ipl-logo

Annie John By Jamaica Kincaid

554 Words3 Pages

Written in 1843, by Jamaica Kincaid, Annie John is a coming of age story told in third person by the narrator. In the book Annie John, the genre Bildungsroman applies. I chose to read this book because I love to read books that I can similarly relate to. As Annie does in the story, I am going through this same type of coming of age journey. Being able to relate to her makes me want to read more and more about what her life is like. Jamaica Kincaid was born in the Caribbean's (Antigua specifically) and grew up in relative poverty. She was also used to be close to her mother as a young child and then suddenly felt alienated by her as she grew up. This is definitely probably contributed to the writing of this story. Annie goes through a transformation from …show more content…

The main one being her firmly believing her mother was against her. Her hate for her mother grew throughout the story. Annie first felt this when her mom bought different clothing, whereas Annie was accustomed to wearing the same thing as her mom. She also later on called her mom a hore. This is very regrettable because all in all Annie misjudged her mom as she was only trying to do what was best for her daughter. Secondly, Annie was very conceited making her think she was bigger than she really was. Annie at school said she was the best one in her class, really describing how she was better than everyone else. Another time, saying she was the best at playing marbles. This really could mislead someone, and as time passed this mentality took a toll on her. Finally, a big issue was her glorification of Gwen. For a time, that would be the only person she would talk to or think about. All Annie would do was focus her life on that. One example could be where Annie tells Gwen that she will love her forever. Later on when Gwen tells her to marry her brother, Annie really felt hurt and never spoke to her again. That could have played a major part in Annie’s

Show More
Related

  • Annie Oakley Research Paper

    335 Words  | 2 Pages

    When Annie was 15 she was in a competition. She was going up against another very good sharpshooter named Frank Butler and she beat him. Later they got married . soon they joined The Sells Brothers Circus together

    Read More

  • Coiled By Annie Dillard Summary

    300 Words  | 2 Pages

    This shows that Annie is filled with rage and, like the snake, wants to unleash her fury in an attempt to retain her stability. Her melodramatic nature is furthered through her use of parallelism, “[when] I

    Read More

  • Annie Jean Esley Research Paper

    690 Words  | 3 Pages

    Annie had the support and encouragement that she needed from her mother to continue on to study at Xavier University, which at the time was an African-American

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Anne Moody's Coming Of Age In Mississippi

    937 Words  | 4 Pages

    This eventually creates their disassociation for one another. Anne continued butting heads with her mother, one time by changing her name from Essie Mae to Annie Mae. Eventually, Anne can no longer see herself living with her mother or Raymond, so she moved in with her father, and his new wife,

    Read More

  • Milk Like Sugar Character Analysis

    386 Words  | 2 Pages

    (Greenidge, 59). When Annie then argues that her mother is projecting all of her problems onto her, “...All my life you treating me like I you. You punishing me like I you” (Greenidge, 60), she is asserting her

    Read More

  • Annie John Compare And Contrast

    443 Words  | 2 Pages

    For example Annie's feet hang off the bed inferring that she's had the same bed since childhood, which in a way isn't that abnormal but the fact that she outgrew it and a new one wasn't bought tells me that they don't have the funds for it, also Marita shares a room with her mom, it isn't necessarily bad but it's all her mother can afford being a single mother. They also both grew apart from a close friend, Annie had grew apart from age and basally getting sick and somewhat despising her, and then in Maritas case hers was lost from

    Read More

  • Annie Get Your Gun Research Papers

    810 Words  | 4 Pages

    The initial reaction of Annie when she meets Frank at the first time is a good example of the power of love that mostly influences her significant decisions throughout the story. After the appearance of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, it brings Annie and Frank to meet each other Annie instantly feels like

    Read More

  • Theme Of Water In Annie John

    1065 Words  | 5 Pages

    Through these experiences, the motif of water symbolizes Annie discovering her own personality, and cleansing herself from the pain and loneliness she is feeling. In Jamaica Kincaid 's Annie John, the motif of water is a reoccurring symbol that first represents the strong bond Annie and her mother have, but later on when she matures, the significance changes to symbolize new identities and healing. At the beginning of the novel during Annie 's youth, the motif of water illustrates the bond that she and her mother share when they swim in the ocean and participate in bathing rituals together. For example, when Annie and her mother visit Rat island together, she recounts the event saying, The only way I could go into the water was if I was on my mother 's back, my arms clasped tightly around her neck, and she would then swim around not too far from the shore.

    Read More

  • Pride In Johnny Tremain By Esther Forbes

    656 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the novel, Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes, Johnny has an issue with his arrogance. Johnny Tremain lived in the 1700s in America, he was a silversmith until he burnt his hand on hot silver. Johnny’s hand is now disabled so he cannot be a silversmith anymore. His pride caused him his downfall now he lives with the aftermath. His pride has also made him confident and successful at things.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Coming Of Age In Mississippi

    1008 Words  | 5 Pages

    As Essie Mae grows up she sees and watches her mother work herself to death to support her family and that encourages Essie Mae to do her best in school. Essie is in high school when older men and guys her own age start to notice her because she wears jeans too tight since she can’t afford to buy new ones. Later on, Essie changes her name to Annie Mae because she doesn’t like and starts becoming interested in the NAACP because of the racial problems around her. She wants to change things around her, but her mother is becoming a problem since her changing her name. After a while, she leaves her home with her mother and moves in with her father and his new wife Emma.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Movie Annie

    726 Words  | 3 Pages

    Miss Hannigan was constantly seen drinking what appeared to be alcohol, as well as constantly trying to win over men whenever she got the chance. Annie very accurately addressed the topic of crime during the Great

    Read More

  • Jamaica Kincaid Rhetorical Devices

    621 Words  | 3 Pages

    Jamaica Kincaid emphasizes her feelings toward Britain by employing a strict and severe tone in her essay. Using several rhetorical strategies, she criticizes Britain’s monopoly over Antigua while pointing out examples from her past that illustrate and defend her opinions. Jamaica questions England’s appearance at first glance through her rhetoric. While she does suggest that the country can seem beautiful on the outside, her experience didn’t match up with the hype. She was

    Read More

  • The Metaphor Of Wake Up In Annie Dillard's An American Childhood

    610 Words  | 3 Pages

    She says that “Here also I began to wake in earnest, and shed superstition, and plan my days” (66). Throughout An American Childhood Dillard often places books with the metaphor of either waking up or time. Here Dillard discusses that after she read her books, she was awakened and started to once again become more realistic and logical about what the world is really like and what it realistically has to offer veresus her old romantic childhood ways of thinking. Annie’s brain had been awakened by books, and that changed her childhood and life forever. Dillard connects time and waking up in the quote that reads “Who turned on the lights?

    Read More

  • Antiguans In A Small Place By Jamaica Kincaid

    1345 Words  | 6 Pages

    She is speaking up about time in A Small Place in order to become a voice for the Antiguans who are not knowledgeable enough to know any different about how they are living their lives or how they could be living their lives. Kincaid, unlike most, has a more understanding view of Antigua because has left the island and learned about other places besides it. She has the advantage of being able to see Antigua from another perspective unlike Antiguans who have never left. Kincaid is cognizant about how time and history play a role is shaping Antigua’s society which is why she reiterates time as a main focus throughout her novel. Jamaica Kincaid cares for Antigua and wants the people of her country to be strong, and intelligent enough to take time into account when reviewing their nation’s past, present, and

    Read More

  • How Does Cather Characterize In My Antonia

    353 Words  | 2 Pages

    During Cather's childhood she knew of a young girl, who was the inspiration of the creation of "My Antonia". Antonia was like Annie, she was a hired girl in town. Antonia's father committed suicide, as did Annie's father. Cather wanted to use some qualities of Annie for Antonia. While she was giving Antonia qualities

    Read More

More about Annie John By Jamaica Kincaid

Open Document