Mariah - Cultural Perspectives

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Cultural Perspectives in “Mariah”
Whether it is realized or not, people view the world they reside in by means of their cultural experiences. Each event or idea is therefore seen through this lens, which shapes one’s ideas about norms, values, and their basic ideology. This theme unmistakably presents itself in Jamaica Kincaid’s “Mariah,” and is established and supported by the narrator, an au pair from Antigua. While caring for the children, she develops an ambiguous relationship with their mother, Mariah. The narrator has been deeply influenced by her past, even though she rejects her heritage and views it negatively. Her culture is a source of inner strife, further highlighting the differences between herself and Mariah, and thus the cultural differences between Antigua and the United States. The narrator is seemingly caught between her own past culture and that of Mariah’s; she cannot reconcile the two as separate entities. As a result, the narrator’s experiences are shaped by her unique cultural perspective. Each incident relays both the contrast between her past and present lives, as well as examines how these differences affect her as an individual and her ability to establish relationships with those whose upbringing differs from her own.
One of the first instances where the narrator’s cultural difference becomes apparent is when Mariah takes her to see a field of daffodils. Mariah sees beauty in the flower and wants the narrator to experience the same joy this beauty brings her. However, she fails to realize the implications of this display. The narrator, been forced to memorize a poem about daffodils in her youth, cannot see the flower in the same simplicity Mariah does. Mariah knows the narrator’s history and apprehension toward the flower, but she insists on taking her to see them for herself, inadvertently belittling her experience. The narrator points out, “‘Do you realize that at t...