In The Time Of Butterflies Culture Essay

Julia Alvarez’s main message being conveyed in her novel “In the Time of the Butterflies” written in 1995, is that freedom comes at the price of bravery and sacrifice. Throughout the novel, The Mirabal Sisters are at a constant fight for the freedom of themselves, their family, and even their country. They learn to use courage and make sacrifices for the sake of their family and the revolution they are involved in. The acts of courage and sacrifice that exude through this novel illustrate Julia Alvarez’s message that freedom is something that must be fought for.

The monarch butterfly, as known as Danaus plexippus, is often called the milkweed butterfly because its larvae eat the milkweed plant. They are also sometimes called "royalty butterflies" because their family name comes from the daughter of Danaus, ruler of Argos. There are many other interesting facts about this butterfly including its anatomy and life cycle, where the butterfly lies on the food chain, the migration from Canada to Mexico, why the butterfly is being threatened, and lastly, what is being done to help the butterfly.

     The monarch butterfly, as known as Danaus plexippus, is often called the milkweed butterfly because its larvae eat the milkweed plant. They are also sometimes called "royalty butterflies" because their family name comes from the daughter of Danaus, ruler of Argos. There are many other interesting facts about this butterfly including its anatomy and life cycle, where the butterfly lies on the food chain, the migration from Canada to Mexico, why the butterfly is being threatened, and lastly, what is being done to help the butterfly.

Patria is exposed to the truth that Trujillo was not the god-like entity she perceived him to be. In Patria’s mind there is no separation between god and Trujillo; they are one. Patria is finally coming face to face with the problems within the Dominican Republic. This revelation foreshadows how Patria will become involved with the regime and what part she might play.

Throughout the novel In the Time of the Butterflies, Julia Alvarez utilizes the characters Patria, Maria Teresa, and Minerva, to display the daily struggles of women in the Dominican Republic who are fighting in a patriarchal and oppressive society against the regime. All that the Mirabal sisters have ever know is a world where they are thought of as inferior to men. Where male authority defines who they are; women trapped in a community where their voices don’t matter and they should be seen and not heard. As perceived in the novel, Alvarez uses figurative language as well as the theme of oppression to describe the fact that Dominican women are sexulized based upon their apperances.

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” (Andre Gide) In the novel, In the Time of the Butterflies, written by Julia Alvarez, four sisters are led through a risk infested journey in which they must overcome hindrances with hollow consequences. This historical fiction novel takes us through a rollercoaster of events, incorporating everything from the partialities towards women, to life below the oppressive administration of the Dominican Republic’s dictator, Rafael Trujillo. The events painted by the four sisters give us some insight as to the positives and negatives of life in the Dominican Republic. As the novel progresses, we see the diversity in relation to the

The Mirabal sisters were instrumental in the toppling of Rafael Trujillo’s regime in the Dominican Republic. Julia Alvarez uses Las Mariposas to exhibit different ways in which people can become politicized in times of revolution. She uses these women for several reasons: they are well known, and while they all had the same up bringing they all hold different values. The Mirabal sisters became politicized in different ways and for different reasons. Minerva became a revolutionary when she saw that her country was unjust. Mate became a revolutionary when she see’s that love is not alienated in the rebellion and that her help is needed. Patria became a revolutionary when her faith was rekindled and her faith becomes apart of the revolution.

Julia Alvarez’s book, in the time of the butterflies is set in the Dominican republic- small country that shares an island with haiti .The dominican republic was under dictatorship for 31 years.The brutal dictator Trujillo was in power from 1930-1961.His dictatorship was very oppressive. He had secret police and spie everywhere he didn’t give the citizens, especially women any basic freedoms. Julia Alvarez was born in the dominican republic durican this time , but her family was able to move to the united states. She wrote the novel, In the time of the Butterflies to honor three very strong women from her home country. Julia Alvarez explains the way society was in the dominican republic in her book, In the Time of the Butterflies.

Structure is salient, especially in literature. So much can be revealed solely through the way a novel is written. Two prime examples of this are Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman and In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez. Alternating points of view are present in both, and that detail exposes connections between two seemingly unrelated novels. Although Richard Mayhew and Dedé Mirabal are two very different characters, they share the struggle of loss and a lack of ipseity, but are resilient and overcome their hardships, which is shown constantly throughout each novel.

In The Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, three of four Mirabal sisters are murdered because of their opposition to the government. The surviving sister lives to tell their story. The first four chapters come from the perspective of each sister years before they joined the revolution against Rafael Trujillo's dictatorship in the Dominican Republic. I picked this book to read because I have always been interested in the story of these sisters and what they have contributed to Dominican history. I have only read the first four chapters, but I am already enjoying the book. What impressed me the most is how Alvarez describes how different in personality each of the sisters are. The oldest sister is Patria, who is very religious. She almost

The Dominican culture is also very centered around faith and the catholic religion. In the book, religion is a powerful force in the politics. Trujillo associates himself with God with the

The setting in the two novels plays important roles in both of the plots. In The Butterfly Revolution, the setting shifts in the very beginning of the story. In the journal Winston Weyn receives for his birthday from his uncle, he describes his home. Winston also shares with us that from his parents he half-heartedly accepted a trip to High Pines for the summer. Winston was not like most boys, and instead of playing baseball and doing things that most boys do, he read books. This bothered his brother Howard, which just encouraged Winston to read more and more. His father and mother, both concerned, had multiple talks with Winston but none of these talks resulted in anything. “And here I am, sitting on a thin and kind of smelly narrow mattress on my bunk in a cabin at High Pines” (22). He went from the comfort of his own bed to the smelly mattress of High Pines. The central conflict of the story begins at the camp. This shift of setting allows the real story to begin. Later in the novel, the setting shifts again. Some of the boys begin to venture off into the girls camp, or Low Pines. After the revolution has begun, they take over the girl camp, also. If the girls’ camp was not involved, two out of the three deaths would have been prevented. John Mason would not have died under the

In the book “ In the Time of the Butterflies,” the author describes the lives of four revolutionary sisters in the Dominican Republic. These sisters were Dede, Patria, Maria Teresa, and Minerva Mirabal. Minerva was the one who stood out the most to me. The passion she had and showed made her sound like a sacrificial leader. Minerva was the type to stand up for what she believed in. Rafael Trujillo was the leader of the Dominican Republic, whatever he say or want to be changed it changes. He was a brutal dictator. Minerva showed him that she is brave and strong. In the book she stated “ I was the one always standing up to him”. When she needed his help she buttered him up into making a deal with her. The Mirabal sisters will always be a

Even though the acts of the Mirabal sisters are based on true events, Julia Alvarez gives a fictional voice to capture and remember the spirit of their memory and carry out their legacy. Alvarez argues “a novel is not, after all, a historical document, but a way to travel through the human heart” (Alvarez 324). Alvarez successfully does this in her historical fiction novel, In the Time of the Butterflies, by enticing her readers and transporting them as if they were a part of the Mirabal family.

Julia Alvarez is a contemporary Dominican writer, whose work ranges from poetry, short stories, essays, and novels. Alvarez’s work touches upon issues of migration, history, stereotypes, empowerment of Latin women, and the differing ideology of American and Dominican culture. She provides a strong voice and perspective for Latin women, and teaches other ethnicities in America about Latin culture. She uses a variety of words and phrases in her native language Spanish, as well as Spanglish and English. In 1991, Alvarez published a novel, “How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent.” The novel captures the struggle of four sisters who leave their home in the Dominican Republic and reside in the U.S. as refugees. Similarly, in 1994, Alvarez published another novel, “In the Time of the Butterflies.” The novel captures the hardships the Mirabel sisters succumb to. The Mirabel sisters found the underground movement in opposition to the dictator Trujillo. In 2000, Alvarez published another novel, “In the Name of Salome.” The novel captures the oppression of an older woman and her daughter. Many of Alvarez’s novels and poems resemble her life and the history of her beloved country, Dominican Republic.