What are the motifs in Cane River by Lalita Tademy?

Dreams are a motif in the story. The women of the story are living incredibly difficult lives, especially going back to the beginning of the story and looking at Elisabeth, Suzette, Palmire and Philomene during their years as slaves. Suzette is taken from the slave quarters as a young child and raised in the plantation house, where she serves as "nurse" and companion to the young lady of the house. This could account for some of Suzette's dreams, but it seems just as likely that the desire to create a better life for herself is an integral part of her personality.