Minerva, The Hero of In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez

Minerva and finds this. She decides to burn it because if Minerva saw it she would go with Lío.

In the novel, Marta who got pregnant by rap did not want her child. When Cande and Chayo offered to take the child; Marta agreed that it would be a good idea. At this point in time, Chayo got pregnant and decided to not take Marta's child. Marta became very angry so she went to Remedios, but she said she could not help her. Due to the fact that Remedios could not help her she searched for el brujo. In this case, "Marta had gone to el brujo and placed a curse on him" (Benítez 110). She was extremely angry at

When he got sick trying to protect their land, his Abuelita asked to take him home but refused and answered, “no, no, no. I want to help Mami with her dream house” (128). Carlos had wanted to prove to his mother that he wants her to stay badly, even if it could cost him his life.

“Beat me!” he heard her cry. “Throw me down and beat me, you dirty little coward!”

It was during these riots that Santana’s parents Pedro and Esperanza were attacked. After being beaten, Pedro was arrested by local police for being a Zoot Suitor.

The main focus in this story is on the two words that she said to El Mulato that cursed him. This shows that you can’t be so quick to judge

degree." (66). Minerva rejects Trujillo's advances by saying this as he comes on to her. She asks

her nation. She said no when everyone else said yes. Minerva is an ordinary girl but she

Alvarez shows many different ways a dictator affects both politics and daily life. People were afraid to say Trujillo’s name in an uncomplimentary way in fear of the consequences if someone were to hear and it get back to him. They were also afraid of being murdered in public for even threatening him. Trujillo was a harsh man so when Minerva says,” and I can see my hand in an endless slow motion rise---a mind all its own and come down on the astonished, made up face,”(she slaps him)(Alvarez 100) later in the book his revenge is for her to not be able to get her licence. Cruel right, but that is what happened when you messed with Trujillo. She also shows the sisters religions throughout the book, mainly Patria’s. Patria is the most religious sister and goes through the most

life and the encouragement she has brought to so many people. She encountered many hardships

Time of The Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, yes. She was a heroine in a small, yet

However, Minerva’s religion did not affect her actions so much as Antigone’s did. Antigone went against her king’s direct orders because she felt that she had a responsibility to the gods. On the other hand, Minerva grew up in a religious family and went to a Catholic school, but her actions were not based on a religious idea. Rather, Minerva sacrificed her life because she believed in freedom. However, both women had differing opinions than that of their leader, and gave their lives in an attempt to make their voice heard.

Within the book there are numerous occasions in which Minerva, the oldest sister, sacrifices something in the name of freedom. One example is, Minerva giving her son to her sister to care for him, Dede was shocked when “Minerva came to [her] with six month old Manolito and asked [her] to keep him” (Alvarez 155). This instance was one of the main

she believes is right and will also go to the next level to do the things she wants to do. Minerva

in a lot of trouble. Minerva argued, "I'm not interested in admirers until I have my law