tells about the mother’s advice to her daughter, such as household chores, cooking, laundry, and self-care. Also, how to behave in society, how to talk to other people, and the rules of etiquette. In my opinion, there is too much maternal control and manipulation in this essay. Constant emphasis on how to behave in society and how to be feminine also applies to this.
The author’s goal in writing the essay is to show two different generations in life and their norms and views on certain things, how the mother’s role plays a role in the child’s life, and whether the mother’s opinion is always really important and correct. It is important to remember that these are two different people and two different generations who grew up in different conditions, and not always the advice from the past standards of life is appropriate now. So I agree with the fact that we take habits from our parents, and if they teach us to cook or how to behave in society, that is normal, but you need to remember that you cannot impose your norms of life on another person, even if it is your child, because this is another person who will build his own life.
The audience can be children, whose parents also give a lot of advice about development and what morality is in a person’s life. Reading the essay will also be useful for parents, because it should always be remembered that parents and children must think separately and cannot impose their norms of life. Perhaps the author of this work had a similar experience in life or in her culture and wants to show us this type of child rearing.
The author uses the following rhetorical strategies in the test: Direct address: she addresses from the first person to the younger person; saying “you shouldn’t” makes it clear that it is like a mother addressing her child, giving instructions and advice. The next rhetorical strategy is anaphora. In the text, we can see when the author repeats certain phrases, “That’s how,” when she gives certain instructions to the girl. And the last rhetorical strategy is irony. The author uses it to emphasize the difference between the expectation and reality of certain things, such as “walking like a lady,” but forgets that each person must choose how to “walk” for herself, because this does not mean that if she will not (this is my personal example) walk in dresses or in other clothes that society has imposed on us as what a lady should look like, then she is not a girl. Nowadays, girls can look beautiful and behave like a “lady” in different clothes. The main thing is that it is comfortable for themselves and is not an indicator for other people.
In conclusion, it can be said that Jamaica Kincaid gives every person the opportunity to understand the test “in a different way.” It’s cool to give advice to young people but you don’t have to forget that you have to let children learn about the world in their own way. I remember from my childhood I didn’t like when I was “instructed” as a child what and how to do, comparing parents’ childhoods, because you always have to remember that this is a different generation and time.
Rhetorical Analysis – June Jordan
“Nobody Means More to Me Than You and the Future Life of Willie Jordan” by June Jordan is a story about the personal lives and struggles of African Americans in the United States. The essay highlights the challenges faced by African American students in education, particularly regarding the acceptance and recognition of their linguistic and cultural heritage within academic settings. June Jordan, examines the black dialect in the United States and evaluates the pros and cons that normal language can have on those who speak black english. Jordan believes if a specific language of a race is not recognized, then the race, identity and authority as a one are ignored. She also mentions a class she taught on “Black English” and the other one concerning Willie Jordan, a young black student in the class trying to bring justice to a corrupt South Africa while facing the unexpected death of his brother who was killed by a Brooklyn police officer.
I think her purpose is Jordan uses her personal story as a lens through which to explore broader social and political issues. She addresses systemic injustices such as police brutality, economic inequality, and racism, highlighting their impact on the lives of African Americans. And one more thing. Jordan’s essay serves as a call to action. By sharing her experiences and insights, she encourages readers to confront and challenge the injustices that persist in society. She emphasises the importance of community and solidarity in the struggle for equality, urging black people to come together and support one another.
I think the audience is people who are interested in “Black English”, people who had a similar experience or who are just interested in the author and her life. It doesn’t matter who you are, how old you are, it is helpful and interesting to read everyone. I think it is because when someone has a problem or feels lonely, but if you read a similar story with the same thing that happened in your life right now. You can find support from the author, find the solution to your problem and actually, you understand you are not alone in this life.
In the essay the author used Appeal to Emotion: Jordan evokes emotions in the reader by painting a vivid picture of the struggles faced by African Americans, particularly in relation to language and identity. For example, she describes the experience of growing up in a society where Black individuals are made to feel like outsiders in their own homes due to linguistic differences: “We begin to grow up in a house where every true mirror shows us the face of somebody who does not belong there, whose walk and whose talk will never look or sound ‘right.'” This evocative language helps readers empathise with the challenges faced by Black Americans and underscores the importance of preserving Black English as a vital aspect of cultural identity.
The next one of the rhetorical strategies is anecdotal Evidence: Jordan uses anecdotes from her own teaching experience to illustrate the impact of language on perceptions of literature and identity. She recounts a classroom discussion about Alice Walker’s novel “The Color Purple,” where Black students criticised the use of Black English in the text. By sharing this anecdote, Jordan highlights the complexities of language attitudes within the Black community and the need for greater awareness and appreciation of linguistic diversity. This personal narrative adds depth and authenticity to Jordan’s argument, allowing readers to see firsthand how language shapes individual and collective identity. By the way, I think when the poetes use anecdotes, they can explain the situation more relaxingly for the reader, so that he or she understands that experiencing problems is normal and should not be afraid of them, and they can even joke about it.
And the last one of the rhetorical strategies is Logical Appeal. Jordan employs logical reasoning to challenge the notion of “Standard English” as the only acceptable form of language. She presents statistics and examples to illustrate the diversity of English speakers worldwide and the inherent fluidity of language. By highlighting the prevalence of non-native English speakers and the existence of various English dialects, she undermines the idea of a single, fixed standard for the language. For instance, she argues, “Obviously, numerous forms of English now operate inside a natural, an uncontrollable, continuum of development,” suggesting that language is constantly evolving and adapting to diverse cultural contexts.
In conclusion, I can say that June Jordan effectively achieves her purpose in this essay. Her primary goal is to highlight the significance of “Black English” as a language of cultural identity and to challenge the dominance of “Standard English” as the normative linguistic standard.
