In The Time Of The Butterflies By Julia Alvarez

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.

In the book, the one sister that shows the real effort of sacrifice is Minerva which is one of the leaders in the story. “‘But Minerva your own child-’ I began and then I saw it did hurt her to make this sacrifice she

Her courage is evident in most aspects of her

It almost helps to forget the fact that they die in the end. Minerva is one of the more stubborn sisters and I think by her stories we can tell she was the daughter who was the most strong willed. Patria on the other hand was strong but also cautious and more

Minerva was the third daughter of the Mirabal family, her father’s favorite in a male dominated society. She was the brightest, most beautiful, and the most outspoken. As her sister Dede says, “Minerva was always into her wrongs and rights...beautiful, intelligent, high-minded Minerva.” (Alvarez 6). Minerva desperately wants to go to law school.

After all, we use courage in our everyday lives. Whether it’s trying to solve that difficult math problem or moving into a new country, everyone has used courage at least once in their lives. Like earlier, The Souls and Mrs. Olinski are truly

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.

Courage can bring out our

Courage Courage is strength in the face of pain. Julia Alvarez portrays different types of courage in her novel, In the Time of the Butterflies. The novel is set during the time of Trujillo's dictatorship in the Dominican Republic. As a result, some of the Mirabal sisters; Minerva, Maria Teresa, and Patria, to take a step in joining a revolution against him.

In The Time Of Butterflies was written by Julia Alvarez. Julia Alvarez is a Dominican-American poet, novelist, and essayist. She wrote In the time of Butterflies in 1994. The book divided into four sections, which make the sisters to have their own sections. The story took place in Dominican Republic during President Trujillo’s dictatorship government.

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.

Minerva uses the values that she gained in her childhood to not give up the seemingly never ending fight against the Trujillo regime. Minerva Mirabal acted as the symbol that the Dominican Republic citizens needed despite of her own aspirations of happiness and a normal life. She was able to lead a political rebellion by sticking to her strong values she had since her childhood. Minerva is as close to it gets to a selfless hero, and a reminder that normal people can do extraordinary

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.

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.

Without fear, there is no courage. Courage is universal and can be connected to personal lives, the arts, and the world. To begin, living with courage can be connected to