Slavery
This novel is concerned with the horrors of slavery, and its terrible ramifications years down the line. The novel begins with the story of Marie-Ursule, a slave who leads a group of slaves to commit mass suicide. After this, we see how the ramifications of slavery affect her descendants decades later.
Protest
Perhaps the most obvious form of protest in this novel is Marie-Ursule's leading of a mass suicide. She does this in order to fight back against slavery and to show that her life is not somebody's property. This tragic form of protest shows the desperation and hopelessness Marie-Ursule felt, and how terrible her life was as a slave.
Trauma
This novel explores the nature of trauma, and how it can last for generations. Marie-Ursule's story and experiences have consequences for her ancestors, as they struggle to come to terms with their identity in light of what their ancesors have suffered. We see that Marie-Ursule's experiences have consequences for her descendants in the form of identity issues, poverty, and emotional pain.
