Aline Cajuste Character Analysis in The Dew Breaker

Aline Cajuste is a young Haitian American woman who is a recent college graduate and journalism intern at the Haitian American Weekly. Reeling from her recent breakup with a much older girlfriend who was a professor, Aline goes to interview Beatrice about her business and retirement. Born in Somerville, Massachusetts, Danticat notes that Aline has had quite a sheltered life. At first Aline dismisses Beatrice as “a bit nutty,” but over the course of their interview she develops a deeper and more sympathetic interest in her and decides she wants to learn more about profoundly traumatized people like her.

Aline Cajuste Character Timeline in The Dew Breaker

The timeline below shows where the character Aline Cajuste appears in The Dew Breaker. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Diaspora, Interconnection, and Haunting Theme Icon

...a young Haitian American girl with dreadlocks and a nose ring, who introduces herself as Aline Cajuste. Beatrice, a bridal seamstress, is a small woman, but has a loud voice. She... (full context)

Aline has a girlfriend who’s 30 years older than her, a psychology professor at Florida International... (full context)

When Marjorie heard that Beatrice was retiring, she sent Aline to profile her. Beatrice comments that if only Aline had written the paper before she... (full context)

...at the fact that the dress is always the center of attention at every wedding. Aline asks if Beatrice has ever been married, and Beatrice replies that it is rude to... (full context)

When Beatrice points to the house of a Haitian prison guard, Aline asks where he works, thinking about the fact that there are no prisons nearby. Beatrice... (full context)

Aline asks Beatrice what she will do after retirement, and Beatrice says she plans to move... (full context)

After the interview, Aline calls Marjorie and tells her Beatrice seems “a bit nutty.” Sitting in her car, Aline... (full context)

When Aline returns to Beatrice’s house, she finds Beatrice unbraiding her cornrows. Aline says that the house... (full context)