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Is The Dictator In Julia Alvarez's In The Time Of The Butterflies

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Imagine a man who is the intimidating dictator of the country, and has intentions to hurt and kill anyone who stands in his way. Now imagine leading a revolution against this dictator, becoming one of his obstacles. This was how Minerva, Patria, Dede, and Maria Teresa Mirabal lived their lives. These girls lived in the Dominican Republic during the time when Rafael Trujillo was the dictator. They led a revolution against him, which ultimately sabotaged their lives. The oppression from the Trujillo regime proved to be more successful than the Mirabal sisters’ fight against him in Julia Alvarez’s In the Time of the Butterflies because of the way Trujillo controlled the sisters’ lives, denounced their religion, and eventually murdered them. While …show more content…

Trujillo deliberately had them assassinated because of the revolution they led. He also planted Rufino to help with this operation. Rufino was planted as a fake companion so he could build trust from the sisters. Although he worked for Trujillo’s regime, he acted kind towards the girls and built a friendship with them. In the end, the reader can infer that this was all part of a trap. Trujillo knew exactly where Rufino would be driving that car on November 25, 1960 and sent someone to murder Minerva, Patria, and Mate. This had a lasting impact on the family, especially Dede. For the rest of her life, she had to live with this yearning to have more time with her sisters. Dede missed them greatly, and it took a toll on her constantly having to tell their story to strangers. Although the girls are remembered as heroes, it does not make up for the fact that they are gone. Their children have a void in their lives, missing their mothers. The murder of the Mirabal sisters was devastating for not only the family, but to the whole country. The country lost their revolution leaders and it confirmed that Trujillo was winning the

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Julia Alvarez’s In the Time of the Butterflies is a work of historical fiction set in the Dominican Republic that focuses on the four Mirabal sisters who bond together to rebel against the corrupt leader of their country, Rafael Trujillo. The four Mirabal sisters, Patria, Dedé, Minerva, and María Teresa form closer relationships with each other as they figure out a way to bring down the tyranny of Rafael Trujillo. Although they have a mutual goal, each of the Mirabal sisters has different feelings and thoughts throughout this time period. The theme of coming-of-age and identify is best exemplified through the character of María Teresa, known as Mate, through the ways she matures throughout the novel and becomes her own person who stands up for what she believes in.

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