Narrative Strategies

1) Symbols
The novel is rich in symbols, so only a few can be listed here.

 Language is an important symbol in this novel. The fact that Joseph and
Sophie ‘speak the same language’ is both literal and symbolic: it means
they they understand each other and connect with each other.

 Martine’s doll and photograph of Sophie as a baby are presented as

symbols. Both items are literally present in the room, but they suggest that
Martine has Sophie in a ‘frame’, as it were, and wants to treat her like a
doll. Naturally, Sophie feels that there is no room for both her and the doll
on the bed.

 Colours are used symbolically. The yellow daffodils were planted in Haiti by
French woman: they grow where they do not belong, symbolizing the
transplanted lives of Martine and Sophie. Martine turns from daffodils to
hibiscus and from yellow to red as her favourite colour, signifying that she
embraces her Haitian heritage again. Sophie buries her mother in a red
dress, the colour symbolizing the flaming spirit set free at her death . Red
links her mother with Erzulie.

 Food( particularly Haitian food) becomes a symbol suggesting enjoyment,

community, love and family. Significantly, Sophie develops bulimia- an
eating disorder. She longs for food, but always throws up when she eats.

 Statue of Erzulie. Erzulie is an African goddess who is still revered in Haiti.

Under colonial government, Haitians were introduced to Roman
Catholicism.In Christianity, the Virgin Mary is revered for her simplicity, her
submissive spirit, her patience in suffering. Erzulie is, in many ways,
diametrically opposite to Mary. Danticat describes her as “hot blooded
Erulie who feared no men but rather made them her salves, raped them
 and killed them”. Whereas Mary is usually depicted with her head bowed,
wearing simple, unostentatious clothing, Erzulie wears gorgeous dresses,
jewellery and lots of perfume, and is “ the healer of all women and the
desire of all men”. When Sophie presents the status of Erzulie as their role
model: celebrating their womanhood, and claim their power.

 Cancer is also a symbol. Martine’s breast cancer symbolizes the haunting

memories of the abuse of ‘testing’ and the violent rape by the Tonton
Macoute- experiences that have eaten away at her life and denied her a
future.