Blog Post 7
Quote 1- “One of these people will find my story and pass it
along. And then, I believe, I will have lived for a reason” (Hill, 118)
I believe
this quote is very significant to the novel because it describes Aminatas
character very well. It gives the reader the sense that she really wants to
become a djeli (Storyteller). It also tells the reader that she is selfless
because she just wants someone to know her story and that it would give her
peace if someone knew what she had to endure throughout her entire lifetime.
Quote 2- “They called me Blue Glass Gal when they saw me
coming, and the bottles that I traded changed hands among other buyers and
sellers” (Hill 247)
This is
another important quote because it builds a sense of identity for Aminata. This
quote is located just after we discover that many of Aminatas friends have
passed away, so when people start calling her by this name it adds to the motif
of, someone knows my name.
Quote 3- ““Aminata?” It was a man’s voice, whispering.
I stopped. When
had someone last called me by my African name?
As Chekura
reached the top step, I flew into his arms. When my hands pressed against his
back and my toes rested above his, I felt my childhood in his flesh and my
homeland in his voice.” (Hill 247)
This quote
is important to the story because it develops the love between Chekura and
Aminata. The fact that they can go nine years without seeing each other and
they still have the same passion says a lot about their relationship and how
much they love each other. Another reason why this quote is important is
because it also develops the motif of someone knows my name. this is because
nobody calls her by her African name anymore so when Chekura says her real name
she automatically knows who is talking to her.
Quote 4- - “I had
not thought about where to sleep or eat when I was first brought to St. Helena,
Charles Town or even New York. Here, I had nothing and knew no one to ask for
assistance. But I had chosen freedom, with all its insecurities, and nothing in
the world would make me turn away from it.” (Hill 352)
This is another significant quote
because it demonstrates how even though she had no idea what she was going to
do when she was freed; Aminata still chose freedom, with all its insecurities.
When she arrives in Nova Scotia she learns that she is free but is treated very
unequally, but the conditions are still better than when she was enslaved.
Quote 5- “Some
people will give you the cold shoulder in Shelbourne, but I believe in treating
each person on his merits” (Hill 321)
Theo, a man that Aminata first meets
in this chapter, said this quote and it is important because, in my opinion,
this quote has traits of Soloman Lindo. This is my thought because Lindo had
the same kind of thinking, in that, he believed in treating everyone the same
and with dignity. Therefore, this may be dangerous for Aminata getting tangled
up with someone possibly like Soloman Lindo.
