The Farming Of Bones

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1998

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Chapters 22-24Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 22 Summary

Rosalinda is baptized. After she exits the church, Señora Valencia holds Rosalinda up for Amabelle to kiss, but Señor Pico yanks Señora Valencia and the baby away from Amabelle’s touch. That night, Kongo visits Amabelle, bringing her a papier-mâché mask of Joël’s face as an “offering” (120). She offers him food, which he accepts, and then begins talking about his past, telling Amabelle about his business selling masks and the love he has for his deceased wife. He then reveals that he is there to deliver Sebastien’s marriage proposal. He says Sebastien doesn’t want “to waste more time” after the incident at the ravine and explains he has come in lieu of Sebastien’s dead father (122). He compares Amabelle to Félice, saying he wishes Joël found a woman like Amabelle, instead of Félice. Amabelle defends Félice, but to no avail. Before exiting, Kongo asks if Papi has asked to see him again. When he realizes he hasn’t, he says he is “not surprised […] my son has already vanished from his thoughts” (124).

Amabelle heads to see Sebastien but ends up being pursued by a small group of stonemasons who have formed a “brigade,” in case any of the ruling class attempt to attack them at night. One of the stonemasons mentions that he is leaving before “talk turns to bloodshed” (125), but Unèl insists that he is going to “stay and fight” since he has done nothing wrong (126). Amabelle thinks they’re being ridiculous, but they insist that “times have changed” (126). When she gets to Sebastien’s, he and Yves bicker about what to do with some unused wood Papi had given Sebastien for Joël’s coffin. Sebastien and Amabelle then lay down on his mat together. He shows her that Yves has been talking in his sleep ever since Joël’s death. The next day, she reflects on how deep her love is for Sebastien.

Chapter 23 Summary

Amabelle has nightmares about both a sugar woman and her parents’ death. The sugar woman wears a muzzle, which she tells Amabelle was put on to keep her from eating the sugarcane. She dances and teases Amabelle. Amabelle then reveals that Sebastien sometimes wearies of protecting her from her nightmares.

Chapter 24 Summary

On the morning of Señor Pico’s departure, Señor Pico has Señora Valencia practice shooting a rifle. He insists that times have changed and even with Papi and Luis around, she needs to be able to defend herself. At one point, she almost accidentally shoots Amabelle. When Señor Pico leaves, he avoids Rosalinda, part of his growing aversion to his daughter. After he’s gone, Papi seems skeptical of Señor Pico’s military zest and mentions his feelings to Señora Valencia, who retorts that Señor Pico is “a good man” (138).

Chapters 22-24 Analysis

In these chapters, the spotlight is on the negative aspects of males. Even the male characters who have exhibited tenderness and insight thus far start to show their moral failings. Papi appears to have forgotten, or at least made a low priority, of making amends with Kongo over Joël’s death. Sebastien reveals that he is sometimes annoyed by Amabelle’s emotional needs. Kongo, who at almost every turn has appeared wise and loving, seems unjustifiably hateful towards his son’s lover, Félice. However, more than any other male character, Señor Pico’s true colors start to show. For most of the men in this book, their failures amount to a crack in an otherwise beautiful, if stressed, foundation, but for Señor Pico, the whole edifice appears to be evil. He shuns and ignores his only remaining (and female) child, he is violently and unabashedly racist, he shows little regard for human life, he is maniacal about his military standing, and he makes little to no effort to care about his wife.