The part that stood out to me was when Tante Atie was talking about the role of women on page 151, she was explaining how each of the ten fingers on her hands represented something for women, “Mothering. Boiling. Loving. Baking. Nursing. Frying. Healing. Washing. Ironing. Scrubbing.” And that is how the way she’s brought up and probably many women. It is very oppressive because it makes women seem like objects only meant to serve men. It’s scary the obsession for women to be this perfect (almost caricature-like) housewife figures. The extent the mothers go through for their daughters to be perfect is very frightening too, like the testing to see if the hymen is not broken even though the mothers themselves hated being tested. It is like women should aspire to be with men when men get to do whatever they want and have sex with as plenty of girls they want to and it’s just not fair.

While reading chapters 20 through 27 I found it interesting how Martine was so quick to throw Sophie out and it took her two years to even reach out to her own daughter she worked hard to get to New York. So, now Martine has reached out and is worried about Sophie. Also, I find it interesting how Sophie doesn’t look like any of her family members but the result of her mothers rape & Grandme Ife feels as though Bridgette looks like generations of ancestors. In Chapter 21 you find out that Martine attempted suicide many times and Sophie unable to forget about her mother testing her every time she sleeps with her husband. Both of them have tried to forget by fleeing the place of hurt. Skipping to chapters 24-27 Martine has now shown up. She kind of brings closure to a lot of things happening. Sophie’s trip from Haiti to Martine at 12 years old has come back now by Martine’s own trip to Sophie in Haiti eight years later. Haiti is important because Martine must go home to make peace with her past. Martine and Tante Atie’s conversation is sensing betrayal.

As I continued to read the novel Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat I began to admire the relationship with Tante Atie and Sophie. I found it interesting that although Tante Atie was Sophie’s aunt, they had a connection like a mother and daughter. It quickly went from Tante Atie having Sophie, to Sophie’s mother now having her. It was weird to me, the transition because Tante Atie has been rasing Sophie since she was a little baby until her now, and all of a sudden the mother is ready for her. I found it odd, because although Sophie’s mom is in fact her mother, I considered Tante Atie to have much more value. Then as I further thought about Sophie finally leaving Tante Atie in Hati to live with her mother in Port Au Prince then NYC it was for Sophies own good in a way. And then I further realized that things like happens  all of the time. For example, many of my uncles and aunts were still in Guyana when they were little kids while my Grandma was in NY trying to make a living for them so when they finally do come to America they won’t suffer. And I really only thought about how something like that can be depicted onto someone.

While reading into part 3 I was confused but then realized as we enter into a new part , it’s a new part I Sophie’s life as well. So while reading you see Sophie has had a child and the some of the secrets are starting to come alive. Sophie’s actions are kind of catching up to her. What interest me was that it has been only two years and she is married, has a child and her mother is still holding onto that grudge and not speaking to her. Also, some of the family’s past doings affect Sophie. The testing has effected her long term because her and her mother don’t speak they don’t have that mother-daughter relationship they were trying to build. Also, it has affected Sophie’s marriage she feels like she is fat and is embarrassed by her body and can’t perform her wifely duties. I’m starting to think was the testing worth it? what did it prove? because look at her now she has left her husband. Maybe she should have let nature run its course and let it play out. But, then I understand why she did it because she was tired of it.

In part three Sophie goes back to Haiti and stays with her aunt and grandmother. You can see how much she has grown because of the way she loves and cares for her child. She also came on her little adventure alone leaving her husband in New York showing she’s capable of being on her own. She can take care of her self. One part that stood out to me was when they were at the market and Sophie got to see the things that go on. Louise started asking if they would buy her pig. This part stood out to me because when ever you’re in a third world country or birth country they natives can tell you’re an outsider and they always tend to bother you. Often time treating you really good because they are hoping for something else in return like when Louise gave Sophie the drink she said I know you’ll pay me later. There’s also a scene that’s shows how dangerous these countries are and you have to look out for yourself and be careful. The coal vendor was getting beaten and Sophie’s grandmother made a remark asking if she wanted to be next. Overall this part of the book showed us how Sophie matured and how Haiti

Sophie arrive in the USA to live with her mother who is basically a stranger to her. Sophie does not feel the same connection she has with Tante Atie for her mother. The next day, Martine took Sophie shopping to introduce her to the Haiti culture that exist in her neighborhood. However, what was so sad in this moment was Sophie thought when Martine when to the Haiti Express to mail the cassette for Tante Artie.  Her desire was if she could  shrink herself small enough to fit into the box her mother was mailing off to Artie, she would be in that box. I realized that the abrupt change in Sophie’s life is one that she is not prepared for. Martine on the other hand, is too caught up in the moment to realize that a red flag was erected between mother and daughter. True feelings are not being shown in these chapters of the book and it started when Martine asks Sophie if she was the mother  that Sophie imagined. Sophie replies, that she could not asks for better. Question to be ask, will Sophie concept of her mother change when Martine will always want to know. ” You’re a  good girl, aren’t you?”

In this reading section the repercussions of Sophie’s actions seem to catch up to her.

What shocked me however was the fact that her mother was still holding a grudge. Ignoring Sophie’s calls and letters not even making an effort to see her first grandchild. I understand that Sophie did a hurtful thing but after missing so much years of Sophie’s life already I think Martine could’ve at least made an effort to amend the situation as time passed. Her grandmother and Tante Atie always says that all 4 women are “cut from the same cloth” because of their similarities but Martine is nowhere as close to forgiving or compassionate as her mother and sister.

Another part that stood out to me was when they mentioned that Joseph couldn’t understand why Sophie would do such a thing. I could not explain to him that it was like breaking manacles, an act of freedom. I think this was referring to much more than being tested for Sophie. It was everything her mother forced her into – from being hauled to New York, placed into that French speaking school, told she was becoming a doctor and barely being able to make eye contact with Joseph. The testing, which was like the ultimate control was the last straw for Sophie.

Sophie returned to Haiti after being in New York City for many years. In addition, Sophie was married with Joseph and had a daughter named Brigitte. Also, she met a woman named Louise who wanted to go the United States of America just like Sophie. She worked as a secretary. I found Sophie’s personality significant because she raising her daughter very well and had a full-time job after finishing college. The scene with Sophie missing her husband, Joseph was very significant. I believed it was very important because he used to play his saxophone next to the pregnant Sophie while she was pregnant. Also, she put on one of his old shirts. This shows how Sophie really missed her husband, but never forgotten about him. Another scene was with coal vendor being  attacked by the Macoutes. After the coal vendor accidently stepped on the baby-faced Macoute’s foot, the latter hit the vendor’s ribs with automatic gun. Furthermore, the other macoutes ruthlessly attacked the vendor with their boots. Most of the people including Grandme Ife, Louise and Sophie were appalled at this scene.

While reading these chapters of the book, Sophie  has left her mother and is now married to Joseph and has daughter name Brigitte. You could see how Sophie is maturing and becoming a adult and making her own decisions. She went to Haiti to visit Tante Atie and her grandmother and they was extremely surprised to see her. She couldn’t Believe she was all grow and wasn’t a kid anymore also tante atie is learning how to read and write after all these years.

In these chapters of the book, Sophie  has left her mother and is now married to Joseph and has daughter name Brigitte. She went to Haiti to visit Tante Atie and her grandmother and they was extremely surprised to see her. They could not believe how grown she is and that she has a kid and is married. During her visit in Haiti, Sophie was proud of Tante Atie because she is learning her words. Also, Tante Atie seemed to be acting very different ever since she came from Croix-des-Rosets and even the grandmother noticed it. On thing I notice during these chapters was that Tanti Atie was doing her lesson in the yard by waving to an invisible face. This seemed a little weird to me.