Let Us Descend

There are two types of weapons depicted in this text: Sasha’s spears and Mama Aza’s awl, the latter of which was carved from a sliver of elephant tusk. Both weapons symbolize strength and agency, and their presence emphasizes how such traits are passed down by the women in Annis’s family. Although Mama Aza, Sasha, and Annis are trained to use weapons in combat, ultimately their most effective weapons are their own resilience and their incredible strength of will. Trapped in the hole and unable to free herself by removing the grate, Annis remembers the awl, safely tucked into its place in her hair. Believing herself to be “the weapon” in this moment, she uses the awl to pick the grate’s locking mechanism. This is a powerful moment of self-discovery for her, as she comes to the realization that her own fortitude and resourcefulness are enough to help her break free.

These weapons serve two purposes for Annis. The first is protection in the immediate, literal sense. Sasha’s history in the home of her enslaver has been marked by sexual violence, and Annis is the product of a series of sexual assaults by the man who is only ever referred to in the text as Annis’s “sire.