Sophie

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Recommended: Symbolism of blood

The symbolism of blood and color red was intermingled throughout the novel. I found the symbolism of the family name being Caco was telling. The Caco was described as a bird so scarlet it looked like fire when they died. This color red and blood was mentioned throughout the book and had different meanings. I felt the overriding thought was the suffering of women in the Haitian culture. To be a woman you must expect to see the color red and blood in particular.
There was a parable of a woman that kept bleeding from her unbroken skin. To make it stop she had to go to the god “Erzulie”. She was told she had to give up being a woman to stop bleeding. Her only options were to be turned into an animal or a plant. The women chose to be a butterfly. She made her decision based on what creature would be in captivity or be free. She chose the butterfly as this was also a transformation and liberation from the oppression of being a women.
Blood also is what tied all of the women in Sophie’s life together. There was a part of the novel where Sophie was discussing with her therapist her trip bac...

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