Mirabal's Courage In In The Time Of The Butterflies By Julia Alvarez

Aspen Balkman Ms. Essinger 9th Honors Humanities April 5, 2024 Minerva Mirabal’s Courage in In the Time of the Butterflies

Throughout the book, as Minerva develops anger, hope, and a desire for change, Alvarez displays the importance of courage, which is necessary to fight for freedom. Throughout In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, Minerva develops anger, hope, and a desire for change through the revolution over a series of events that helped to shape her. Alvarez displays the importance of courage in Minerva’s struggles. At the beginning of the story, Minerva is young and with little knowledge about the atrocities of Trujillo’s reign, but as she discovers more about the truth, she begins to feel passionate about instigating change. The first

During their shared dance, Trujillo sexually assaulted Minerva. Instead of allowing this vulgar action, Minerva “[could] see [her] hand in an endless, slow motion rise—a mind all of its own—and come down on the astonished, made-up face” (100). The word choice Minerva uses to describe her hand moving all on its own, without thinking about the decision, shows how naturally courage comes to her. The bravery of a young, determined girl slapping the great El Jefe was so shocking to the crowd, to Trujillo, and even Minerva herself. This fearless action of slapping the dictator, ruler of the country, whose portrait hangs on the wall of every house in the country, shows how brave Minerva is. She outwardly displays her developing courage, unlike the many, many girls whom Trujillo had taken advantage of. This undaunted and reckless gesture was one that was a large step in the revolutionary efforts. If a young woman could stand up against Trujillo, the whole of the country could unite to stand up to him as well. I compared this to the flight path of the eagle in my painting, taking off above the flames and rising higher, lifting away from the heat. As Minerva