Breath, Eyes, Memory: A depiction of Haiti's struggles.

Haiti became a free black state some two hundred years ago, although this is something to be proud of, it has been overshadowed by economic, social and political problems for just about as long. For example, the country had to pay France for abolishing slavery in the region, something that President Jean-Bertrand Aristide thinks should be repaid in order to help restore the country's economic stability. The struggle between the landowners and the reparation that never occurs is one of the themes of the post-colonial text, and can be identified as one Haiti's main historical problems: Haiti struggled to be recognized as a country and had to pay fines to the United States, England and France in order to be identified as such. All of this is metaphorically portrayed in Edwidge Danticat's "Breath, Eyes, Memory" through the characters of Sophie, Atie and Martine.

The novel incorporates many aspects of Caribbean culture: the hierarchy in the family, cultural values that take such an important role in life, vodoo rituals and especially the matriarchy. The language is something that is very crucial in making this story believable, especially the character of Sophie and Martine as true Haitians, tying them to their motherland. When this language is spoken, it is italicized, to let the reader know- what I like that Danticat did was that she would somehow explain what the words meant through context clues in immediate replies. This also connects those who left Haiti (Sophie, Martine) to those who remained there.

Another point that represents this struggle of Haiti longing to be accepted as a country, metaphorically of course, is the permanent internal Struggle of Sophie. She leaves Haiti as a child and has to grow up in America. Being born in the Caribbean and growing up American, the contrast between cultures and the catalyst to the struggle can be seen in Sophie and her mother. Her mother still tries to retain the Haitian values and way of life (although attempting to change her skin color in a struggle to fit in), she has a plan for Sophie- to be a doctor- but Sophie does not want this, she is slowly changing into the American way of thinking. For example, when Joseph tells her, "It is okay not to have your future on a map, that way you can flow wherever life takes you," she replies with "That is not Haitian, that's very American." (Pg. 72) This shows that Sophie is very aware of what her original values are, she slowly shifts from them.

Sophie wants to control her own life, in Haiti (as Atie says in Pg. 20) her aunt and mother had no control over their lives, in America Sophie is given the opportunity to be her own person, to do as she pleases, and this is an internal struggle that she goes through as well. Martine struggles her whole life with having been raped, with the pain it has caused her and her family (appearance to others was crucial): "if your child is disgraced, you are disgraced" (pg. 158) This is why Martine wanted to bad for Sophie to wait until marriage. The tests that she puts Sophie through, eventually drive Sophie to want to defy her mother and fake the loss of her virginity. Sophie is really traumatized, but this is a way to "control" her own life.

The matriarchy portrayed in this book is a prominent theme. This duty to their mothers that these women feel alludes to Haitian culture. Atie remains in Haiti because she feels that she must care for her mother, Sophie (as a child) leaves because it is her duty to be with her mother. Also, the idea of being a good mother, Martine asks Sophie, "Am I the mother you imagined?" (Pg. 59) This is something Martine struggles with as well, being the good mother she needs to be, keeping the values of the Haitian culture alive (ex: Sophie's purity). I believe that when Sophie is free from her mother, she is finally ok, she finally accepts her mother for who she was and decides that it is time to move on.

I believe that this book truly shows the struggle to be accepted, just like Haiti struggled to be accepted as a country. It portrays the journey into acceptance, while keeping the values and ties to the motherland. It shows the losses and gains of attaining freedom.

Works Cited:

"Pain and Freedom." New Internationalist March 2004: 1. Web. 13 Nov 2009. .

Danticat , Edwidge. Breath, Eyes, Memory. 2. New York: Vintage Books, 1994. Print.

Jacobson Jordanan, Tatia. "Notes: Caribbean Literature." 2009. Print.