Farming Of Bones Themes

Noa Garson

Crowther

English 9 Honors

12 January 2023

Physical touch is particularly significant because it emphasizes the value of interpersonal relationships and how we rely on one another for comfort and support. The theme of physical touch runs throughout Danticat's work, The Farming of Bones. This novel is about the 1937 Haitian Parsley Massacre of cane workers in the Dominican Republic. Amabelle, the protagonist, is a Haitian woman who works for a wealthy Dominican family before the massacre. Amabelle's strong sense of self and her capacity for tenacity in the face of adversity are evident throughout the entire book. Amabelle’s affection and how she comforts herself are done through her contact with others. Amabelle associates

First, In Amabelle’s early life, she was immersed in the physical touch of her parents. Her parent's profession was dealing with the constant touch of others. Amabelle closely observed how her parents “would apply hot compresses of boiled plantain leaves to rheumatic joints. Also while watching them “rub oils and poultices of crushed leaves and bark onto the skin”(Danticat 76), she learns how to treat wounds. Amabelle’s detailed descriptions of her parents’ treatments indicate that she was present when they attended to patients. As a result, Amabelle gained a thorough understanding of the healing properties of plants as well as the power of how touch is used to facilitate these healings. The earliest memory that Amabelle can recall of her father is how he “use to pick me [her] and try to throw [her] up in

The first example of affection we saw immediately in the novel was the intimate relationship she shared with her lover, Sebastian Onius. Primarily when describing her relationship with Sebastian there is always that touching aspect, being intercourse or just a subtle touch. The love Sebastian provided for Amabelle allowed her to get through the loss of her parents as well as the other hardships that occur in her life. Sebastian and Amabelle's touch provided a sense of familiarity for one another despite their difficult days. Furthermore, even though Amabelle works for Seńora Valencia they develop a close companionship with each other over time. When Seńora was giving birth it was she who reached out to Amabelle “with [Seńora’s] fingers clinging to mine”. A moment like this highlights their eternal physical connection, “like when [they] were girls and [they] both slept in the same room”(6). Sebastian and Seńora Valencia were the two prominent figures in Amabelle's life to whom she is able to show her true love through the medium of