In The Time Of The Butterflies Character Analysis Essay

Anaca Griffin

Ms. Rudolph

Honors English 10

January 9, 2023

In the Time of the Butterflies Character Analysis

“Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.” Anthony Brandt. Brandt is stating that no matter how much one changes throughout one’s life, they are born with family and die with family. People have highs and lows throughout their lifetimes, but they have family to make it through. Patria Mirabal, from Julia Alvarez’s In the Time of the Butterflies, cares deeply about her family and the people she loves. Patria is a naive girl who wants to become a nun until she meets a guy named Pedrito while washing his feet at the church. She decides she wants to marry him and start a family together. Patria Mirabal is selfless,

Patria puts others before herself and is willing to risk her life for the ones she loves. For example, when Maria Teresa is being taken and shoved into a vehicle by SIM. “‘Take me instead, please.’ Patria knelt by the door, pleading with Captain Pena. ‘I beg you for the love of God.’" (Alvarez 195). She is willing to trade places with Maria Teresa and give herself to be taken by SIM instead of her. This shows how Patria would rather give herself up, despite the consequences and pain she will endure, to protect the people she loves. Another example is the last day of the retreat, Patria and the group are discussing the Blessed Mary when they suddenly hear a bunch of explosions. “‘Fall to the ground, ladies, cover your heads with your folding chairs!’ Of course, all I was thinking of was protecting my unborn child.” (Alvarez 161). Bombs are exploding around her and her first concern is her unborn baby. This demonstrates her being selfless considering in this scary, life-threatening moment, Patria was worrying about her unborn baby’s safety more than her own. Patria is selfless for the reason that she would rather suffer if it means the people she loves will be

Patria follows the word of God and lives her life in the way he wants her to. Patria is thinking to herself and reflecting on her life so far. “Build your house upon a rock, He said, do my will. And though the rain falls and the floods come and the winds blow, the good wife's house will stand. I did as he said. At sixteen I married Pedrito González and we settled down for the rest of our lives.” (Alvarez 148). She does everything she thinks God wants her to do and she always asks him before she makes crucial decisions. Patria values God and what she believes that he wants her to do with her life. Another time Patria shows she is religious is the last day of the retreat and Patria is hiding under a chair while being attacked by an invasion. “When we heard gunfire coming close again, we kept right on praying.” (Alvarez 161). During this terrifying moment, Patria is turning to God to ask for help to ensure that they are safe. When times become rough for Patria she turns to God for help and protection. Since Patria is religious, she considers what God wants her to do before she does life-changing things and prays to him when times turn