42 pages 1 hour read

Edwidge Danticat

The Farming Of Bones

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1998

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Chapters 19-21Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 19 Summary

Amabelle describes a cave behind a waterfall where she and Sebastien first “made love” (100). She says the cave stays light even when night has fallen. She wishes this impervious light will reach those who have recently died, as well as reach her parents.

Chapter 20 Summary

Despite several offers to help him, Señor Pico insists on digging his son’s grave. Señora Valencia wants to join but Juana convinces her she needs to care for Rosalinda. Señora Valencia begs Juana to talk about Señora Valencia’s mother and Juana concedes, describing her as a happy mother and, after some initial hesitancy, a happy wife. Amabelle leaves to go to Sebastien’s and stops by Don Carlos’s compound on the way, in order to try and speak with Kongo. Félice is sitting outside his lodgings and announces he will not let her in, but he allows Amabelle in. Kongo tells Amabelle how helpful Sebastien has been to him. She explains that Papi, Señora Valencia’s father, wants to visit him and to pay for Joël’s funeral but Kongo refuses. She goes to Sebastien’s, where they tussle over Sebastien smiling at Rafi’s death. He is angry that she is so defensive of the folks she works for and walks her back to stay the night with them.