She leaves behind her daughter Effia, and some believe that she also curses her daughter by doing this. This motif begins when Maame sets the fire that allows her to escape the place where she lived in captivity. In some African cultures, stones were even believed to carry the spirit of ancestors, which goes along with the theme of cultural heritage passed down through family.` Fire (Motif)įire is the motif that links people in Effia's lineage. A stone also has little value in itself, so the preciousness comes only from its connection to family and history. The stone is a dark black, and in the story, many characters are judged for their skin color, not only by white people but also by black people who have lighter or darker skin than them. The stone itself symbolizes many important themes of Homegoing. Perhaps it could be said that Marcus, Esi's final descendant in the book, connects with the stone again when he visits the Cape Coast Castle as a young adult. Esi's stone, in contrast, is left behind in the dungeon at Cape Coast Castle. Effia's stone is passed down through the family all the way to Marjorie, the last descendant of Effia in the book. Though these daughters never meet, the stones connect their stories. Maame gives each of her daughters, Esi and Effia, a black stone. We read every chapter, identify the key takeaways and analyze them for your convenience.Buy Study Guide The Black Stones (Symbol) With Instaread, you can get the key takeaways, summary and analysis of a book in 15 minutes. Analysis of the themes and author's style.Inside this Instaread summary of Homegoing:

She knows that as long as people think Effia is premenstrual, she won't be permitted to marry a Fante man, per tribal customs.

But to prevent Effia from marrying him, Baaba tells Effia that she must hide the blood from her first period. Effia wants to marry Abeeku Badu, who is in line to be chief. In 1775, when Effia is young, British soldiers from the Cape Coast Castle come to the village.

Her adoptive mother, Baaba, immediately resents her, because Effia is the daughter of her father Cobbe's house girl. Effia is born in the late 18th century in Fanteland on Africa's Gold Coast, on the night of a devastating fire near her father's compound.

The novel begins with the stories of two African half-sisters of the Fante and Asante tribes: Effia and Esi. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi is a novel in stories about the Atlantic slave trade and its aftermath. Please note: This is summary and analysis of the book and not the original book.

Homegoing cliff notes