What Makes a Heroine in Julia Alvarez's In the Time of the Butterflies

Minerva is the most involved with the revolution. She makes rebellious friends and she wants

even died for this cause. Minerva Mirabal is a heroine because of the way she stood up to

Minerva was a truly incredible person. She was just as ordinary as anyone else, but

Courage is an important trait that needs to be present in order to affect change. The book in the time of butterflies by Julia Alvarez demonstrates this need for courage in the story of the four Mirabal sisters who acted with courage to create change in the Dominican Republic. They do this by showing great courage in the face of oppression. Minerva was one of the bravest of the Mirabal sisters. She shows: moral, intellectual, emotional, and physical courage throughout her life. These are demonstrated in her leadership and her heroic actions of resistance. Some of her main sources of courage were her childhood friends, her family, her sense of justice, and desire for equality. She shows courage repeatedly sticking up for what is right despite of threats,

A courageous action most often is associated with reaching a goal or task of importance, despite the dangers even risks associated with it (“Courage”). For any specific act to be considered truly courageous it must be reasonably thought about and determined that the goal is well worth the risk or danger (“Courage”). Courage so often can be put with words such as heroic, and bravery although with courage there can be a fine line between courageous acts and plain foolishness. All this can make people believe that courage only applies to physical actions. There are two kinds of courage moral and physical in many cases they are both displayed in a single courageous act; however, bravery must come before all else, because they are associated with reaching a task of importance regardless of risk.

As a young child, Minerva Mirabal always spoke her mind, despite her mother’s wishes that she would bite her tongue but Minerva would argue that women deserve to have a voice in their country, the Dominican Republic, as well. The time in which this story is set is during the regime of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo, a strict dictator with suffocating policies. Brutal oppression of actual or perceived members of any opposition was the main focus of Trujillo's rule. If any person spoke out against Trujillo, they were almost immediately assassinated. However, young Minerva possessed strong opinions mostly about the treatment of women, but this would eventually change to become a complete revolt against Trujillo and his policies. Minerva’s coming of age was over a period of time and the biggest change wasn’t directly stated in the novel. Sinita and Lio both played major roles in pushing Minerva to revolt against Trujillo, Sinita passionately telling Minerva of the cruelties of Trujillo and how it affected her family and Lio being a young professor at the university that

When you hear of the Mirabal sisters, which sister comes to mind first? When thinking of a hero, Minerva comes to mind first. She was a hero to many. In In The Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, Minerva's actions symbol courage, love, and sacrifice. Minerva was a strong individual that knew how to stand for what she believed in. She was mature and responsible. Minerva stood up to Trujillo, had a mindset to go to law school, and was favorited by her parents.

It would take a lot of nerve to even think about creating a revolution. Even after Minerva got out of jail, she said “The butterflies were not about to give up, we had suffered a set back but we had not been beaten,” this quote showed that Minerva would do whatever it takes to get the men out of prison, even if it is risking her life. Though it was not just the men she wanted to get, she wanted to get everyone’s right to have freedom. Minerva was tired of Trujillo making all the rules without anyone else’s opinion. She was at her limit of doing anything it would take. At this point she became fearless.

Minerva is a great women and is really appreciated in her city. Minerva took the

Minerva is in no way a push-over. This is hero-like quality to have, she stands up for what

Courage is not simply about how well you deal with fear, how many noble deeds you accomplish, or how you overcome life threatening situations. Courage is the practice of determination and perseverance. Kate Bornstein transforms everyday life with tremendous courage. With skillful criticism of rigid socially defined boundaries, an intense sense of language and revealing personal experiences, Bornstein challenges cultural attitudes about gender.

After both Minerva and Mate, her younger sister, join the revolution, they find themselves in jail very quickly. “We're in Cell #61, Pavilion A, La Victoria—Dulce, Miriam, Violeta, Asela, Delia, Sina, Minerva, and [Mate]”(Alvarez 228). Minerva knows from the beginning that by joining the rebels, she will most likely end up in jail; however, she continues to do what she believes is right for her country. Nevertheless, once when they are inevitably imprisoned, Minerva never lets her courage falter as Mate wonders, “Where does that sister of mine get her crazy courage? (Alvarez 238).” This yet again proves her strength and also her faith in the power of the revolution. Many in the Dominican Republic stay quiet when it comes to Trujillo’s tyrannical rule because they are afraid of being thrown in jail and being kept from their families. Despite this great fear, Minerva knows that it would be worth the sacrifice and she uses her extreme courage and blinding faith to make it

Courage is crucial to be able to overcome obstacles and help others. Courage is a big theme in The Outsiders. For example, Ponyboy showed a lot of courage when he decided to fight in the rumble. He wasn’t in good shape as he had lost weight and was very tense. However, he fought in the rumble regardless to show his gang that he

Courage or the act of being courageous is something that can depict if a person is being weak. This act ties into the classic tale when identifying the strength it took Sundiata to walk. Sundiata was at an age where other young boys were gathering objects for their mothers and he simply could not, due to the fact that he was unable to walk. However, “In a great effort he straightened up and was on his feet at one go, but the great bar of iron was twisted and had taken the form of a bow.” (Page 21) A boy who once couldn't walk was now walking. He who once had to depend on his mother can now be the one his mother depends on. Thus, “ When Sogolon saw her son standing she stood dumb for a moment, then suddenly she sang these words of thanks to god who had given her son the use of his legs”. (Page 21) Sogolon was so discouraged to the point where the sight of her son’s slow development became an embarrassment. She soon became joyful of the courage

Minerva sat in the tub soaking for what seemed like hours, she could feel the minutes slink to hours, then depress into a void of ambiguity. Hammering away in her workshop Minerva had pieced the final magnetic coil into the rifles barrel, suddenly feeling woozy, as her vision begin to become hazy, there was a loud crash and then stillness. Sitting upon her mighty throne on the planetary fortress known as Strugar the huge planet was made of metal, devised for a single purpose to be a place without the peering eyes of others no personnel was allowed on this planet