What are some important statements made about motherhood?

The novel analyzes the relationships between Martine and Sophie as well as Martine and Grandme Ife in the novel. Danticat first presents how Grandma Ife treated her daughters, and how the virtues she enforced in her children affected the way Martine disciplined her own daughter. Martine was tested by her mother and even if that affected the way she interacted with men and scarred her mentally, Martine did the same thing to Sophie even though she knew how traumatic it would be for her. This indicates that the way a person is taught influences the way that person will end up teaching their own children; however, Sophie is interested in transcending that truism and making sure she does not do anything similar to Brigitte. Overall, mothers and daughters can do things that hurt each other but the relationship still endures.