PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN IN THE SELECT NOVELS OF JAMAICA KINCAID

Abstract

Jamaica Kincaid is a great Antiguan- American female writer in modern times. She raised in the colonial surroundings of Antigua in the West Indies, which became autonomous in 1967. Her writings are embodied with nostalgic vision. Her fictional works all deal with some aspect of the female coming of age process. Kincaid’s writings project themes such as colonialism, colonial actions, neo-colonialism, gender, race, and sexuality and reflect exile and return to the motherland, family bond, domination, mother-daughter relationship and also showcase her own life. Writing is the only passion in her life. Her works often reveal feminist perception. The novelist brings out a clear picture about women and their characteristics and attitudes are cleverly portrayed in through her writings. Analyses of women are very significant in colonial writings. West Indian male writers such as V.S. Naipaul, Edward Brathwaite, George Lamming and Wilson Harris attained critical notice first. Like Kincaid, they often wrote about their lives and the difficulties of the homeland.