Girl Group

Question:

theinsensitivewoman
theinsensiti...
Student

In "Girl", why did the mother keep on using the word "slut" when she could have used another word?

was it only to instill her advice in her daughter's mind?

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Posted by theinsensitivewoman on Tuesday January 20, 2009 at 6:25 AM and tagged with girl, slut.

Answers:


  1. gbeatty Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    There are two general reasons why the mother in this story might keep using this offensive word. First, biographical reasons: this story is based on Kincaid's experience, and so the language may match her personal and community experience.
    Second, though, pounding away on that same word over and over has a stylistic function: the language becomes a way of showing that the mother and daughter aren't really communicating, but are caught up in images of what they should be, what a woman might be, and the worst that could happen to her. In other words, the mother isn't listening, but is letting her fear speak.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/girl
    http://www.enotes.com/girl/style

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    Posted by gbeatty on Thursday January 22, 2009 at 4:38 PM


  2. flashinglights Student
    High School - 9th Grade

    probably b/c she felt it was the right word to use

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    Posted by flashinglights on Monday February 2, 2009 at 5:33 PM