Rape Tradition in the Breath, Eyes, Memory A main theme that I believe this book repeats is the idea that people will blindly follow traditions long-standing simply because it's "expected." For example, Aunt Atie felt obligated to take care of her mother. It was the tradition of the oldest women in the family in Haiti. Aunt Atie was obviously irritated by this duty, but she felt it was her obligation as a member of this family. Sophie's mother, on the other hand, freed herself from this tradition and was able to move to New York. Sophie's mother was also tormented by the fact that her mother blindly followed the obligations she was taught. It is tradition in Haiti that the moment a girl reaches puberty, she must be ritually "tested" for her purity. These tests were unknowingly psychologically damaging to girls, but no one ever questioned these tests. It was simply a tradition. Sophie's mother was only able to avoid this test because she was raped, which she calls "the only good thing that came from my rape." Aunt Atie would have shouted to protest against this purity test. However, when Sophie became an adult, her mother still gave her these tests, by tradition, even though she was aware of the mental damage these tests could have on young women. I realize that every culture has its own traditions that seem strange to outside cultures. For example, the book mentions an Ethiopian woman who undergoes sex therapy due to the mutation ritual performed on her by her elders. I just think that when it comes to rituals and traditions like these, the question should not be whether it is a tradition or not, but rather whether it is morally and ethically unacceptable. I don't understand how a mother could do something harmful or painful to her child. The book's explanation for preserving the girl's purity is that when the girl gets married, her family can save face by making the girl pure. I think these tests just make it very clear to young women that they are not trusted to do the right thing or to tell the truth...