The Farming of Bones

by Edwidge Danticat

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Summary

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In "The Farming of Bones," the narrative unfolds around Amabelle Desir, a young Haitian girl whose life takes a dramatic turn after losing her parents to the waters of the Massacre River, the natural border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. She finds solace and stability working as a housemaid for Don Ignacio, a Dominican landowner, and becomes a close confidante of his daughter, Valencia. As tensions mount between the two nations, Amabelle's life is thrown into turmoil, setting off a harrowing journey of survival and self-discovery.

An Unsettling Beginning

The story opens with Amabelle in the service of Don Ignacio's family, now caring for Valencia, who has married an ambitious Dominican army officer. Amabelle witnesses the birth of Valencia's twins, marking a moment of joy shadowed by the ominous political climate. Her lover, Sebastien, toils in the sugar cane fields—a job aptly termed "farming the bones" due to its grueling nature.

Life Amid Rising Tensions

Amabelle navigates a delicate balance between her duties and her interactions with fellow Haitian workers in the fields. The community grows increasingly aware of the growing threat posed by the Dominican dictator, Trujillo, whose disdain for Haitians becomes evident. The incident of a cane worker's death caused by Duarte’s reckless driving, with no repercussions, underscores the stark inequality and apathy from the Dominican authorities.

The Onset of Violence

Chaos ensues when the systematic extermination of Haitians begins. Losing track of Sebastien, who vanishes amidst the slaughter, Amabelle is forced to flee for her life. Scenes of horror unfold as those trying to escape face tragic fates—pursued, brutalized, and murdered—before reaching the Haitian border. The division between the two peoples, though indistinguishable by color, is marked by language—a deadly barrier as Haitians are identified and persecuted for their inability to pronounce "perejil," Spanish for "parsley." Even within families like Valencia's, the racial blend is visible, highlighting complex identities that defy simplistic categorization.

A Dangerous Passage

Reaching Dajabon, a border town, Amabelle confronts the violence head-on as refugees are rounded up, attacked, and subjected to vicious tests of their identity through language. The attack with parsley, suffocating those who fail to pronounce it correctly, symbolizes the brutal dehumanization and violence they suffer. In a moment of chaos, the arrival of Trujillo himself offers a fleeting distraction, allowing Amabelle and others to flee toward the river crossing.

The Crossing and Its Consequences

The river itself becomes a scene of macabre terror, filled with the bodies of the fallen. As Amabelle attempts to swim across, she faces a moment of desperation when trying to silence a panicked woman, unintentionally causing her death. Haunted by this incident, Amabelle's journey continues, marked by survival yet marred by guilt and loss.

Aftermath and Seeking Closure

Back in Haiti, Amabelle settles into a semblance of life with another survivor, Yves, though she remains emotionally distant, mourning Sebastien. She seeks solace in visiting Sebastien's mother's house, only to find her moving away, unable to bear the reminders of her son's death. The government's attempt to address the massacre through compensation fails, leaving survivors like Amabelle and Yves without justice or acknowledgment.

The Quest for Answers

Driven by questions about the massacre and Sebastien's fate, Amabelle returns to the Dominican Republic. She finds herself in a changed landscape, struggling to navigate the altered terrain of Alegria where familiar places and people, such as Valencia, no longer hold the warmth of recognition. Her search leads her to a cave once shared with Sebastien, but it offers no closure or revelations.

Embracing the River

In the book's poignant conclusion, Amabelle returns to the river, the eternal witness to both her loss and her resilience. Lying in its waters, she symbolically surrenders to its flow, embodying a hope for renewal and a new beginning. She entrusts her fate to the current, epitomizing the enduring human spirit amidst the relentless tides of history.

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