“For after all, the best thing one can do when it is raining is let it rain.” ―Henry W. Longfellow. The Mirabal sisters have always struggled somewhere throughout their lives. As Longfellow explained that when its raining its raining like it was during the dinner scene where Minerva danced with Trujillo. Julia Alvarez throughout the book, explains the experiences that each one of the girls have experienced that have been through some sort of challenge. But how did Trujillo truly affect their lives in a negative way throughout his reign in the Dominican Republic? The Mirabal sisters have experienced a struggle that have affected them personally in their decision making. Maria Teresa struggles after discovering her gender codes and societal …show more content…
Then another time, I came in from outside with my hands full of anthuriums. I looked up at him, and I thought why not. I set up a vase on the table right under his picture… I don’t know if that’s how it started, but pretty soon, I was praying to him, not because he was worthy or anything like that. I wanted something from him, and prayer was the only way I knew to ask” (Alvarez 202). Look at what Trujillo did to the society of the Dominican Republic, he brainwashed all the people into what he thinks right, and that's the worst crime you can ever do to a person, which is make them feel powerless and speechless in a society. But also looking at the tone of Partia she does not seemed to be fazed that she is praying to the wrong man, so it seems like she has fallen into the trap of “Trujillo is the one who will get us out of this mess”. Again we see Patria fall in love with the idea that Trujillo and God are together it is as if they merged faces as Patria mentioned before.”Minerva could tell. One day, we were lying side by side on the hammock strung just outside the galería. She must have caught me gazing at our picture of the Good Shepherd, talking to his lambs. Beside him hung the required portrait of El Jefe, touched up to make him look better than he was. “They’re a pair, aren’t they” (Alvarez
In the Time of the Butterflies is a book about 4 sisters, Patria, Dedé, Minerva, and María Teresa. The book is about the three girls growing up and their experiences during the time of the underground movement to overthrow Trujillo. The book was written in memory of Dedé’s 3 sisters who had been ambushed and murdered, which we are aware of since the beginning of the novel. The beginning chapter of the book is describing Dedé as she waits for a woman who is going to interview her about her three sisters, she then goes into a flashback she has of her family talking at the dinner table and her father mentions someone named Trujillo, which then gives a hint at who this book might be formed around. Through the book, we read stories about times in the girls’ lives when they were going to school at Inmaculada Concepcion and being at home and falling in love, as well as there run ins with Trujillo himself.
The Mirabal sisters are three revolutionaries, who were greatly involved in the overthrow of Rafael Trujillo, the dreadful dictator in the Dominican Republic. These courageous sisters at a young age observed countless flaws in Trujillo's regime, including his overpowering nature and the establishment of numerous unjust reforms. Moreover, the Mirabals recognised that it was their obligation to assist and support this revolution in order to terminate this terrible regime, so the sisters immersed themselves into the revolution becoming, Las Mariposas. The sisters were obliged to abandon their children and eventually sacrificed their own lives for this rebellion. However, the sisters are viewed as selfish by numerous people because they abandoned
The church formed a new movement in order to prevent and avenge the deaths of the innocent citizens during Trujillo’s regime. Eventually, Patria and the church proved to be formidable enemies to Trujillo as he remarked, “My only two problems are the damn church and the Mirabal sisters” (281). Thus, showing how at the end, it was due to this love shared between Patria and her kids that led to the establishment of the church, which was crucial to the fall of Trujillo. Although the sisters had created a strong foundation with the church through their love of their children, they further enhanced the rebellion by loving their husbands.
Minerva’s central role in the revolution separates her from her family, and she has to sacrifice so much to save her country from Trujillo, the corrupt president of the Dominican Republic. This leaves her missing her family and wanting nothing more but to be the loving mother to her kids. Although Minerva is tired of leading a double life, she forces herself to confront the inner conflicts that trouble her. Sometimes, she would “lie in bed, thinking, ‘You must gather up the broken threads and tie them together” (267).
The proletariat's fear of Trujillo helped facilitate the hegemony in their society, furthering the difference in class power between Trujillo, and the rest of the Dominican Republic. This is how Trujillo was able to stay dominant and in a position of power for such a long period. In the quote, Maria Teresa said that she was “wanting to be safe” (227). Maria Teresa wanted to be safe because she knew that she was already in danger, due to Trujillo filling her with terror by putting her in prison. Trujillo putting the Mariposas in prison acted as a warning of what he could do to them, their parents, and their families.
In the Dominican Republic, General Rafael Trujillo 's dictatorship is being judged within the eyes of the four Maribal sisters. In the story "In the Time of the butterflies" by Julia Alvarez the four sisters that are all strikingly different, are contemplating on whether to follow along with the anti- Trujillo movement. Minerva being the most dominant one out of all the sisters, is first to follow through against Trujillo. Alvarez involves feminism, rhetorical and literary devises, and portrayed various themes in her novel. Along with showing the strong relationship, and the differences between the four sisters, they showed us readers the true meaning of family.
It happened during the abduction of Beli, Trujillo’s sister appears and told her that his sister is the Gangster’s wife. He said “there are two very large and capable officers are going to take you to a doctor, and after he’s cleaned out that toto podrido of yours there won’t be any left baby to talk about” (Diaz 141). It looks that he did not want that nobody knows about her relation with his brother in law and a lot less that the people know that he cheated on his sister. Also it could be observed that Trujillo did not want that nobody will damage his reputation. Trujillo was a Dictator and the President of Dominican Republic.
Throughout the entire novel, one main conflict is emphasized. The Mirabal family continually struggles to live under and eventually throw off the Trujillo dictatorship while still maintaining a semblance of family. Initially, they are challenged to act as a family obedient to the regime when Trujillo first comes to power. For example, Minerva once slapped Trujillo when he made sexual advances on her despite the intense consequences it could bring. The
In traditional Dominican households, women are expected to play the submissive housewife role. The old-fashioned point of view is that a woman is to be a child bearer and care for her husband’s needs in every way. She is to cook, clean, care for her children and put her husband’s needs above hers. Specifically looking at the story “Fiesta 1980”, the portrayal of the women is shown when Yunior discloses his Papi’s affair with a Puerto Rican woman. “He didn’t say nothing to nobody, not even my moms.
As the eldest sister, Patria is introduced as a motherly figure toward her sisters. She married at a young age and was happy being a wife and mother. Her Christianity is central to her character, and although it was tested due to the death of her stillborn child, a retreat in the mountains with her church group profoundly affects both her faith and her view of the rebellion. At the retreat, Patria witnesses a young rebel, not much older than her own daughter, being shot and killed by Trujillo’s guard force.
Patria was the only one spared, besides Dedé, who never joined her sisters in the revolution. (Wasn’t that a wise choice?) Before arresting Patria’s husband and son, the secret police ravage their home, tearing apart everything they own and burning the remains. This is one example of the evil tactics the secret police used in order to spread fear and prevent the Dominicans from rebelling. After witnessing the life she built being burned to the ground and her husband and only son snatched away from her, Patria collapses, crying, tearing up the grass at her feet, and wailing up to the heavens in grief.
Throughout the book, it becomes apparent that the Mirabals' husbands are obstacles that prevent them from participating in the revolution. For example, Dedé's husband prevented her from participating in the revolution. On page 179, Alvarez writes, "'What if I can't?' Dedé's voice shook. '
By recounting numerous tragedies and their effect on people throughout the story, Alvarez emphasizes the wickedness behind suppressing one’s unassailable rights while also underlining the importance of sacrifice. The difficulties of the Mirabal family to live under the Trujillo rule and still resemble a family ultimately culminate in the deaths of Maria Teresa, Minerva, and Patria and the removal of Rafael Trujillo. Readers are more adept to connect and respect the story of the Mirabals due to Alvarez’s constant reverent tone. Though lacking the same valor as each sister, Julia Alvarez does carry the same sense of passion in herself and for human rights. In the Time of the Butterflies will be a novel remembered throughout the ages, just as Julia Alvarez had
Characters in the novel are frequently shown to be contradicting traditional Catholic values and the Ten Commandments, such as the prohibition of sex before marriage. Pedro Vicario, one of the Vicario brothers behind the killing of Santiago Nasar, was “trembling with rage” (p.47) after finding out Angela Vicario was not a virgin before marriage, despite having returned from the local brothel with his brother moments before. This use of irony demonstrates the satirical nature of Márquez’s work, all the while making a commentary on the contradictory communal religious ideologies entrenched in the town. In the novel, the revered religious figures in the community are portrayed as symbols of the hollow religious beliefs in the community, solely making appearances which portray them in a negative light. Father Amador and the Bishop are portrayed to be apathetic and demonstrate un-Christian values.
Both Esther and the Lisbon girls feel a surmounting pressure, due to the worlds they live