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Breath, Eyes, Memory | Introduction

When Breath, Eyes, Memory was published in 1994, Edwidge Danticat was hailed by Publishers Weekly as "a distinctive new voice with a sensitive insight into Haitian culture." Although there are some similarities between Sophie's story and Danticat's own life, the work is largely fiction, informed by Danticat's own experience. The book was the culmination of many years of writing, beginning in Danticat's adolescence, when she wrote a story about coming to America to be with her mother; this story was the seed for the later, much longer work.

Danticat continued work on the novel during her pursuit of a Master of Fine Arts degree in writing at Brown University, where she was given a full scholarship. Written as her master's thesis, the unfinished book was eagerly awaited by Soho Press, which offered Danticat a $5,000 advance for it.

Not everyone in the Haitian community approved of the book. In the book, Sophie's mother Martine "tests" her to see if she is still a virgin by putting a finger into Sophie's vagina. Although virginity is highly regarded in Haitian culture, most Haitian-Americans no longer follow this practice, and some felt that Danticat's depiction of it made Haitians seem backward and sexually abusive. Danticat is aware that many people see her as a spokesperson for Haitians, but disagrees with the notion: she is just one person, writing about her own experience, and there are many other voices.

Breath, Eyes, Memory Summary

Edwidge Danticat's Breath, Eyes, Memory begins in Haiti in the early 1980s, when Haiti was ruled by the dictator Jean Claude ‘‘Baby Doc’’ Duvalier. Widespread poverty, illiteracy, and government-sponsored violence oppress the population, but Danticat's heroine, twelve-year-old Sophie Caco, has led a relatively sheltered life in the small town of Croix-des-Rosets. Although her family have always been poor agricultural laborers, she and her aunt are better off because Sophie's mother, Martine, moved to Brooklyn when Sophie was two, and sends money home every month.

Martine's move to Brooklyn was a form of escape, since she was raped at age sixteen by a Tonton Macoute, or guerrilla, one of many allowed by the government to kill, torture, and rape anyone he wanted to. This rape resulted in Sophie's birth, but Martine, unable to bear the painful memories, left Haiti, and Sophie, in search of a new life and release from her emotional pain.

The novel opens a few days before Mother's Day, when Sophie has made a card to give to her aunt, Tante Atie, the only mother Sophie knows. She finds out that Martine has finally sent for her, and wants her to come to Brooklyn. Sophie is fearful and reluctant to go, but has no choice. Atie tells her that her mother wants the best for her, and that if she becomes educated, she can elevate her whole family, that going to the United States will be good for her and everyone else, and that it's the right thing to do.

On the way to the airport they are delayed by a demonstration, and see students fighting soldiers and government officials, an Army truck in flames, and soldiers shooting bullets and tear gas at the demonstrators. They also see a soldier beat a girl's head in with the butt of a gun, and on the plane, Sophie sits next to a small boy whose father was killed in the demonstration and who has no family left living in Haiti and no luggage.

Adjusting to life in Brooklyn is difficult for Sophie, who is harassed by other students because she is Haitian and does not speak English. For six years, forbidden to date, she spends all her time in the narrow circle of school, home, and church.

When Sophie is eighteen, she falls in love with her neighbor, Joseph, a kind and thoughtful musician who is her mother's age. Aside from Marc, her mother's boyfriend, she... » Complete Breath, Eyes, Memory Summary