Chapter 9 - Sojeme, Sojeme Summary and Analysis

In this chapter, we learn more about Maggie's life and her struggles when it becomes her turn to serve the spirits. Maggie is hospitalized with a mystery illness, something the doctors are unable to properly diagnose or cure - a sure sign of illness caused by the spirits. Alourdes is naturally worried about her daughter, but possibly more so than in a normal mother-daughter situation. We learn in this chapter that Maggie is almost more like a sister to Alourdes, someone upon who she relies heavily in her work as a manbo. Alourdes calls the spirits to help her daughter. Maggie tells the story of losing a po-tet (an important item in Vodou initiation rituals.) while in Haiti, and subsequently having a dream of being pursued by the spirits and meeting them with resistance. Alourdes...