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Chapter 13
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Breath, Eyes, Memory, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Mothers, Daughters, and Generational Trauma
Virginity and Violence
Home
Memory, Storytelling, and the Past
Summary
Analysis
Tante Atie and Sophie walk down the road. Tante Atie carries Brigitte, showing her off to the neighbors and villagers she meets. Tante Atie says she can hardly believe Sophie is a mother—she remembers holding Sophie in her arms when Sophie was Brigitte’s age, and feeling like she might break her. Sophie insists that Brigitte is a “true Caco woman,” and is stronger than she looks. Tante Atie asks if Brigitte has met Martine, but Sophie says that they haven’t spoken since Sophie left home—Martine will not answer her letters or pick up the phone when she calls. Tante Atie laments the schism between Martine and Sophie—especially since “Martine’s head is not in the best condition.” As they pass Man Grace’s farm, Tante Atie laments that ever since Grace died, Louise has been unable to sleep alone.
As Sophie reveals that she and her mother haven’t spoken in years—in spite of Sophie’s repeated attempts to swallow her own pride and reach out to Martine—it becomes clear that Martine truly views Sophie’s independence as a betrayal. Martine is unable to cope with the idea of her daughter as a wife—or a mother—and will not agree to accept or even meet the woman Sophie has become.
Themes
At Granmè Ifé’s house, Sophie is surprised to see things mostly unchanged. She greets her grandmother, whose eyes fill with tears as she embraces Sophie and meets Brigitte. Sophie happily tells her grandmother that Brigitte’s middle name is Ifé. As Granmè Ifé looks into the child’s face, she says she can “visit with all [her] kin” simply by looking at Brigitte.
The fact that Granmè Ifé sees generations of Caco women in Brigitte’s face suggests the hopeful idea that more than just trauma can be transmitted through generations of women—perhaps strength, love, and wisdom can be passed down as well.
Themes
