Chapters 31-35

Chapters 31-35

The End

Chapter 31

• Sophie is part of a sexual phobia group with 2 other girls. A Chicana who was raped by her grandfather and an Ethopian students who was circumcised.

• They meet every week. Sophie takes the statue her grandmother gave her.

• They pray and write the names of their 'abusers', tie it to a green balloon and release it.

• Joseph was happy Bridgette said dada first. She told Sophie she must be green with envy.

• Martine called and to check up on Sophie. She said that Grandma Ife telegrammed her. All the arrangements for her funeral are in place. She thinks Atie will die of sadness. She misses Louise and everyone she has lost.

• Sophie decided to write Atie a letter. Now that she could read, she would be the only one to know what Sophie tells her.

Themes

• Fear of Sexuality/ Trauma: The therapy group

• Family Relationships: Joseph is happy playing with his daughter and teasing Sophie. Her mother also calls to tell her that Grandma Ife called to tell her how sad Atie is. The 4 women are linked.

• Green: The color of life and growth. Can also be a color for liberation. It appears all over this chapter. The color of the pillows; the balloon that they liberate and also the mention of Green when Joseph tells Sophie she must be green with envy. Sophie has grown through the years. She has lives and she is close to being free from her trauma.

Chapter 32

• Sophie has a one-on- one with her therapist. Confesses she no longer hates her mother, but sees her as a friend.

• The doctor asks for Martine. After knowing she was pregnant she asks Sophie if she is mad at her for doing exactly what she saw wrong in Sophie to which she says that she just felt bad for her. The baby inside her is making her relive her rape just like having Sophie did.

• The doctor says it is a good idea to give her father a face to make it easier to confront him. Martine never did this that’s why the shadow man controls her. She doesn’t know what she is fighting; in the same, she is fighting everything the shadow decides to manifest as

• Sophie and the doctor then discusses the fear of abandonment. Sophie suffers through sex because she is the wife, Joseph might leave her. Martine grew irate at Sophie for being with Joseph because she too, feared losing Sophie.

• The doctor then has the idea of both Sophie and Martine going to the cane fields to prove that they can walk out of it.

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Chapter 33

• Sophie and Joseph go to Martine's for dinner. Martine is calmer and happier and making conversation with Joseph.

• Joseph explained that Negro Spirituals were songs the slaves sang. More often than not the songs were about freedom or going back home; such as Africa for the slaves or Heaven.

• •Martine then gave her own rendition of her favorite Negro Spiritual.” Sometimes she feels like a motherless child (x3) A long ways from home.

• Sophie and Jospeh went home, Martine had already called them. She will get the abortion.

Multiple Choice

What was the reason Martine gave Sophie for getting the abortion?

• She did not want the baby.

• She heard the baby talking to her.

• She feels sick.

• She wants Marc to leave her.

Themes:

• Love and Family Relationships: The family has a good time. They all enjoy their lunch. Telling stories and laughing. Peace for the time being.

• Trauma: Martine is aborting her child because it now talks and insults her in a man’s voice.

• Death: Martine says she wants the Negro Spiritual she sang at her funeral. Her mother taught her to be prepared.

• Negro Spirituals: Songs of freedom; of going home; of going to heaven. That’s what the Caco women want.

• Martine’s song: Her song embodies her life. A motherless child in a strange land away from home.

Chapter 34

• Sophie is back at her therapist talking about Martine . Therapist suggests spiritual liberation.

• The doctor asks if her lover knows that she is aborting. Sophie hates that word. The doctor points out that Sophie is uncomfortable with her mother’s sexuality; but the doctor points out that her fear maybe denial that she got pregnant willingly.

• Sophie went to Davina’s house to have time alone in their room. She saw the green balloon deflated in the tree. It didn’t reach the clouds. It just died slowly trapped in the branches of the tree.

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Themes:

• Trauma: Majority of the chapter, Doctor Rena and Sophie talk about Martine. She is aborting her child because she hears it speak and insult her. She doesn’t want it. Rena suggests it might be her denying that she is worthy of a child she conceived willingly; no struggle and no abuse.

• The green balloon: The girls released it as a sign of freedom; “maybe it reached the clouds”, but instead it got trapped in the branches of a tree; left there to die slowly. Someone is dying after trying so hard to be free.

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Chapter 35

• Sophie returns home. Joseph is waiting for her. Marc called; it is about Martine.

• She calls, no answer. Marc finally calls.

• Martine is dead.

Multiple Choice

What did the therapist suggests Martine should do?

• Get an abortion

• Go back to Haiti

• An Exorcism

• A baby shower

Multiple Choice

How did Martine die?

• Getting the abortion

• Car accident

• Fell down the stairs

• Stabbed herself

• Martine stabbed herself 27 times.

• She died in the ambulance saying that she could NOT carry on with this child. Sophie is furious at Marc for sleeping.

• Sophie went to her mother's house. Sophie ran through every room in Martine’s house in denial. She saw her closet; mostly red clothes. Her favorite color after leaving Haiti

• Sophie could never talk to Marc again. She blamed him and was upset with how he handled things. He even sent word to Haiti; news that could kill Ife.

• Marc looked resigned and Sophie hated that. He asked her to pick an outfit for Martine’s funeral.

• She picked a bright crimson two piece suit. She knew it was too much of an outfit. But to her it symbolized a woman of power; the one who raped and killed and not the other way around.

Multiple Choice

How does Sophie feel about how Marc was handling the funeral arrangements?

• Furious

• Numb

• Sad

• Shattered

• She picked a bright crimson two piece suit. She knew it was too much of an outfit. But to her it symbolized a woman of power; the one who raped and killed and not the other way around.

• Sophie calls Joseph to say a final goodbye before leaving for Haiti to bury Martine. He tells her Bridgette is sleeping less.

• Sophie and Marc sit far away from each other on the flight. He looked all over when he arrived. Looking for changes but he only saw needy people: beggars and girls selling their bodies, corruption and poverty.

Multiple Choice

What color outfir does Sophie pick to wear to her mother's funeral?

• Pink

• Green

• Yellow

• Red

• They were taken to Dame Marie in the hearse. Everyone waved at Sophie when they saw her. She belonged there.

• Grandma Ife was outside. Even before the telegram she knew. She greeted Marc and told him she knew about him too even though Martine never spoke of him.

• They had a small reunion that night. Playing cards and drinking tea. Only family and Eliab and other wandering boys.

• They all went to the chapel for Martine’s service.

• They paid her final respects to Martine as the priest blessed the corpse. Each gave her something in her coffin.

• Atie fell to the ground crying and convulsing. Marc helped her up.

• They walked with the body to the top of the hill. Soon they gathered a small procession of people tagging along in respect.

• Sophie could not bare her mother being buried and ran down the hill as fast as she could.

• She went directly to the cane fields and started beating and breaking it up and it sometimes hit back. Her hand began to bleed as she tore the leaves off the ground with her bare hand.. The cane workers stood in surprise and Grandma Ife stopped the priest and the people from interfering when they caught up to her.

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• Grandma Ife asked her if she is free. She finally was. Just as the doctor recommended. Face the field.

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Multiple Choice

What does Grandme Ife shout after Sophie when she is in the cane fields?

• Ou libere

• Pardonne A te mere

• Je t'aime

Poll

Did you enjoy/like the novel?

• Yes

• No

Open Ended

Thoughts about the novel?