How Does Minerva Marquez In The Time Of The Butterflies Relate To Feminism

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Elijah Jolly

English IV

Miss Murphy

3 April 2023

Minerva Mirabal: Determined Feminist and Revolutionary

Minerva Mirabal began life as a typical daughter of the Dominican Republic and became a national icon due to her determination, bravery, and sacrifice for her country. She and her sisters became martyrs unintentionally. They became symbols of what it means to stand up to oppression, giving hope to those left behind. They showed the women of their era that it is not only men who are brave revolutionaries. The importance of sacrifice is a main theme of Julia

Alvarez’ In the Time of the Butterflies, but seen through the feminist lens, Minerva Mirabal’s sacrifice becomes even more important, because she made the final sacrifice

Minerva was the third daughter of the Mirabal family, her father’s favorite in a male dominated society. She was the brightest, most beautiful, and the most outspoken. As her sister

Dede says, “Minerva was always into her wrongs and rights...beautiful, intelligent, high-minded

Minerva.” (Alvarez 6). Minerva desperately wants to go to law school. She says, “It’s just what this country needs...It’s about time we women had a voice in running this country.” (Alvarez

10). When Minerva went off to convent school, she was deeply affected by two classmates.

Sinita had lost all the male members in her family because they had dared disagree with

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Trujillo’s politics. They were killed by the regime. Lina was a pretty girl who attracts Trujillo when he visits the school. He is married but is known for taking young girls and keeping them as mistresses. Lina unhappily becomes one of them. After those encounters, Minerva stops believing the propaganda of “Trujillo is God.” She begins attending secret meetings and after meeting Lio, an educated doctor, becomes a member of the revolution to overthrow

She keeps up morale when conditions are deplorable. Her motto is “never believe them, never fear them, never ask them anything.” (Alvarez 234). Mate wonders, “Where does that sister of mine get her crazy courage?” (Alvarez 238). The women are released after the OAS imposes sanctions on the regime.

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Minerva has a hard time adjusting to freedom. She is still under house arrest, and very limited in her movements. The Trujillo regime is breaking down, but Manolo is still in prison.

The old Minerva re-emerges when things look very dire for the male political prisoners. A small uprising against Trujillo has failed. But Minerva will not give up. “Adversity was like a key in the lock for me. As I began to work to get our men out of prison, it was the old Minerva I set free.” (Alvarez 269). As the clock ticks to the horrible ending for the Mirabal sisters, they still do everything they can to help the revolution. Their uncle tells them that Trujillo told him “My only two problems are the damn church and the Mirabal sisters “(Alvarez 281). Minerva knows that she is caught in Trujillo’s net. “Not only was there nothing in the world we could do to