Gramsci and the Girl

The Gramsci reading for this week’s lesson is about the social revolution and how it is divided. One of the key things aspects that was focused on was hegemony, “Class struggle must always involve ideas and ideologies, ideas that would make the revolution and also that would prevent it.” It is than subdivided into two groups, economic domination and intellectual and moral leadership. Hegemony is a class struggle that can sometimes turn violent depending on the circumstances of the people. It is based on the ideas of the people. It is a way of starting a revolution. It is believed that the working class is over held by the bourgeoisie.
After reading “Girl” by Kincaid’s I feel that it is the perfect example of what was talked about in the Gramsci reading. This story seems to be a mother showing her daughter how to become a proper woman. But what it really seems is that she’s turning her into a robot. It’s a list of rules that goes on and on, and there’s no point in the story that has a response of the daughter. You can tell that the girl is somewhat rebellious because she is referred to as a “slut” twice during the reading. This story shows control, and the basis behind class and how people should act. According to hegemony, I felt, that the young girl should state her own ideas and make them not only know, but happen. She must take a step for herself, and start a revolution.
This is all related to literature because it sets the basic ideas. It shows that you must stick up for what you believe in and say what’s on your mind. After reading both of these readings I feel that I better understand Marx’s ideas. These stories break it down for you, and explain it in words that I can understand.