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Essays on the mirabal sisters
Essays on the mirabal sisters
Describing the mirabal sisters
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Essays on the mirabal sisters
Essays on the mirabal sisters
Describing the mirabal sisters
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
In the Dominican Republic, women were expected to go by what their husbands and fathers said. Women portrayed to have less power and authority than men. In “In the Time of the Butterflies”, the Mirabal sisters showed something very differently, instead they demonstrated the equal authority they have with their husbands. Their power challenged gender limitations that were forced on them by their patriarchal Dominican culture. Minerva, Patria, and Maria Teresa all were sisters who became involved in political movements against President Trujillo.
The Mirabal sisters, also known as La Mariposas, have been known throughout the Dominican Republic for participating in a major revolution against their unjust ruler, Rafael Trujillo. After years of the sisters’ hard-work, along with the others who were involved in the revolution, their work paid off when Trujillo's regime ended with his assassination. However, in order for them to have taken part in this act against Trujillo, the Mirabal sisters had to sacrifice several things from their lives, most importantly, their freedom and their relationship with their family. Many people believe that these sacrifices were not necessary because the sisters didn’t need to go to the extent where the end result would be them orphaning their children. Nonetheless,
The novel Time of The Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez, narrates the Mirabal sister’s stories: their issues stemming from Rafael Trujillo’s regime, and their eventual opposition against him. Living in a time and place of corruption, the sisters watched as Trujillo’s reign of terror grew, and so did a rising revolution against him, prompting each of the sisters to form their own beliefs and ideas. The second youngest sister, Minerva, lived her life as a bold, determined woman; making her a prominent figure, with many looking up to her as a role model. Her interest in politics, paired with her boldness, exposed Minerva to a political environment from an early age: being the first sister to partake in the revolution and enlightened by Sinita’s story.
In the twentieth century Dominican Republic, soldier Rafael Trujillo rose through military ranks, eventually becoming leader of his country. From there, he imposed a brutal regime, limiting human rights and freedoms. While citizens publically expressed approval of their government in order to avoid arrest, many belonged to underground groups that supported revolution. Three of the most prominent members of this group were the Mirabal sisters: Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa. Minerva Mirabal was the first of the sisters to have these revolutionary ideas, and was the most radical of the three.
Alvarez and her family have a lot of trauma considering there lives in the dominican republic and living under the dictator,through it all alvarez's parents raised a daughter who would share their story in a fashionable matter that told the story how it was.
However their stories and actions were told by their youngest sister Dede. Dede brought their story and death to light as well as their hopes and dreams they had fought their life for. As Patria mentioned of creating a world without corruption and tyranny for the their future children. The Mirabal sisters threw their lives on the line by joining the underground resistance against the Regime of Trujilo and sacrificed everything to get a better
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
It provides a role in character development shown predominantly in Patrias character. It shows the extent of Trujillo’s actions against the Dominican people by showing Patrias desperateness for her son. These examples depicted in the book show how the theme of religion has an impact on In the Time of the
Trujillo gets worried when he learns about the 14th of June Movement because he knows that the goal of the movement is to overthrow or kill him. One by one, he starts jailing members of the movement, as well as ransacking or destroying their homes. At Patria’s house, Trujillo has the SIM tear “...the house apart, hauling away the doors, windows, the priceless mahogany beams of Pedrito’s old family rancho” (Alvarez 192). The way that he messes with those involved in the movement is cruel. After having their homes ransacked, Trujillo jails only the Mirabal husbands, which makes the sisters think they are safe.
From the moment that the Dominican republic was free from Trujillo’s dictatorship, contrasting viewpoints have come up regarding the sacrifices of the Mirabal sisters. While some argue that the Mirabal sisters sacrifices were not beneficial and worthwhile to the revolution because it resulted in the orphaning of their children and three young lives were lost. Others argue that the Mirabal sisters sacrifices were effective for the revolution since it changed the future of their country. I deem the sisters sacrifices are justifiable because their sacrifices had an important purpose. Isn’t it true that Trujillo's was absolutely in power for 31 years however, because of the three young sisters his cruel regime ended.
Alvarez unfolds how Trujillo impacted her mother in a chronological order in a revealing way. Alvarez explains at first that her mother adores Trujillo. It was the way of life for the Dominican Republic people. She was raised to be this way in a life of her eyes revolving around this dictator who showed to be really good, but was not good at all. An example of a false representation of the dictator is Stalin or Hitler.
Maria Teresa- Mirabel Maria Teresa- Mirabel, otherwise known as Mate, is the youngest out of the four Mirabal sisters and one of the three to fight in the revolution. Throughout the novel, In The Time of The Butterflies, we see Mate's POV in the form of multiple diary entries. Her first diary entry began when she was just nine years old up until her time in prison at the age of twenty-five with breaks in-between. Through the eyes of these diary entries we see Mates character grow from a cheery, naive girl into one of brave, young women. This is especially shown through Mates last diary entry, in which Alvarez uses Mate’s inner dialogue and actions to paint us the final picture of Mates emphatic nature, resilience, and determination to stand
Lola takes advantage of her deteriorating mother whose illness represents the declining hold of the norms over Lola. Since her mom “will have trouble lifting her arms over her head for the rest of her life,” Lola is no longer afraid of the “hitting” and grabbing “by the throat” (415,419). As a child of a “Old World Dominican Mother” Lola must be surrounded by traditional values and beliefs that she does not want to claim, so “as soon as she became sick” Lola says, “I saw my chance and I’m not going to pretend or apologize; I saw my chance and I eventually took it” (416). When taking the opportunity to distinguish herself from the typical “Dominican daughter” or ‘Dominican slave,” she takes a cultural norm like long hair and decides to impulsively change it (416). Lola enjoyed the “feeling in [her] blood, the rattle” that she got when she told Karen to “cut my hair” (418).
Jeannette and her siblings depend on each other like when Jeannette and Brian pair together when faced by bullies at school. Maureen exists as a sort of “black sheep” in the family because not only does she not have red hair, but she seldom spends time with the family and instead relies on others to care for her. That’s why Jeannette believes Maureen is in need of more protection than the rest of her siblings. Considering the neglect and abuse she suffered. I was extremely surprised that she did remain somewhat close to her parents.
Once she decides to join the revolution, she is fearless in her efforts to end Trujillo’s regime, regardless of her personal outcome. Minerva fought until the day she died, and with her death, a better future for her country was