How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Page)
Quote #7
"There is a story that is told all the time in the valley. An old woman has three children. One dies in her body when she is pregnant. One goes to a faraway land to make her fortune and never does that one get to come back alive. The last one, she stays in the valley and looks after her mother." Tante Atie was the last. (17.119)
Ifé tells the story of her motherhood to Sophie just as she would tell any other tale that she'd learned from her ancestors. Although Tante Atie is not the "last" in terms of age (she's actually older than Martine), she is the last one to remain with her mother. Ifé's choice to narrate her life as a story emphasizes the importance of storytelling in Haitian culture.
Quote #8
"The girl she said, I didn't tell you this because it was a small thing, but little girls, they leave their hearts at home when they walk outside. Hearts are so precious. They don't want to lose them." (18.125)
This story about the girl and the lark—told by Ifé to the little boys in her yard—emphasizes the connection between women and their families in this work. Yes, the little girl is outfoxing the kidnapper lark, but there is truth in what she says: we leave our hearts at home. This resonates especially with Sophie, who can't seem to escape the need for her childhood homes.
Quote #9
My mother placed her hand on my grandmother's shoulder and signaled for her to wait. She turned back to me and said in English, "I want to be your friend, your very good friend, because you saved my life many times when you woke me up from those nightmares." (26.170)
Although the relationship between Martine and Sophie is fraught with emotional complications, the desire for friendship between the estranged mother and daughter feels undeniable. Ifé tells Martine that she needs to be friends with her daughter so that her final wishes will be carried out. Sophie also learns that she needs to value her mother more, since she won't be around forever.