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Time Of The Butterflies By Julia Alvarez: Character Analysis

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Ask yourselves how much courage does one need to stand up and fight for what you believe in. As Nelson Mandela once said “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it, the brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers it”. Courage is the ability to do something that frightens one. Courage can also be defined as bravery, valor or even heroism. There are different types of courage, such as physical courage and moral courage. For example a firefighter can show physical courage by running into burning building and saving one’s life. The word courage comes from the old French corage “the heart innermost feelings”. In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez is a novel in which four sisters …show more content…

Throughout the novel she becomes more courageous. She showed physical courage when she had the guts to slap Trujillo for his vulgar action towards her. As she continues to grow into her own person she shows that she is willing to give up everything even her own child to continue fighting in the revolution. Minerva told patria to keep her 6 month old son, Manolito. “But Minerva your own child. I began and then I saw it did hurt to make this sacrifice, she was convinced she needed to make”. This quote reveals that Minerva is willing to do anything to continue fighting in the revolution and regain the freedom she desires so much. Although she was the most outspoken her other three siblings also carried courage within …show more content…

Throughout the novel “In the Time of the Butterflies, we see Dede struggle to find her own identity within her family. She feels odd compared to her sisters. “All the beds were neat and weedless, everything in its place. Only in the new bed where she’d just been working did the soil look torn up”. This reveals what Dede thinks about herself and her sisters. Dede feels out of place mean while all her sisters have chosen the same path, to fight in the revolution. Dede shows intellectual courage when she finally realizes the truth. “Lio was right; this was an absurd and crazy regime. It had to be brought down”. This shows how dede starts to question the government and finally realizes the truth. Not to mention after her sisters deaths Dede shows a great deal of courage when she told to recall the story of her sisters and share their

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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,

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In the Time of the Butterflies, characters are seen making morally challenging decisions. Maria Teresa, Mate, is the youngest Mirabel sister. She is described as virtuous and fears elementary things. However, Mate and Minerva are held captive in prison. Fortunately, The OAS Peace Committee schedules to interview a prisoner in each pavilion, Mate has been selected.

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In the Time of the Butterflies is a historical fiction novel written by Julia Alvarez. The book focuses on the lives of the four Mirabal sisters who were killed on November 25th, 1960 as a result of organizing against the government. Throughout the novel, the sisters are oppressed and hurt by the many men in their lives. The book takes a view that is not very tolerant of men. The men often do things that hurt the women in their lives, such as physically hurt them, cheat on them, or control them against their will.

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In the book In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, Minerva is shown to be motivated to fight for the revolution and for the people. This revolutionary mindset has led her to fight against Trujillo, led her into prison, and eventually led to her death. Her attempts weren’t for nothing though as Trujillo would fall shortly after and Minerva and her sisters would be remembered as leaders of the revolution. Throughout her life Minerva’s relationships and health has been greatly impacted by her revolutionary ideologies because of how devoted she is to her goals, her relationships with her sisters, and her mental health struggles after being released from prison. Minerva’s driving motivation throughout a good part of her life had been

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Also, Minerva, Patria, and Mate knew the consequences of joining the revolution. So that was their first sign of bravery. Minerva may be considered more outwardly brave because of how she started to rebel against Trujillo at a young age. She was opinionated and knew what she wanted. When she found out about her dad cheating even though it hurt her she never showed it.

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Gaining Color In the beginning, butterflies’ wings are transparent and colorless. By growing and flying in the light, they are able to stain their wings and achieve the vibrant colorful wings they are famous for. The Mirabal sisters did not start off as the faces of the underground revolution against Trujillo.

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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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While in meetings she would cry out “Amen to the revolution!” And during her sisters’ imprisonment, she kept the house filled with prayer. This part in particular shows that even though she had lost her sisters, she kept her

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Minerva is strategically intelligent by burying all the ammunition and tools for the revolution. Minerva sends Patria with some boxes to hide “Come with her request to hide some boxes” (184). This is significant because it shows Minerva is brilliant because by burying some of the ammunition she has split them up so if one stash were to be found the other would still remain hidden. Minerva is also very intelligent in choosing Patria’s house as the meeting location. Since Patria was extremely religious and faithful to the church, her house would seem much less of a target to Trujillo.

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she’s comparing God and Trujillo, by saying they have become the same person. Patria gains courage from this because she realizes that God might not be so great as she thought him to be. At a young age, Patria also showed signs of a motherly-figure. Patria, like any mother, loves her child no matter what. Another example from the novel is, “That moment, I understood her hatred.

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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.

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Courage, shown through mental toughness and physical actions in everyday situations. For instance, war veterans show physical courage fighting for their country. Others show mental courage by simply getting through the day with a positive attitude.

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Butterflies Reflection In The Time of the Butterflies I am exposed to many different viewpoints. An important one being Minerva Mirabal. This novel takes me through the crazy lives of the Mirabal’s. This family is in a personal war against El Jefe Trujillo.

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Rosa Parks refused to give her seat up on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama; Malala Yousafzai defied threats from the Taliban to campaign for education; Mother Teresa dedicated her life to serving the poor. All of these people have something in common- they all have shown acts of heroism and courage. In Alvarez’s novel the Time of the Butterflies, the Mirabal sisters all demonstrate acts of courage equal to those stated above. Although all of the sisters show courage, it is Minerva, who demonstrates the greatest amount of courage. Minerva demonstrates exceptional courage throughout the story, including at the Discovery Day dance when she stood up to Trujillo, and while imprisoned and never gave up hope.

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The Mirabal sisters were revolutionaries who opposed the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. During the revolution, they were given the code name “Las Mariposas”, or “the butterflies”. The term “mariposa” suits each sister in a different way. Patria, Dedé, Minerva, and Mate Mirabal each have their one reason to be compared to a butterfly. The nickname “mariposa” shows who the Mirabal sisters are; they transformed from domestic, innocent mothers and wives into brave, defiant martyrs for national freedom.

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