Jamaica Kincaid's Lucy
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A. Essay Topic: Gender and Migration
In Jamaica Kincaid's novel Lucy, gender plays a central role in shaping the protagonist's
experiences since her identity and gender inform her encounters. The theme of gender is central
to Lucy's experiences as a young woman, as her society treats men and women differently. In
Antigua, Lucy is confined to a traditional, patriarchal society that restricts her opportunities and
limits her possibilities. One of the main themes of gender in the novel is the expectations placed
on women in Caribbean society. Lucy's mother is described as the perfect Caribbean woman
(Kincaid 15), implying that there are specific and strict cultural norms for women in the region.
These norms are not just limited to appearance, behavior, and personality traits. As a woman,
Lucy's societal predisposition is formed by these norms. Women are expected to be passive,
obedient, and nurturing, which limits their opportunities and restricts their freedom. However,
when she migrates to the United States, she experiences a new kind of gender-based oppression.
She is reduced to a domestic servant, performing menial tasks for her wealthy employers. Lucy
is subjected to sexual harassment and exploitation by her employers, who view her as a sexual
object. This theme of gender-based oppression highlights the marginalization and discrimination
women face in Antigua and the United States.
Another theme of gender in the novel is the power dynamics between men and women.
Lucy is often subjected to men's condescension, manipulation, and exploitation. For example,
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when Lucy works as a maid in New York, she is expected to submit to her employer's demands,
even when they are unreasonable or abusive. This reinforces the idea that women are inferior and
dependent on men and perpetuates a cycle of oppression. Lucy's experiences also challenge
gender norms and expectations. The novel follows her journey from a traditional Caribbean
upbringing to living and working in New York City, where she encounters a more liberal and
diverse society. Through her experiences, Lucy learns to question the expectations placed on her
and assert her autonomy.
The theme of migration is also central to Lucy's experiences. The novel depicts the
journey of a young woman who leaves her home in search of a better life. Lucy is forced to leave
her family and friends behind in order to pursue her dream of a better life in the United States.
However, when she arrives in the United States, she realizes that her dream is not as rosy as she
thought it would be. Lucy faces numerous challenges, including the culture shock of living in a
foreign country, the language barrier, and the financial difficulties of living on a low wage. The
theme of migration highlights the difficulties immigrants face in their quest for a better life. The
challenges the protagonist, Lucy, has in the United States are likewise depicted in Jamaican
Kincaid's book Lucy. The author describes how the US, a multicultural nation, is dealing with
increased immigration from the postcolonial Caribbean Nation. The difficulties individuals were
dealing with are also depicted in Lucy's text. The struggles Americans of color were going
through are also shown in the novel Lucy. The main character Lucy effectively conveys the
adjustments immigrants—particularly those of color—experience in the alien land of the U. S.
and how this affects their social and private identities. Because of this, as the difficulties grew,
immigrants began to understand their identities or base their social, economic, and political
choices on their desired and chosen identities.
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In addition, Lucy depicts how Americans and immigrants in the country classified
themselves according to their social and economic standing, race, and ethnicity. Lucy, the main
character in the narrative, is therefore revealed to be a black lady of Caribbean descent.
Similarly, the book demonstrates how Lucy is recognized based on her vocation as a domestic
worker. In addition, Lucy, a Caribbean-born woman, finds it difficult to uphold her status as a
woman in light of the country's ongoing racial, social, and economic divisions. Nevertheless, the
main character Lucy discovers that her identification had a significant role in determining her
social status, place of employment, and relationships with friends. In addition, Lucy discovers
that being a black woman is crucial to her ability to blend in with a particular group of
individuals with a similar identity.
Jamaica Kincaid's Lucy explores themes of gender and migration in a nuanced and
powerful way. Through the experiences of Lucy, the novel highlights how gender expectations
can shape a person's identity and experiences, as well as the power dynamics between men and
women. Indeed, it is Lucy's migration to the United States that makes her question the gender
ideals imposed on her and starts to reclaim a new identity. These themes are critical to
understanding the cultural context of the Caribbean and the broader implications of gender and
power.
B. Annotated Bibliography of Two Articles
Scribellito, G. (2022). The intercultural as a platform for a hybrid feminist epistemology in
Jamaica Kincaid's (1990): The (im)possibility of a unified feminist movement.
Journal of Gender and Power, 12(2), 9-24.
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This article by G. Scribellito, published in the Journal of Gender and Power, discusses the
concept of interculturalism as a platform for a hybrid feminist episteme in Jamaica Kincaid's
work. The author argues that Kincaid's writing reflects the complexities and contradictions of the
feminist movement and that her use of interculturalism provides a framework for understanding
these complexities.
In the article, the author provides a detailed analysis of Kincaid's writing, focusing on her
use of interculturalism to challenge dominant notions of femininity and feminism. The author
argues that Kincaid's writing provides a unique perspective on the intersections of gender, race,
and culture and that her use of interculturalism as a lens for examining these intersections
provides a powerful critique of the limitations of a unified feminist movement. The author also
examines how Kincaid's work contributes to developing a hybrid feminist epistemology. The
author argues that Kincaid's writing provides a space for exploring the complexities of gender,
race, and culture and that her use of interculturalism as a framework for examining these
intersections provides a basis for a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of feminist
theories and practices.
Overall, this article provides a valuable contribution to understanding the intersection
between migration and gender identity. The author's use of interculturalism as a framework for
examining the intersections of gender, race, and culture provides a unique perspective that I
would use in my essay to explore the intersection between Lucy's Caribbean identity as a woman
and the one she fashions for herself in the USA.
PourAli, S., Eslamieh, R., & Chavoshian, S. (2022). Intersectionality reading of Caribbean-
American in-transit female narratives: Kincaid's Lucy and Nunez'Boundaries.
GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies, 22(1), 1-20.
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Annotated Bibliography:
This article by PourAli, Eslamieh, and Chavoshian, published in the GEMA Online
Journal of Language Studies, offers an intersectionality reading of Caribbean-American in-transit
female narratives in Jamaica Kincaid's "Lucy" and Nunez's "Boundaries." The authors analyze
how race, gender, class, and migration intersect to shape the experiences of Caribbean-American
women, as represented in the two texts.
The authors provide a brief overview of intersectionality and its importance in feminist
and critical race theories. The authors then go on to offer a detailed analysis of "Lucy" and
"Boundaries," focusing on how the female characters' experiences are shaped by the intersections
of race, gender, class, and migration.
The authors argue that these intersections play a crucial role in shaping Caribbean-
American women's experiences and contribute to forming their identities. The authors also
highlight how these intersections contribute to the marginalization and invisibility of Caribbean-
American women in mainstream discourse.
The authors conclude by emphasizing the importance of considering the intersections of
race, gender, class, and migration in discussions of Caribbean-American women's experiences.
The authors also highlight the need for a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of
Caribbean-American women's experiences, one that considers the complexities and
contradictions of these intersections.
Overall, this article provides a valuable contribution to the theme of gender relations. The
authors' analysis of "Lucy" and "Boundaries" provides a nuanced and insightful understanding of
how race, gender, class, and migration intersect to shape the experiences of Caribbean-American
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women. The authors' call for a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of these experiences is
important to the ongoing discussion of Caribbean-American women's experiences and identities.
3. Final Essay
Lucy and the Search for Identity by Jamaica Kincaid
Lucy, written by Jamaica Kincaid, vividly depicts the postcolonial atmosphere of the 70s
and the nation's misery as it battled to rid itself of colonial oppression and injustice. The theme of
immigration and gender is central to Jamaica Kincaid's novel Lucy. Through the protagonist
Lucy, the author explores the complex intersections of race, gender, and class that shape
immigrant experiences in the West. Throughout the novel, Lucy is constantly grappling with the
expectations and limitations placed on her as a woman, both in her native country and in the US.
The novel presents a nuanced and critical perspective on the experiences of Caribbean women
who migrate to the West in search of better opportunities and freedom from patriarchal
oppression. Lucy's migration helps her to reclaim her identity by breaking free from patriarchal
gender expectations and embracing a new self.
Throughout the novel, Lucy struggles to find belonging in her new home. She is
subjected to various cultural, social, and economic challenges stemming from her status as a
woman and an immigrant. According to Giorgia Scribellito, Lucy’s growth throughout the novel
reflects the “anticolonial struggles in the Caribbean (Scribellito 13). Lucy experiences gender-
based discrimination in the workplace and encounters condescending attitudes from those around
her. This is particularly evident in how she is treated by her wealthy employer, Mariah, who
views her as a lower-class Caribbean servant. Mariah's condescension underscores the class-
based prejudices that Lucy faces due to her immigration status. At the same time, Lucy is also
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subject to the cultural and social restrictions imposed on her as a woman. Indeed, the novel
presents Lucy and a character at the “intersectional marginality and outsider positioning of
Caribbean female in-transit protagonists” (PourAli 163). Indeed, her experiences are shaped by
her race, sex, and gender. Lucy's experiences are also informed by her alienation from her culture
and the new environment. Thus, she finds it challenging to navigate her new environment and
conform to the norms and expectations of Western society since she is still tied to her culture.
Lucy's experiences highlight the limitations imposed on women in patriarchal societies,
particularly regarding sexuality, bodily autonomy, and freedom of expression. The novel
illustrates how gender and immigration intersect to create a particularly vulnerable status for
Caribbean women like Lucy.
Through her migration, as Lucy becomes more aware of the oppressive nature of these
expectations and begins to challenge them, her gender identity begins to shift. She starts to
question her own identity and the roles that she has been assigned based on her gender. She
becomes increasingly independent, rejecting the traditional expectations placed on her and
seeking to assert her own identity.
Shifting Gender Ideals
Kincaid uses the struggles faced by Caribbean women looking for work as domestic
helpers in America to illustrate the effects of identity-seeking. The narrative's protagonist is one
of the numerous female characters that have battled to establish themselves in American culture
by blending in and looking for a distinctive identity. The oppression and deprivation of the
natives' dignity and sense of belonging are the main topics of Kincaid's writing. Although she
tries to include elements of imperialism and colonialism, "Identity" remains the overarching
major issue. According to Scribellito Lucy presents a new form of “third-world feminism point
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of view” that is unique compared to her friends’ narrow standpoint (11). Indeed, as Scribellito
argues, Lucy’s postcolonial perspective challenges dominant feminism, as she strives to fit into
American culture. She was born and raised in the Caribbean, although her family disintegrated
when she immigrated to the US.
Indeed, though still a young girl, Lucy represents the changing gender roles among
Caribbean women who migrate to the United States for work. Caribbean women in the United
States have experienced significant changes in their gender roles over the years, particularly in
terms of education, employment, and leadership opportunities. These changes have been
influenced by various factors, including shifting cultural attitudes, immigration policies, and the
increasing presence of Caribbean women in the American workforce. Accordingly, more
Caribbean women are not taking up traditionally masculine roles. Just like Lucy, this new trend
challenges the patriarchy.
This shift is seen through the numerous Caribbean women in the United States who have
also gained leadership and representation. Caribbean women are increasingly taking on
leadership roles in their communities and the wider American society, including positions in
politics, business, and the arts.
Migration and Identity
The side advantage of her relocation to the United States is that it assists her in creating a
new identity. Lucy feels exposed as she learns to navigate this unfamiliar culture. She finds it
difficult to fit in since she has lived in two significantly different societies, the West Indies,
followed by the United States. Notably, as an immigrant, Lucy wants to be identified by her
Caribbean culture and not the American one. Thus, Lucy has to negotiate both her ethnicity and
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gender (Scribellito 13). She needs to understand who she is and where she is going. She hoped
once more that she hailed from a place nobody wanted to go (Kincaid 65). This highlights Lucy's
incapacity to explain who she is or how she fits into the world. Getting immersed in a society she
had no idea existed causes her to experience these emotions of alienation.
Following her departure, Lucy searches for a new beginning while attempting to put the
traumatic memories and cynicism that her poor connection with her mother has produced behind
her. While adjusting to her new circumstances, Lucy is starting to accept a new identity. She is
striving to flee her past by searching for herself. However, Lucy's Caribbean ancestry,
upbringing, and social standing influence how she understands her encounters in the USA and
how she sees the individuals she encounters. Her dreams undermine her desire for liberty and the
development of her distinct personality about losing her ancestry and family. Lucy remarks on
her displeasure, that she had imagined that with her one swift act-leaving home and coming to
the new place she could leave behind her old self. She expresses her surprise that it has persisted
despite the change in surroundings (Jamaica Kincaid 6-7). Lucy ultimately has to overcome her
challenges to create or learn a new character open to love.
In her Caribbean home, Lucy is subjected to traditional gender roles that limit her
opportunities and restrict her freedom. She is expected to conform to societal norms and
prioritize the needs of her family over her desires. These expectations are reinforced by her
culture and the dominant patriarchal power structures. In the U.S., Lucy faces different but
equally challenging obstacles as she navigates a foreign culture and struggles to find her place.
She is confronted with racial and gender-based discrimination and must also contend with her
feelings of alienation and isolation. One example of gender bias can be seen in the way Lucy's
male employers treat her. Despite her intelligence and dedication to her job, they condescend to
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her and dismiss her opinions. This is seen when Lucy's employer says to her, "Lucy, you are a
very clever girl, but sometimes you do not understand what I am saying" (Kincaid 23). This
demonstrates the belief that Lucy, as a woman, cannot understand complex concepts, despite her
intelligence and education. Despite these challenges, Lucy ultimately refuses to be defined by the
limited roles imposed upon her by society and chooses to forge her path.
Additionally, Lucy's gender also influences the way her peers treat her. She is often
isolated and excluded from social activities, highlighting societal attitudes towards women who
are seen as "other" or "outsiders." This can be seen when Lucy says, "I was the only one there
who was not from the place where I was. I was the only one who was different in some way that
was not immediately visible" (Kincaid 63). Furthermore, Lucy's gender also affects the
expectations placed upon her in terms of her personal life. She is expected to fulfill traditional
gender roles, such as being a good wife and mother, even though she may have different
aspirations and desires. This is seen when Lucy's mother says, "You are not a girl anymore. You
are a woman now. You should be thinking about getting married, having children, being happy"
(Kincaid 99). This demonstrates the societal pressure placed upon women to conform to
traditional gender roles and expectations.
Lucy's singular perspective, influenced by her upbringing in a dysfunctional home and
under colonial authority, has helped her see through people's facades and left her feeling lonely.
During the colonial era, people's lives were changed, motivating them to struggle for their
freedom and look toward the day they would be free. When they moved to a strange land, Lucy
and her community were forced to leave much of their tradition behind. She was curious if she
would accept American principles, renounce her background, reject the new way of life, or stick
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to her traditions. While living in America, Lucy became conscious of her background, which
fueled her quest for a new sense of self.
The change in her place of residence, the new culture, and the new area all impacted
Lucy's sexuality, identification, and worldview. Lucy grew to have more free sexuality due to her
journey of self-discovery. The author illustrates a variety of aspects of women's sexual liberation.
She had several sexual partners within a year of arriving in the country for the first time.
Although Lucy has become sexually adventurous as part of her rebellion, she forbids herself
from entering into committed relationships with others. In what Lucy believes to be their final
exchange, she tells her mother through a letter how she did not act out of love or desire but rather
the complete opposite. It was motivated by hatred (Jamaica Kincaid 20). Kincaid highlights
some of how a person's journey of self-discovery significantly impacts their sense of who they
are. Being a youngster in a colonial country and having British control over her life made Lucy
feel deeply wronged. She still intends to come to the United States to begin a new life and leave
her past behind.
Identity
Gender Identity is a major theme in Jamaica Kincaid's work Lucy, based on the author's
experience and how society views them. The subject of identity aids in our comprehension of
how individuals like Lucy strive in society to conform to the identities they perceive to be ideal
for them. However, how things are done in society may change over time, affecting how people
see things and causing them to alter their attitudes, behaviors, and religious convictions. An
individual may opt to alter their identity if they do not feel more comfortable with it. This
decision may go against their family's values or even the way society would have preferred
things to be done.
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In addition, the author Lucy shows how identity may foster certain social and moral
advantages in those who believe they have their desired identity. For example, Lucy decided to
live freely since it suited her identity and requirements. A people's esteem is threatened by denied
self-identification and other elements that diminish individuality. In the United States,
individuals of color felt excluded because of racial and social segregation. Therefore, each
individual should be given their best identity to meet their self-actualization level.
Lucy realizes that all the affluent (and hence, undoubtedly, happy) individuals around the
world lived in the regions of the planet where the year, all 335 days of it, was split into four
separate seasons" (Jamaica Kincaid 86). The common perception that nations nearer the poles are
much richer than those in the tropical is supported by this reason. However, the countries with
the highest GDP are frequently found furthest from the tropics. However, a colonialism legacy is
responsible for a large portion of the wealth in many of these nations. She frequently adopts a
"we against them" mentality regarding ethnic distinctions as she forges a new identity. Lewis and
Mariah, two of her white and affluent classmates, are seen as a single unit by her since she
connects with the middle class. In the end, Lucy comes to accept her own individuality and to
reject the constraints of gender roles and expectations placed on her. She asserts her own identity
and finds her place in the world, breaking free from the traditional gender roles and expectations
that had previously limited her.
It is hardly surprising that Lucy has a propensity for seeing past outward appearances
given how frequently she expresses her opinions to people as a world watcher. Her new identity
allows her to look past people's external features and judge them fairly based on how they
compare to her family. In conclusion, Lucy explores several facets of identity exploration and
cultural mixing. Although the protagonist is a fictitious character, the social and emotional issues
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she highlights regarding postcolonial living in the Caribbean are very normal and real. Most
people have fled to America and other western nations in search of a better life, and once there,
they find they are cultural outsiders. As Lucy, they attempt to identify their identities but find
themselves caught between two cultures: the one they were reared in and the modern one. In
"Lucy," Kincaid critiques the societal norms and power structures that constrain women and calls
for a rethinking of gender roles and expectations. Through the experiences of the eponymous
protagonist, the novel sheds light on how gender affects individual lives and underscores the
importance of breaking free from limiting and oppressive gender norms.
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Works Cited
Kincaid, Jamaica.
Lucy
. Picador, 2022.
PourAli, S., Eslamieh, R., & Chavoshian, S. (2022). Intersectionality reading of Caribbean-
American in-transit female narratives: Kincaid's Lucy and Nunez'Boundaries. GEMA
Online Journal of Language Studies, 22(1), 1-20.
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/18575/1/48600-178354-2-PB.pdf
Scribellito, G. (2022). The intercultural as a platform for a hybrid feminist epistemology in
Jamaica Kincaid's (1990): The (im)possibility of a unified feminist movement. Journal of
Gender and Power, 12(2), 9-24.
https://sciendo.com/article/10.14746/jgp.2019.12.001