These first chapters have brought to my attention a lot. In this story I have been able to identify a part of my personal life. One of the first characteristics that catches my attention is that Sophie is left under the care of her aunt. In this part I identify myself with Sophie because I was left with my grandmother when I was a baby. Although I always received the love of my grandparents always I wanted to have the affection of my parents. The scene that appeals to me most is when Sophie made a mother’ day card for her Aunt. in This scene Sophie tried to had good detail with her aunt. however her aunt refused to accept the card, she believed that Sophie’s mother deserved to have the card more than her. Which causes Sophie feel rejected by person to whom she looked like her mother.

The part that stood out to me the most in chapters 1-4 of Breath, Eyes, Memory was the often mentioning of daffodils in the reading. It tells me that daffodils are going to be a very important symbol throughout the novel, there is even a daffodil in the cover of the book. In my research, I read that daffodils symbolize rebirth and new beginnings and that could relate to Sophie’s story because she is moving to New York and basically starting new again. I also read that daffodils are very popular in Haiti where Sophie is from, so it also represents home for her. So the meaning of the daffodil can be seen as a juxtaposition because it has two meanings that are opposite from each other.

This novel has definitely caught my attention. I could not stop reading it from the moment I opened it because I can relate in so many ways to Sophie’s life. One of the main things I have in common is her relationship with her grandmother. I grew up with my grandparents when my parents migrated to the United States. For five years I lived with them. Like Sophie, I’m sure that their grandparents always cooked a lot of food and mine sure did. They did everything to make my sisters and I happy when my parents went away. When we had to leave Guyana to come to New York, my grandma came on the journey with us to the airport. Susan and I had a different traveling experience however. Hers was very sad as she had to witness a person being killed because of all the issues within the government. My experience however was great because I was so excited to go on a plane for the first time. And, it sure was exciting!

While reading this new novel, I come across something very significant in this scene. The scene that I discovered important was Sophie’s concern of reading with someone. The reason she was concerned about this because the young should learned how to read from the old, respected and wiser people. Another scene which I found very important was Tante Atie not going to New York with Sophie to see the latter’s mother. Tante Atie told Sophie that she cannot go to New York because she had to take care of Sophie ‘s grandmother at home. In addition, Atie was only in Croix-des-Rosets because of Sophie ‘s schooling. I feel pretty upset that Tante Atie cannot be with Sophie, but Sophie’s mother wanted to see her for real. Atie says, “When she left you with me, she and I, we agreed that it would only be for a while” (Danticat, 20). This proves why Sophie’s mother really wanted to see her own daughter for the first time since the latter was with Tante Atie.

In the first few chapters of the story we can see how deep of a relationship Sophia has with her aunt. If it wasn’t clearly told to us, one would think they were mother an daughter. Sophia’s aunt however does not want Sophia to see her as her mother even though it goes against her own feelings. In Sophia’s eyes her aunt is more of her mother than her real one. To her this is the person who raised her from and infant, helped her to walk, fed her everyday and cared for her. Even though Tante Atie lets her know that her mother never abandoned her, it still does not change the fact that it was not her mother who raised her, but her aunt. When she is told that she would be going to America, you can feel how much it hurt her in the text to know that she was being ripped away from everything she knew and the people she cared about.

Another I came to notice is, I suppose since it’s a small town, people are really nosey. What right do you have to divulge another persons secret when they tell you and good faith. And why must it be your business to let the whole town know? That’s something that I really don’t like, if you have something you don’t want everyone to know that should be respected.

It’s also funny how Tante Atie has this thing for Donald Augstine, almost kissing him after the potlock, crying as he went to bed with his wife and telling Sophia never to tell anyone that she does.

I find Sophie to be a well-mannered and humble child. She is respectful to her Tante Atie whom took very good care of her while her mother was living in America. Tante Atie showed Sophie much love; Sophie also showed Tante Atie much love in return. Although their family seemed to be a small family, they were kind and loving to each other. This is evident from the Grandmother down to Sophie.

The scene that appeals to me most is when Sophie made a mother’ day card for her Tante Atie, and she even attached a flower to the front of the card to show her love and appreciation to a good mother. Tante Atie refused to accept the card, she believed that Sophie’s mother—Martine deserved to have the card more than her. I Believe Tante Atie did not feel special to take care of her niece that also makes her happy by doing chores around the home while being a good girl overall.

the part that stood out to me the most even thought it was in the beginning of the book was when Sophie is having a conversation with her aunt. Sophie isn’t satisfied with her aunt at this time because she never goes to school when they have a group reading. her aunt explains that she doesn’t attend because she doesn’t know how to read and she doesn’t want a group of children to teach her. She never head time to go to school and she only knew to work cook clean and cutting cane. i can relate to this because where im from the only thing to do was cut cane and that all my grandfather did. my father would have been following in his footsteps but instead chose to move to the united states in order for my sister and i as well as himself to get a better education.

In chapter one it talks about how there are crushed dried yellow leaves in the yard. This reminds me a lot of the dried banana leaves. Dried banana leaves are what Rastafarian’s used to smoke weed because some of them believed that the roll up paper was produced by the white man and they just won’t accept being dependent on something the white man produces.

lost opportunities and the inability to change. I am using this phase to hightlight Atie position on her stagnant position. ” At one time, I would have given anything to be in school. But time is gone. Cooking and cleaning, looking after others, that’s my school now.” Sophie is reaching out to her aunt to see if she would change her view on obtaining basic learning skills.  However, she refuse to come to the class to learn to read and write. I admire Atie for encouraging Sophie to stay in school, because when Atie was a child Sophie age she was already working in the cane field. I could be wrong about my prediction about Atie, but there is a reason why she do not want to go to the school. The passage state that mr. Augustine is the teacher who gives the reading lessons. Is that not the same mr. Augustine that Atie beg Sophie, ” To tell no one that she cries when she watches Monsieur Augustine and his wife preparing for bed. This book hold a several secrets about its characters and I cannot wait to see them unfold.