How would one define a martyr? And how is a person considered as a martyr? A martyr in the Webster’s English dictionary is defined as a person who is killed because of his religious believes or for religious believes. “In The Time of The Butterflies” by Julia Alvarez, the author introduced a character, Minerva, who opposes the dictatorship of a governor. Though a martyr is a person who is killed because of his religious believes but I see Minerva as one. Minerva is a martyr because she risked her life trying to go against an evil and unfair treatment, which Trujillo brought upon the society. Moreover, Minerva was among the one of the Mirabel sisters who lost their lives. She is the second youngest among the four Mirabel …show more content…
It was in this chapter of the story when she met an orphan named Sinita who accused Trujillo for the murder of her family and tells Minerva about Trujillo’s secrets that “then two more uncles, and then my father…then this summer they killed my brother.” ( chp.2 p 18) Minerva was surprised when she heard that from her and she began to hate him even more afterwards. Furthermore, Minerva knew going toe to toe with Trujillo would end up her with nothing but death. Minerva stance against Trujillo was also revealed in chapter four In The Time of The Butterflies. In this chapter, even her sister Patria was worried about her sister Minerva, challenging the government all the time. Patria said, “but this belly had me worrying all the time about my sister Minerva. It was dangerous the way she was speaking out against the government. Even in public, she’d throw a jab at our president or at the church for supporting him.” ( chp.4 p.51). Minerva as a dominant character and she never paid attention to patria when ever she agues with her about her involvement in government affairs but she’d say “I don’t agree with you, patria “women had to come out of the dark ages” (