Hi Everyone--Please read the essay in the coursepak "Silences Too Horrific to Disturb": Writing Sexual Histories in Edwidge Danticat's Breath, Eyes, Memory." It begins on page 113.
The author, Donette Francis, argues that "the subjection to violence shapes these women's subjectivities" and that "cultural institutions" not only "enforce sexual violence" but also "conceal it" (77). This concealment is perhaps why Danticat writes this novel.
Please write a blog in response to both the article (what piece of information was most interesting, valuable to you from the article in understanding the novel) and to the climax and ending of the novel. Why do you think Danticat ends the novel in such a painful way? At the same time there are moments of tremendous beauty in the novel: in other words, Danticat has managed to show us both the trauma suffered by Haitian women and also their strength, their powerful community. Please find one example of how that powerful sense of connection, community, helps Sophie overcome her trauma and stay connected to her family.
Finally--please think about your research interests! We will devote some class time to that topic.
The essay states that in Haiti there is a lot of corruption, a lot of political issues that are trying to get resolved but there never seem to be an answer to them. In the same paragraph it is mentioned that not only do these issue not seem to have an end but they over shadow many other factors that affect the lives of the Haitian population such as the violence that is committed toward women. I found this to be very interesting because this explains why you never hear about it. This is wrong because if people don't know that these other important issues exist then there will be no way to deal with them and bring an end to it. The essay also states that in the 20th century American troops went to Haiti and caused chaos raping an enormous amount of innocent people. This reminds me of Mi Lai because the same thing happened there. It upsets me to know that the actions committed by these disgusting people are being justified and there will never pay for their crimes. I think that the author chose to end Breath, Eyes, Memory in such a sad, tragic way to show the reader that, like Martine, many people have died and will continue to die and suffer because of tradition and the effects of imperialism. This does not end with Martine. One way in which Sophie finds comfort is by going through a sex therapy session. This session allows her to encounter other women who have suffered abused in the hands of others. Sophie realizes that she is not alone and she can find a way to deal with her demons. Also, the stories that are told Sophie finds them fascinating and they not only educate her about Haitis tradition but it allows her to get closer to the person who tells them like her aunt and her grandmother.
ReplyDeleteAnd the stories (of the grandmother and aunt) are often--though not always-- empowering for women--as in the pomegranate-bird story. On the other hand, the story of the girl who bleeds to death on her wedding night reinforces the worst of patriarchy! I had the same reaction you did, Jorge, that My Lai continues and that soldiers are not held accountable--it means that the military culture encourages and condones behavior that is not unlike that of the Ton Ton Macoute!
DeleteDonette A. Francis's multi-layered analysis of Danticat's Breath, Eyes, Memory is really helpful and informative. I think it gives shape to the subjects we've touched on in the previous class. Francis really exposes and expands on the subliminal messages between the lines of the story with help from Judith Herman.
ReplyDeleteThe essay argues that in the colonization, objectification, and rape of women, the society is also at fault - and I agree with that. Through traditions, or even the most standard and "accepted" gender roles, this patriarchal dehumanization of women is perpetuated in varying degrees.
I acknowledge society's fault, and my partial fault as a member of society, but I would not go so far as to say that society "conceals" these issues; maybe a part of society, but not all. This allegation of "concealment" implies a conscious act, and regarding this argument, I would only concede if it was to include "unconscious" and nonreflective practices.
My problem is I don't know where I stand. I grew up in the company of strong women, so I have much respect for them, and the subject of rape is unthinkable (and to ironically echo Mr. Neville - "unfathomable") to me. The strong and violent rape imagery in Danticat's novel - I must confess - bring me great discomfort. And as a male, I don't really know my place, or my right in such delicate discussions regarding women.
But, on a related note, I've had the chance to study a novel in one of my previous English courses regarding the objectification of women: Thomas Harris's The Silence of the Lambs. Like Danticat, Harris exposes how this objectification and abuse of women is perpetuated by society, especially through the men's "covetous eyes" and through deeply entrenched traditions such as beauty pageants.
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DeleteHi Kierra, (long response here, sorry!)
DeleteThanks for the feedback, but I'm afraid you've misunderstood me. When I said that thing about rape being unthinkable I was referring to the people who think of, and do, commit it (My fault though, poor word choice). I don't deny that sexual violence happens, especially against women; that much is real to me.
And about my active vs. passive argument, all I meant to say is that it's unfair to brand the whole society as actively and consciously perpetuating patriarchy (yes, there's a lot of powers-that-be that do it), because some people are doing it and they don't even know it and some are even against it. When I was defending society I was also thinking of the individuals in it - after all, You and I are also part of this society.
I agree with your point though, that there isn't enough discussion about this. However, as I expressed in my original comment, I'm unsure about my place in this whole discussion; I, for one, would not dismiss the subject and I try my best not to shy away from the subject, but I just feel like I don't have the right to "start" the conversation - that's all.
And you're right, the amount of discussion on rape pales in comparison to that of war - rape has been given "taboo" status. But there is also the flip side of this which is just as bad, if not worse: some use "rape" and all related terms lightly, and in turn they trivialize and condone rape. I'm talking about a part of "rape culture" which is also pervasive in online gaming culture (in the same circle, war also becomes trivialized, and the whole notion of massacre even becomes glorified through video games). I've seen that you're going to be writing about this - I think looking at rape culture would be a good place to start.
Hi Ira--I'm fascinated by your questioning of the word "concealment" which is part of Francis's premise--and which you query in relation to conscious/unconscious acts. The broader question might be are there those who do deliberately conceal (the possible doubling of even the Ton Ton Macoute who abuse women and then go home to their families) and those who participate passively out of fear (as in "Children of the Sea"--the father knowing his neighbor is being tortured) and then those who are not aware of what is happening--like all of us outside of Haiti--until we read someone like Danticat or Francis.
DeleteThis topic is so painful it seems to touch a nerve and men and women perhaps "feel" the issue of rape in different ways. Ira I admire your willingness to admit that the broader topic of abuse of women in any way makes you unsure of your place. Kierra I'm not sure what you wrote to Ira but I also admire your willingness to express the passionate feelings this topic brings up for women. Danticat certainly helps bring this painful subject to all of our attention as was her stated purpose (quote from beginning of Francis article).
yeah. i live in a world where rape culture is apparent to me everyday and many times throughout the day. but i get your arguments much more clearly. thank you for taking the time to reply.
DeleteJust a quick edit (because I forgot to quote directly from Francis)...
DeleteThe section I was reacting to is in p.115 of the coursepak:
"Examining the dialectic between individual and state forms of violence, I (Francis) explore how state and cultural institutions work, not only to enforce sexual violence but to conceal it."
On a related note:
Dr Van, during yesterday's class your quote from Tante Atie reminded me of something I found very interesting.
Tante Atie: "...when we were children we had no control over anything. Not even this body."
The quote expresses her feelings of powerlessness, even up to that point in the present of the novel. She refers to "her" body as "this body" and it betrays her lack of ownership of her own body. This is in great contrast with mainstream American notions where the woman alone has the right to decide between keeping or aborting a pregnancy - the woman has full reign over her own body.
It really highlights the disparity between the two cultures regarding women's rights.
interesting insight into Tante ATie's "this" body comment--I may take some of your ideas (and Kierra's) into my Woman Writer course!
DeleteBit of long read but overall pretty enlightening. But yeah, as Danticat herself has said about the media, … “it is often hard to tell whether there are real living and breathing women in conflict-stricken places like Haiti”. I totally agree and her quote spoke to me when I first read because of it’s truth. When we follow the media yeah it catches our interest when the themes prevalent in Breath, Eyes, Memory are present. It’s almost a psychological response to pay more attention to misfortune. However, the way the media choose to manipulate the story in such a way that we automatically follow along then move on to the next story on the broadcast and dismissing the story that caught our attention is very disgusting. Almost like a very apt transitional phrase or word in the next paragraph, the media smoothly operates in such a way as to pay not even a passing thought afterwards.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting how throughout the paper Francis picked up and broadened the conflicting issues and much ignored stigmas, as opposed to the media’s passive-aggressive actions. I actually enjoyed how she applauded Danticat’s work and it might be just me but it kind of seemed like other than addressing the issues in the paper Francis maybe also wrote it to add on or to compliment Danticat's book.
you are pinpointing a flaw in the superficial nature of journalism in general. The Francis piece shows how to go into depth but I do understand that it is a more difficult reading. A question related to your whole post might be, how can we get our citizens to WANT to read articles, essays that give us more in-depth information about those who are in crisis or suffering? Nice idea that her work compliments Danticat's :)
DeleteFrancis' essay gave so much information to help me further understand Breath, Eyes, Memory. I hadn’t realized how much symbolism Danticat uses in the novel because I don’t know anything about Haitian history. The essay and the novel were enlightening for me. It reminded me of things I hadn’t thought about for years.
ReplyDeleteI have an ex-boyfriend who joined the Army shortly after we broke up, which coincidentally was also a few months after 9/11. The last time I spoke to him was several years ago and he told me he was sent away somewhere in the Middle East, and now that he was back home, he was suffering from PTSD. He said all the troops suffer from it. I asked why he couldn’t tell someone. He said if they seek help, the government will stop providing funds to him and his family, and that he would be dismissed as well. I’m probably not using all the right terms, but I’m sure you know what I mean. He was living with his wife and their 4 sons on an Army base in Texas. I knew he wouldn’t give me information over the phone, so when he came to NY, I saw him and he told me that people would hate him for the things that he had done. He was ordered to hurt woman and children. He didn’t say what and I didn’t ask. I was in shock. I had so many questions that I didn’t ask because I don’t think I could have handled the answers and he most likely would have been in serious trouble with our military had anyone found out he was telling people the information I wanted to know.
Our media only likes to give us stories of how other societies and other nations hurt their people, or things like the Holocaust. We aren’t told of what our fellow Americans do in other countries and the laws that they are breaking. Morals and values seem to be tossed aside, and that’s what our troops taught to the tonton macoute. I’ve always known that we still live in a very racist society, as much as we all try to deny it, but as a woman, I didn’t realize the history of abuse we have had to endure. Women who are raped, then decide to stand up for themselves are put through more abuse when it becomes their lives that are on trial, not the men/man who raped them. Somehow this has become something that we accept, and it’s wrong. That’s why to this day, so many women are afraid to stand up for themselves; because of things like this. Like the Haitian women who were beaten and raped for trying to hold a public prayer vigil; how can any of these atrocities be justified?
Back to the novel. . . Even though Sophie was hurt by her mother, she was extremely worried because she knew her mother’s trauma extended far beyond her own. Sophie knew Martine was mentally unstable. It had never occurred to Martine not to abuse her daughter, as it has to Sophie. They were in another country, yet Martine felt that she still had to uphold her family name and her daughter’s virtue. It’s sad that Martine didn’t seek help. She may have been able to overcome her rape. When Martine returned to Haiti to plan her mother’s funeral, I think she knew deep down she was really planning her own. I feel that Sophie’s return to the cane fields after her mother’s funeral was liberating. She fought with the sugar cane as if she was beating her mother’s rapist and she needed that. Sophie needed to release her emotions somehow and the woman of the village knew it, that’s why they cried with her, and for her.
Tamika- Those details about your ex-boyfriend's deployment are really interesting. The war crimes that American soldiers commit overseas are disgusting, but it's also disgusting how the military powers-that-be treat veterans who suffer from mental and physical illnesses.
DeleteTwo or three years ago, the UK edition of Rolling Stone magazine published an article that showed leaked photos of war atrocities committed by U.S. soldiers in Iraq, taken by the soldiers themselves. The U.S. editors of Rolling Stone not only refused to put the article in the American edition, but the media here was pretty much silent about the whole controversy. It's a blatant example of how the American media keeps so much from the eyes of the public. Someone sent me a link to the article years ago, and I remember that I couldn't make it through all of the photos b/c they were so disturbing. If you're still curious, I'm sure you could find that article somewhere online, since Rolling Stone is such a major publication.
Thanks for sharing this Tamika and just so everyone knows this is a private blog--only those invited to the blog--our class, can see the contents. I mention that because you are sharing delicate information. IT is very depressing to know that in the military today soldiers are put in the position of hurting civilians. It shows that the My Lai massacre (Nam Le) is not a thing of the past which is horrible. I hope your ex-boyfriend finds a way to get support. It seems like the public should be pressuring the military to help their soldiers--so many are coming home with these problems. The "public" face of the military says they are but it would be great to have a "60 Minutes" type expose!
DeleteOn the novel--good point about the community participating in the healing by crying with her. Thoughts on research topic?
responding to Matthew (response to Tamika and his example from Rolling Stone)--you are right that the American public is unaware of what info is kept from them--a topic in itself! Where can we find alternative information that Europeans have access to?
DeleteThanks Matthew! I will definitely search for that article.
DeleteDr. Van - I think I'd like to research folklore and patriarchy in Breath, Eyes, Memory. I feel like most of the folklore in the novel ties into the patriarchal beliefs of the Haitian people.
I found Donette A. Francis' article to be very profound, well researched and very informative. I found the entire article to be interesting, but some things in particular that caught my attention were the early details of the US's involvement in establishing political and military structures that perpetuated the violent violations against Haitian women. It always makes me sick to find these things out. Of course they don't come as much of a surprise given our countries contemptible influence throughout the years and all over the world, but it is always shocking and infuriating nonetheless. Francis' does a great job at really articulating the effects that sexual violation leaves women with--especially women in a subordinate position as a result of the post colonial state.
ReplyDeleteFrancis' outlines Danticat's novel on the subject through five scenes, the last being the books last scene in the cane fields. I believe the book ends this way because it is the actual physical confrontation of the trauma both she and her mother faced. It is a means of gaining control, though unlike self mutilation it no longer becomes an action directed at her own physical body, but at something external and directly related to the rape.
One last thing I found interesting about Francis' essay is the further information provided on the figure of Erzulie. I'm moved to read more about the Vodoo saint.
As for my research paper, I think I want to write about all this. I would like to use Breath, Eyes, Memory and Francis' essay and other sources to write more about the female sexualization and violation in the "post colonial" world. Maybe focusing on Haiti, maybe even writing on male fetishism of ethnic women (American troops raping these women) and how that further displaces us. I'm not totally sure what my thesis will be just yet.
Hi Kierra-I had the same reaction when I read (in Francis) that we actually trained "marine" style and those Haitians became the Ton Ton Macoute! And it is equally depressing that we speak for democracy and support repression--good analysis of the ending in the cane fields. Do share here anything you learn about Erzulie :)
ReplyDeleteps--on male fetishism of ethnic women--critique of this begins with Edward Said's Orientalism. I'll try to bring you an excerpt from his book.
DeleteThank you Dr. Van! I would really appreciate that.
DeleteDonette A Francis’ article, “Silences Too Horrific to Disturb”, speaks of the almost extensive efforts that the government takes in order to “conceal” the terrifying events that follow women world-wide. Although the article concentrates on Haiti, these things happen everywhere and on a daily basis. Francis goes on to say that most governments do not believe the suffering that these women and young girls endure is important enough to make any headline, and that the people that inflict the abuse vary from authority figures to family. What is even more repulsive is that when government officials become aware of the horrific behavior the soldiers take part in, it is often justified by regarding the soldiers as “drunk or mentally unbalanced as a result of their tenure in the tropics” (116). I fail to see how that’s anywhere near logical. Inebriation and stress should not be considered legitimate when it comes to abuse of any kind. When Francis talks about the five scenes of subjection, she mentions a few things that spoke to me. When she covers the testing that Sophie endured as a young adult, she considers the after effects (bulimia and genophobia) as “traumatic heirlooms”. She suggests that because she is bulimic and not anorexic, “she does not lack an appetite for food or sex. Instead she strongly desires to consume both, but guilt and negative body memories of sexual violation force her to purge the pleasure of eating, like sex, from her body. Controlling her appetite for food is symbolic of her hunger for sexual gratification and her failed attempts to master her own body” (122). This ties in with what Francis concludes her research with, “perpetrators remain unaccountable while traumatized victims live in shame and silence” (126). This is exactly what Sophie and her mother, Martine, did. While the whereabouts of the man who raped Martine is unknown, both Sophie and her mother suffer the consequences greatly.
ReplyDeleteI didn’t put much thought into why Danticat ended the novel in a painful manner, as another classmate mentioned, maybe Martine’s death is supposed to symbolize all of the women who die because of the abuse they endure. After reading Francis’ research, I took Sophie’s suffering to be symbolic as well. Her suffering is very much real and spreads out and affects almost every aspect of her life. There is no real cure, and unlike Sophie, many of the women who have been through similar unfortunate events are not offered any help or support.
the part of the Francis essay you focus on is most interesting--the connection between guilt, traumatic heirlooms and bulimia--it is as though part of Sophie's identity needs to be expelled, but of course this is not the way we overcome trauma--when Sophie is able to face the space of the cane fields at the end, she sees that the true enemy is not within--this might be a place to begin an essay?
DeleteDonette A. Francis gave a profound analysis on Danticat’s Breath, Eyes, Memory. The usage of information allowed me to understand and have a clear idea on the circumstances Haitian women had to undergo and forcibly accept; the U.S military was one of them, “with legislature power, backed by its military presence, the U.S ushered in a significant shift in Haitian political culture by installing a military state that ruled against the nation as the state now followed the dictates of the U.S government rather than Haitian citizens. Women were made particularly vulnerable under this administration because American service-men and officers raped and sexually harassed local women. But these acts of violence went unrecognized, unnamed, and unpunished by the U.S government (78).” Although it comes to no surprise that women were used only when needed, it still fills me with indignation to know that they were treated inhumanly and authorities wouldn’t do much about it. Truly there are no words to describe the pain that Haitian women and like many others had to endure; the physical, psychological, and emotional damage. Men of course, didn’t care. All they cared about was power. In this case, Men looked out for whatever seemed convenient for them. When Haitian women fought back or stood up for themselves, men would strike back in an aggressive manner. They obviously didn’t want women to speak up or raise their voice; therefore the consequences were always sickening and unfair.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to Danticat’s Breath, Eyes, Memory, Martine, and Sophie were damaged physically, mentally, and emotionally. Although Sophie tried hard to overcome her problem, Martine never made it. I believe Danticat ended her story with a painful tragedy just so she can let her readers know that many Haitian women did not have a “happy ending” and most suffered till death. Their traumas were forever trapped in their memory as well as the horrific vivid scenes they saw with their very own eyes. I think Sophie starts to overcome her trauma when she runs into the cane fields. While there is a release of intense emotions, blood in her palms, dirt all over her, she is being set free. All of her pain is let out in this particular place until it all evacuates; the demons that tormented her are no longer there.
Based on my research paper, I would like to write about the female submission towards male ideology in post-colonial times; focusing on the sexual usage and violation women had to forcibly accept (in particular Haitian women). As for the sources, I’ll be using Danticat’s Breath, Eyes, Memory, Donette’s article, and other relevant sources regarding this topic.
Irma--I admire your phrase "trauma...forever trapped in memory"--that is certainly what Danticat has in mind in her depiction of Martine, and perhaps Sophie, though, as you explain, Sophie does begin to set herself free. We will discuss how to focus your topic in class--continue looking for other sources on Danticat?
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ReplyDeleteBoth the story and article gave me a interpretation of general woman's experiences of the struggles living in a false and abusive culture that pertains to patriarch and gynarchy ideology. The writers main focuses Is Haitian culture of how women's minds and bodies are being violated, by cultural circumstances that reflects the abuse of women as well made up fundamental reasons to uphold the beliefs to preserve a woman's virginity. I am more aware of these discrete values that are between mother and daughter, sister,family and society and becoming more understanding of the suppression of women who are enforced to uphold there purity until marriage. One example of the article by Donette A. Francis describes a short story of the groom that killed his bride because her hymen did not break during intercourse. This tragic tale made me think of how psychotic and intense people will go to great lengths to up hold their beliefs to protect female virginity. This also relates to breath eyes in memory by Edwidge Danticat, who also depicts the hardship frustration depression and abusive feelings she feels as a young woman trying to fix within standards her family and society. I believe she made her story tragic to give a sense of reality to the readers of loss, by making the mother become a suicide victim. Sophie's phases of testing, self-mutilation, love affair with Joseph, family bond with aunt Atie and grandmother, give us a female's point of view of the pressure of living under these difficult ideologies. One valuable sense of love and compassion within the family that shows a connection that inspired Sophie to endure life's pain, is when aunt Atie tells the folktale of people of creation, who were born to embrace the struggles of life.It is this story that prepares Sophie to build courage and commitment to peruse her life to live in New York with her mother,no matter how hard life will be. I plan to do a research paper on patriarch and gynarchy ideology that affects women's rights of all cultures that relate to this article and story. And find historical facts and true intent of why this practice is taking place.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question yes,I do believe folklore is false ideology that creates religion to suppress women and weak minded people.
DeleteHi Carlos--the story of the man who kills his bride is actually from the novel--francis is commenting on it--I think you need to catch up on reading if you are going to work on this novel for research! I do admire your comment about the people of creation folktale--that is in an early chapter. Are the folk tales in your opinion part of the ideology-? as you read the book you might consider selecting tales that contribute to subject ion of women.
ReplyDeleteFrancis’ article gave me a more informative and complete look into Danticat’s Breath, Eyes, Memory. It gives further background of Haiti’s history and the author’s reason for writing the novel, which I was unaware of. For example, while I knew that the U.S. had a hand in Haitian politics, I did not know to what extent the Americans interfered. She writes that when U.S. soldiers raped and sexually abused these women that they “went…unpunished by the U.S. government.” And that the government “justified this behavior by” saying that the soldiers were “drunk or mentally unbalanced as a result of their tenure in the tropics.” It takes a special kind of evil to blame the victim’s culture in order to make up an excuse for abhorrent behavior. Victim blaming should never be acceptable. To this extent, I appreciate Danticat’s attempt to give Haitian women a voice, and to give a face and name to these invisible women.
ReplyDeleteDanticat develops each female character in such a way that gives them each such depth and allows us to see the beauty in each of them. We learn their strengths as well as their flaws, although sometimes they are one in the same. I think it was necessary to end the novel as she did in order to show the reader just how deep their pain is felt and how far they have to go to begin to heal.
Martine was raped so many years ago, but still has nightmares every night, which ends up culminating in hallucinations in which her unborn child is taunting her. Because of this she takes her own life. Some may consider these nightmares and her suicide as a sign of weakness. However, Sophie buries her in red, the color of fire and strength, the color of the dying Caco bird. She knows her mother is a strong woman. I think that after Martine dies, Sophie realizes that they share the same pain, the same nightmares and the same trauma. Perhaps this realization is what allows her to finally confront their shared pain when she goes to the sugar cane field and begins to beat the canes. As Francis points out, the sugar cane fields represent something larger than just her. It is where her grandfather died and her mother was raped, therefore where 3 generations of broken women were born. When she beats the canes, it is almost as if she is freeing herself and her family of the pain of cultural violence, the stigma of keeping silent and finally, their nightmares.
Brooke--beautiful to notice why Martine is buried in red--such a powerful symbol the dying Caco bird!
Delete3 generations?
DeleteMy first reaction when reading this essay by Donette A. Francis is one of pure sadness and empathy for the women of Haiti who have gone such trauma physically and psychologically. For myself as a man I find myself embarrassed to know that there were men who took advantage of women on so many levels, whether it be though overpowering females with their bodies or in a bigger picture silencing them politically.
ReplyDeleteWhat I found most informative about the essay is the reasons why such heinous acts were committed. Francis points out the reason Haitian women were silenced the way they were was due mainly of “America’s Imperial presence in Haiti” between 1915 and 1934. Americans overpowered the Haitian Army instilling their ideologies therefore spreading the message of patriarchy. During this time woman were violated sexually and the justification for the US Marines course of actions were because they designated as intoxicated or incompetent psychologically because of the time spent in Haiti (78). Though this is one of many excuses that really had me shaking my head it wasn’t until Francis’s next paragraph that I really started to roll my eyes. Francis points out the reason woman were suppress was because they were active socially and politically within their own community and were willing to speak all for the sake of progression as within their own nation, but since this is postcolonial world with patriarchal ideals women antagonize and defined as “enemies of the state”, “unpatriotic”, and “unnatural” (78). If women were ever to have an opinion about anything let alone the dirt of the ground they would be treated as such or even worse which is disgusting.
As far as my opinion on the ending of the book I found it sort of liberating more so than feeling sad. Once Martine self-inflicted herself to free herself “to live as a butterfly” (234), I viewed it as if Martine was doing what she needed to do in order to gain some sort of control of how she was feeling, though she did it from the inside out trauma can have that effect on you particularly towards females, and I can’t help but wonder if this is how women were left to communicate without actually speaking at all because of this patriarchal society, and if this that’s the case how many Martine’s or Sophie’s were left glimmer of hope just it wasn’t that important or maybe coming from a man’s perspective your probably too scared to confront your demons. In the end I feel as if Francis essay help me further understood how females coupe with trauma and how patriarchy is just a mask to cover up what most nations are afraid of and that’s their ideals paradox their own actions.
As far as my research papers goes and want to use breath, eyes, memory and further dissect ideals and why it systematically categorizes women as inferior men and use facades such as politics and in some cases sexuality to do so.
Sean--the part of the US marines really had a strong impact on me too--you can see why Francis calls this "concealed" information--most people know nothing about Americans' role in Haiti--but especially on the level of women and abuse
DeleteAfter I read Donette A. Francis' essay, I realized that I missed a lot of deep meaning of some specific words or situations in the book while I was reading it. Danticat uses lots of symbols which are also related to the Haitian history. Danticat shows that after the US military came to Haiti, American servicemen and officers raped Haitian women, and no one even knew what was going on there. I think this is one of the biggest issues because where ever military goes, they cause lots of pain and traumas for the people who already live there. We see the same story in Iraq. Women get raped, and other painful stories. It is like those people think they have the right to own and do whatever they want to those women, they find them as objects. And every time, such cases are tried to conceal. Even though, after a while military leaves the country, the trouble is continued by some gangs in the country. In the novel, Haitian women get raped, and no one can speak out. It seems like getting raped is the destiny for them. Women try to escape from their history, or what happens to them by escaping and leaving the country just like what Martine does. After Sophie begins to live in NY, maybe being in another country makes her understand and analyze what is going on in the Haitian women's lives. She is the person who rejects the test and tries to find out answers. The ending of the novel is bitter. In my opinion, Martine's death is her deliverance from her own life; getting raped, nightmares, having a baby without marriage, and remembering everything because of her pregnancy. At her funeral, Sophie fights with the cane field, as if she fights and beats the rapists and the whole cruel history of Haitian women as Francis refers.
ReplyDeleteGlad essay was helpful--what were some (or one) example of symbolism that the essay revealed in novel that helped you see more?
DeleteIn "Breath, Eye, and Memory" you can see how dangerous it is to belong to any cultural institiuon. The reason you should not is you should be able to make your own choices in life. You can not just ruin a persons life because your ideology says you should. In the story you can see patriarchy judgements within its own culture. That is what happens when a culture is formed into an instation it sets standards of how they should be and how the world should be. The Haitian culture encourages men to rape women, and woman to test their daughters. Right there you can see that the culture was brainwashed to thinking men are superior to woman. I am not just pointing a finger at this culture almost all cultures have some form notrotic heritage. The british for example thinking they are superior to the world. Cultural values are something passed down from generation to generation. Although the culture may think it is doing something for your best interest, it may also be damaging on a persons psyche. Testing in the Haitian culture can be seen as making sure a woman is pure, but as we see in the story it can have a damaging psychological effect. Sophie's mother was not trying to damage her, see thinks she is helping her. As she said in the story, "You most know that everything a mother does is for her child's good." She does not do this because she wants to hurt her, she does it because she loves her. It is a very blind love thats exactly what colonization is. It thinks it saving the world. A perfect example of this is Rabbit Proof Fence when the general says "we need to save these people from them selves." In colonization someone is always silenced, like the women in Breath, Eyes, Memory. They have no say or rights. When the British colonized, the rest of the world had no rights. I do not no how or why they believed this was right. That is why i question the authority of my and all cultures values
ReplyDeleteInteresting connection--the idea that colonization is a kind of "blind love"--thinking they are saving the world!
DeleteDonette Francis' essay has a really strong structure and it was really interesting. It gave me so much information I didn’t know as it helped me see Breath, Eyes, Memory in so many new different perspectives that I didn’t even know were there. It also helped me at finding more about the symbolism in the book since I am really bad at it. The way Francis approached the book and the related information completely fascinated me and encouraged me to try to find more about the violence in presented in the book.
ReplyDeleteThe essay is broken down in many historical and symbolic aspects each well organized and divided in a way that give the structure a simple but strong connection supporting the thesis of it. The effectiveness of this essay was gained by how the facts, information and quotes were used to guide the reader into a complex thematic analysis of the book. This developed analysis helps to understand the complicated themes that Francis covered in the essay which all are related to the different violation against Haitian women before and after the colonial period as a result of a sexist system.
The essay explains how the system including the Haitian government as those who influence in the country from outside as the US got away from punishment for their acts by misleading the main reason of Haitian women suffering a cause of Physical, sexual and eve state violation against them. It resulted into more violence against women as at the same time kept it in the dark.
This paper is a really good example to follow for the research paper. I am planning on doing something similar with my paper. I am aware of the seriousness of the suffering of the Haitian women that follow them generation after generation. The violence against them has such complexity that is important that we search further to have a better understanding of it.
Glad you can see the value of research here--it is important to get back-story on American role in developing the kind of military people who abused women! when you blog try to quote once or twice--it will help develop your skill in weaving quotations into writing!
ReplyDeleteDonette Francis’ article points out how all levels of Haitian society- the state, the community, and family- conspire to commit and then hide and deny violence towards women and how these separate levels of influence helped to shape the subjectivities of many generations of the Caco family in Edwidge Danticat’s Breath, Eyes, Memory. The most interesting information in the article, for me, was the background of the name “ton ton macoute,” and how naming these violent thugs after a menacing folktale character can attach them to a piece of folk symbolism that distances the criminals in some ways from the heinous crimes they commit. In her novel, Danticat describes a ton ton macoute as “a scarecrow with human flesh….[who] will take you away…if you don’t respect your elders” (138). A young girl who grows up fearing the bogeyman/ton ton macoute and who ends up being raped by a member of the militia with the same name may, in her sense of shame and guilt over the rape, believe in her subconscious that she had it coming to her. Francis writes, “Duvalier’s willful choice of this name—which translates 'mythological bogeyman' and suggests 'not real'—for his militia force enabled him to camouflage his own violations against his citizens, especially sexual violations against women” (81).
ReplyDeleteI thought the ending was effective and appropriate, since Sofie was able to return to the place of her mother’s rape, “the primal site of terror for the Caco women” (Francis 87), and free herself of the fear that has been pent up inside of her throughout her life. I got the sense that she was doing this not only for herself but for her dead mother as well. It was also interesting how Sofie decided to avenge her mother’s subjection by identifying her mother’s body with the goddess Erzulie, a goddess, Danticat writes, “who feared no men, but rather made them her slaves, raped them, and killed them. She was the only woman with that power” (227). This identification is found in the choice of burial dress that Sofie picks for her mother, a crimson red dress that also reinforces Sofie and her mother’s connection to the Caco name. The caco is described as a bird whose blood rushes to its neck and wings upon its death. It is appropriate that Sofie equates her mother with this bird because, like a bird in flight, Martine has, in death, found her freedom from the torments of her earthly life.