The Mirabal Sisters In In The Time Of The Butterflies

In the book Alvarez informs us that this takes place during Trujillo 's reign over the Dominican Republic in the 1930’s to the 1960’s. Throughout history dictators have risen and fallen all across the world. Many have been seen as evil, and sometimes good to others, but no matter what a persons view tend to be there are some who even consider them god. Due to a dictators extensive powers and complete control over every aspect of a persons life this is what comes to be. Trujillo is just the same, at first his true motives were questioned and it wasn’t apparent to all what he really was. As the Mirabel sisters grow up it becomes clear that Trujillo is in control of more of their lives than it may seemed. Trujillo leads a complete authoritarian rule over the Dominican Republic with spies everywhere, this can suggest that he trying to assume the role of a terrible god, who is always watching and ready to punish. While all

The Mirabal sisters never thought they would grow up to fight for their freedom, but as they

Out from the kitchen and into the world, women are making a better name for themselves. Although humankind tends to be male dominated, men are not the only species that inhabit the world that they live on. In Julia Alvarez's novel In the Time of the Butterflies, the women of the Dominican Republic are expected to grow up to be housewives and lacking a formal education. Women may be cherished like national treasures, but they are not expected to fulfill their truest potentials as human beings.

Believing that there are things worth risking your life for is a quality that is well respected.

In the Time of the Butterflies during the 1940s, in the Dominican Republic, the ruler or dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo punished people if they didn’t do as he told them and plenty of other cruel things. He ruled for about 30 years, so the people were tortured for quite a long time. He became the dictator by eliminating everyone who had power above him. He even married his wives just to use them to get the the top and control everyone. It was just an unfair way to handle things and an unfair country overall. In her book, “In the Time of the Butterflies,” Julia Alvarez incorporates the history of the famous Mirabal sisters by telling the history of their life and how it was back then for their Dominican Republic country. Julia Alvarez

“That moment, I understood her hatred. My family had not been personally hurt by Trujillo, just as before losing my baby, Jesus had not taken anything away from me. But others had been suffering great losses…” This quote was stated by Patria in relation to religion. “I had heard, but I had not believed. Snug in my heart, fondling my pearl, I had ignored their cries of desolation. How could our loving, all-powerful Father allow us to suffer so? I looked up, challenging Him. And the two faces had merged!” she went on. Patria had begun struggling to keep her faith in God after she had lost her baby. She shows her disbelief in how callously God is behaving toward her. Throughout In the Time of the Butterflies, Julia Alvarez’s Patria Mirabal develops from and optimistic young Catholic girl to a woman who doubts.

This is one of the first time someone directly calls the Mirabal sisters “Butterflies” and it shows directly how Dede feels about being famous. The country thought that they were Butterflies; happy, free, and too innocent to ever be harmed but the family knew that this wasn't true and their terror was not perceived by the people. "9. “Chapter Nine: Dede” “‘How can you say that about Papa?’ Dede could feel her voice Rising ‘How can you let her say that about Papa?’

In the novel In the Time of the Butterflies, written by Julia Alvarez, one of the main characters, Minerva, shows many different types of courage throughout the whole story. The novel is about the true story of how a family is dominated by their countries dictator and the daughters attempt to free themselves and their family.

Minvera Mirabal stood as a symbol of revolution to those who wanted to see the downfall of Rafael Trujillo. Her and two of her three sisters were advocates of the revolution until the sad ending of the story in which the three sisters were killed in a car crash. But before the ending of the Mirabal sisters can be discussed, the life of Minerva and the point she developed her political principles must be addressed.

In some cases butterflies represent beauty, freedom, and imagery. In the Time of the Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez, The Mirabal sisters represent honor and freedom by the way they react in the book. An example of Minerva Mirabal exemplifying freedom is when she says, “I stare at Manuel de Moya as if pinning him to the wall. ‘I’d sooner jump out that window than be forced to do something against my honor’” (111). This quote explains how Minerva will stick for her true roots, and will not ever do anything to dishonor her family. Minerva and the rest of the Mirabal sisters do what they think is right and will do whatever it takes to stay true to what they believe in. Another example of the Mirabal sisters representing a butterfly is when

“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

There are many instances of Foster’s How to Read Literature Like a Professor being applicable to In the Time of the Butterflies. One such instance of this is the appearance of the bible in the novel. Religion had a large impact on the Mirabal sisters, especially Patria who was more in touch with her religion than the other sisters. This is increasingly apparent in her views of Pedrito who she calls her earthly groom. Also, Trujillo is similar to a god through his use of spies, through which he can see everything, and his authoritative rule over the Dominican Republic.

Although the sisters joined the revolt to stop Trujillo, they also joined to make the Dominican Republic a better place. During their involvement with the rebels, the sisters became known as The Butterflies, because they were a sign of hope and change. The sisters had a unique characteristic that they sparked a change in people. Rufino, their driver, said, “A Dio’ Dona Dedé, you think I’ll let anything happen to the butterflies? They’ll have to kill me first” (269). Rufino said he would give his life so save the sisters during their prison break of the men captured by Trujillo. Rufino was willing to put his life on the line for the Butterflies, because he knew they were a symbol for their movement due to their dedication towards a better future.

The Courage of the Mariposas Everyone thirsts to be fearless. In the American novel, In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, the people of the Dominican Republic, afraid and suffering under the dictatorship of Trujillo, look to the Mirabal sisters as fearless. In truth, they were not, yet that makes their story all the more inspiring: they were human and afraid, though they stood up against the tyranny and their hardships regardless. They were able to do this because their courage came from love.

I convict that the bravest and most dedicated of the Mirabal sisters is Minerva. I felt as if Minerva had a good heart and fought for what she believed in. she was not afraid of anything. But her other sisters, Maria Teresa, Dede, and Patria were not as brave as Minerva. But all four sisters contributed to help get rid of Trujillo, and for this reason they are very famous in history. They were given the name “Las Mariposas” (the butterflies), and a lot of times, people would whisper to them “viva las Mariposas” (long live the butterflies). People would say this to the sisters because they were some of the few citizens willing to stop Trujillo.