Breath, Eyes, Memory Essay Questions

Does Atie achieve any sort of freedom?

There is a lot in Atie's way in terms of her achieving any sort of freedom. She is illiterate for a long time, is poor, was spurned by the man she wanted to marry, and works long hours. She later moves to take care of her mother, who watches her movements and constantly critiques her for stepping outside the bounds of propriety. When Martine first asks Sophie about her, she says that Atie lost her nerve and was going to do something great until she realized she had limits. Though Atie sees her life as "empty" and "nothing," she does manage some freedom because she does not allow herself to be victimized by her past. Her reading and writing are small acts of resistance, as are talking back to her mother, going out when she pleases, (most likely) having an intimate relationship with another woman, drinking, and making sure her family's name is registered in the town. She is, as critic Angela Watkins writes, "historian, storyteller, surrogate mother, and mediator."

What role does storytelling play in the novel?

The novel is full of tales and myths—the Marassas, the woman who flew without her skin, the rich man who married a virgin, the lark who pined for the girl, and more. Haitians tell stories to act as warnings, to provide advice, to get at the beauty and/or terror of life. Atie becomes a storyteller herself in the poems and passages she writes, allowing her to liberate herself somewhat from the life that is prescribed for her. On a more meta level, as critic Angela Watkins writes, Danticat uses "storytelling as a means to express trauma" because "popular denial of the fact that Black females are objectified and thus silences compels Haitian women writers to begin a new dialogue."

What is the significance of the cane fields?

The cane fields are associated with slavery, exploitation, and subjugation. When the French colonized Haiti and brought slaves to labor in the fields, they made themselves wealthy at the expense of the laborers. Sugar is a particularly brutal crop to grow and slaves died in the thousands. Grandfather Caco's death, which takes place before the events of the novel, symbolizes those who perished. Danticat alludes to the horrific history of the cane fields when she situates Martine's rape in them. The violence enacted upon Martine's body mirrors the violence enacted upon her forebears.

What role does Erzulie play in the novel?

Vodou infuses the novel; spirituality is an essential component of Haitian lives, culture, history, and more. Danticat uses it as a "literary trope" that lets her rewrite Haitian women's narratives "with a focus on female agency, individuality, and spirituality" (Watkins). Erzulie functions as the epitome of womanhood, as a symbol of seduciton, power, and femininity. She "is a symbol of female empowerment" and"[the] forgotten spiritual past severed by slavery and oppression." She makes the Caco women feel empowered, and tellingly Sophie dresses up Martine for her burial in Erzulie-inspired garb. Sophie also has her statue of Erzulie with her as she undergoes her own healing.

What is the significance of the phrase "Ou libéré?" and its usage in the text?

This phrase is uttered from one woman to another when they see each other carrying their loads in the streets and market. It translates to "Are you free?" and usually refers to the woman's capacity to carry her heavy load. It exemplifies the closeness of Haitian women and the intimate community they have created for themselves. It also takes on a deeper meaning, one that goes beyond the physical carrying of goods. When Grandme and Atie call this out to Sophie as she seeks catharsis in the beating of the cane stalks that embody her mother's trauma and parts of her own, they are asking her if she is freeing herself from the psychic burdens she has carried for so long. It is a question that bespeaks solidarity and understanding, and as Grandme tells Sophie at the very end, Sophie will now know how to answer.