Annie John

1. Annie John Jamaica Kincaid

2. Chapter 8 Family Memories vs. Separation • The relationship between Annie and her parents • Old memories • Self-introduction; self identity • The desire of leaving • Refuses to become a wife

3. Annie and her Parents • Parents built things around the house they built her with their own hands (p. 132-33) • The position between the three Annie between her parents (p. 133, 138) • The dislike of mother’s actions (p. 131) • The walk with father

4. Old Memories • Things in her room—books, photos, thermos, shells, shoes, clothes (131). • The walk to jetty--Miss Dulcie (138), the road(139), the church, her friend, doll store, bank (140), doctor’s office (141), the grooming aids store, the library (142).

5. Self-introduction • Shows her own self-identity, the individuality in her: • “My name is Annie John” (130). • Summary of her life (p. 132)

6. The Desire of Leaving • She “never” wants to lie in her bed and listen to her mother’s movement in the house (130-1) • “last time,” get away from things and people she is familiar with (133-4).

7. Refuse Marriage • Seeing her parents—the decision not to marry (132). • Gwen (137).

8. Discussion Questions • If Annie’s mother did not point out the need for Annie to grow up so suddenly in chapter two, would she still want to separate from her parents, especially her mother so desperately? • According to Kristeva, becoming a mother can be seen as the reunion of a woman-mother with the body of her mother. Then, does Annie’s decision of not becoming a wife imply that she refuses to reunite with her mother?