Girl and Candance

When I initially read “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid I came to the conclusion that these were instructions given to the character in the story on how to be a young lady. After reading the commentary further and discussing the book in class I realize that this could actually be the way that the girl perceived the instructions. It was very common for many girls in the authors time, and area- Antigua-to hear these type of instructions. This was because they had certain criteria that they had to follow. Certain ways that they were expected to live their lives. These ways were instilled into each of them and they were expected to be followed.

I connected this piece of literature to the media clip of Disney’s Phineas and Ferbs song on how to be a lady. In both pieces the women are given valuable knowledge that teaches them how to act like a lady, or in Candance situation- a princess. Although it may vary from culture to culture, or generation to generation there seems to have always been a universal standards that all women are expected to follow. Whether it’s to sit up straight and don’t slouch or to how to cook food appropriately. This is reflected in both of these pieces, because they came from different time eras and different parts of the world. Also one thing that I find funny yet not necessarily important is that at the end of “Girl” she asks a question, and at the end of the Phineas and Ferb video she asks a question too. Although the messages may not always be the exact same in the end its still represents the same thing- the expected role or way of life that women all around the world are expected to incorporate into their lives and act upon every day.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJGqAOF3p9E``````````````````````