Discover a detailed summary of The Girl Who Can by Ama Ata Aidoo, a powerful short story about a young Ghanaian girl navigating cultural expectations, gender roles, and self-discovery.
The Girl Who Can Line By Line Explanation By Ama Ata Aidoo
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Summary of The Girl Who Can By Ama Ata Aidoo
The Girl Who Can Characters Analysis
1. Adjoa
Role: Main character and narrator
Description: Adjoa is a seven-year-old girl who lives in a rural area of Ghana. She is skinny and has very thin legs, which people, especially her grandmother, comment on. Although she is young, she has a deep and intelligent thinking. Adjoa questions society’s traditional thinking and proves herself in sports, especially running, showing that a girl’s worth is not determined only by her ability to become a mother.
2. Nana
Role: Ejoa’s grandmother, representative of traditional thinking
Description: Nana is the symbol of traditional values and beliefs. She worries about Ejoa’s thin legs and repeatedly says that a girl with such legs cannot grow up to become a mother. For her, the biggest purpose of a girl is to become a mother. Her attitude reflects old-fashioned thinking where women were seen in only one role – motherhood.
3. Ejoa’s Mother
Role: Balancer between grandmother and daughter (Ejoa)
Description: Ejoa’s mother is a calm but modern-thinking woman. She does not oppose everything Nani says, but her silence does not mean agreement. When Ejoa succeeds in the race, the mother praises her, which shows that she is ready to adopt new paths for women. She acts as a bridge between tradition and progress.
4. Headmistress
Role: Representative of the education system
Description: The headmistress is the woman in the school who recognizes Ejoa’s interest and talent in running and gives her a chance to participate in the competition. She is a symbol of a society where recognition is based on merit, not on body shape or tradition.
5. Village women and classmates (supporting characters)
Role: Characters that form the social background
Description: These characters are not directly involved in the main story, but show the face of the society that keeps commenting on the girl’s height, behavior and future all the time. Their thoughts and views highlight the social pressure prevailing in a subdued tone in the story.
Introduction
“The Girl Who Can” is a powerful short story written by renowned Ghanaian writer Ama Ata Aidoo, which beautifully presents women empowerment, traditional vs. modern thinking, and a girl’s journey to self-acceptance. The heroine-centric approach of this story makes it extremely impactful.
This story is a story of society shown through the eyes of a 7-year-old innocent girl Adjoa, who may be young in her age, but her thinking is deep and sensitive. She looks at people’s comments about her body, family expectations and social beliefs with innocent questions.
Detailed Summary
The story begins with the thoughts of 7-year-old Adjo, who is very confused about herself and her legs. She often hears the conversations of her mother and grandmother, who comment on her skinny legs. Especially Nani, who is very upset that Adjo’s legs are too skinny and she is not fit to be a mother in the future.
Nani says that a woman’s legs should be strong and full so that she can give birth to good children. For Nani, a woman’s body is just a tool for motherhood. This thought surprises Adjo because she is just a child and does not understand what being a mother has to do with her legs.
Adjo’s mother opposes this thought. She ignores her grandmother’s traditional views and sends her daughter to school, boosting her confidence and motivating her to do something big in life.
Turning Point – Race Competition
One day, there is a race competition in the school. Adjo’s skinny legs, which were a source of taunts and criticism till now, become her biggest strength. She wins the first place in the race. This event not only gives a new direction to Adjo’s confidence but also forces her grandmother to think.
The grandmother, who till now had a harsh opinion about the shape and utility of the body, now starts feeling proud of Adjo’s talent. There is a change in the grandmother’s thinking – she now starts to understand that the value of the body should not be measured only by its traditional role, but also by its capabilities and possibilities.
Deep themes and themes
1. Women empowerment and self-confidence
This story gives the message to girls that they are special no matter what they are. Your body shape is not your identity, it is your talent and thinking that defines you.
2. Traditional vs. modern thinking
Adejo’s grandmother represents the older generation, who sees a woman only as a mother. On the other hand, her mother represents the new thinking, which values education, independence and self-reliance.
3. Childhood innocent thoughts
Adejo’s thoughts, questions and confusions highlight deep social issues with the innocence of a child.
4. Body shape vs. ability
This story teaches us that body shape cannot be a standard for someone’s ability. Adejo’s victory is an example of this.
Language and Writing Style
Ama Ata Aidoo has written the story through Adjoa’s eyes – the thoughts, curiosity, and emotions of an innocent child make this story very emotional and lively. Adjoa’s simple yet profound perspective makes the story more powerful.
Conclusion
“The Girl Who Can” is a short but powerful story that highlights a big social truth through a child. It forces us to think about how we look at girls and what we expect from them.
Adjoa’s story is the voice of every girl who has been judged based on her body, color, or looks. This story inspires that true beauty and strength lies within – in our confidence, our talents, and our thinking.
The Girl Who Can Question And Answers
❓ Question 1: Who is the main character of the story “The Girl Who Can” and what is she like?
Answer:
The main character of this story is Ejoa, a seven-year-old Ghanaian girl. She is thin and has very slender legs. Even though she is small, she has a great ability to think and understand. She questions the traditional thinking of society and family and by winning the race, she proves that a girl’s strength lies in her self-confidence, not in her height.
❓ Question 2: Why is the grandmother worried about Ejoa’s legs?
Answer:
Ejoa’s grandmother believes that a woman’s legs should be strong and wide so that she can easily give birth to children when she grows up. Looking at Ejoa’s thin legs, she repeatedly says that she will not be able to become a mother one day. This reflects her traditional thinking, where the importance of a woman was considered only in motherhood.
❓ Question 3: What is the mother’s attitude in the story?
Answer:
Ejoa’s mother is a calm woman. She does not openly oppose the grandmother’s views, but she supports Ejoa. When Ejoa succeeds in the race, the mother encourages her. This shows that she is ready to move beyond traditional thinking and accept new thinking.
❓ Question 4: What is the main message of this story?
Answer:
The main message of this story is that every girl has a special talent and society should not evaluate her on the basis of her height, looks or traditional standards. With confidence, hard work and self-acceptance, any girl can fulfill her dreams.
❓ Question 5: How did Ejoa prove her confidence?
Answer:
Ejoa initially felt embarrassed about her thin legs because everyone criticized her. But when she got a chance to participate in a running competition in school and succeeded in it, she proved to herself and her critics that she is also capable. This is a symbol of her strength, self-confidence and perseverance.
❓ Question 6: What has the author tried to show through this story?
Answer:
The author Ama Ata Aidoo has tried to show that society needs to see the potential of women beyond traditional boundaries. A girl is not only made to be a mother, but she has many other abilities that need to be recognized and accepted.
❓ Question 7: What does the title of the story “The Girl Who Can” mean?
Answer:
The meaning of this title is – “The girl who can do.” It challenges the thinking where society doubts the ability of girls. The story tells that every girl has the power to “do” something, even if she is small in age or looks physically weak.
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