Mother to Daughter, Wounds to Words: An Analysis of Intergenerational Trauma in Jamaica Kincaid’s Girl

Abstract

Jamaica Kincaid’s short story, Girl examines the mother-daughter relationship from the perspective of intergenerational trauma and cultural transmission. Written in the form of a one-sentence monologue, the mother describes in great detail how the girl in question, who is her daughter, should behave within the framework of domesticity, sociability, and sexuality. The mother can be seen attempting to protect her daughter from the society that objectifies and undermines women; however, reading the list of warnings that she gives her daughter evokes a poignant discomfort within the reader as well. This paper attempts to interpret Girl from the perspective of intergenerational trauma, an idea described by authors such as Bessel van der Kolk and Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart as the transmission of historical traumas through personal history. The mother’s behavior as a controlling figure and the silence around her own experiences in life cause confusion and result in submission from the daughter, thus creating a cycle of trauma. Ultimately, Girl might be interpreted as a commentary on the consequences of cultural trauma on personal experience and familial relationships. In this case, healing might be facilitated by open communication lines, trust, and respect, as it provides a way to terminate the cycle of silence. The story calls for empathy and understanding of the painful nature of intergenerational trauma, as the very act of being acknowledged and validated which in turn serves as a powerful means for healing and adaptation.