Examples Of Courage In Sophocles In The Time Of The Butterflies

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Many characters of literature show courage in many forms and for many reasons. Some characters bravely fight the systemic racism of Alabama in the 1930's. Others make dangerous choices in order to pay respects to their family. And some defend themselves when facing unwanted advances from a corrupt leader. Courage is when a person stand ups for something even if the odds are stacked against them; the characters Tom Robinson, Antigone, and Minerva Mirabal are all courageous for diverse reasons and encounter numerous obstacles.

Antigone is the protagonist and namesake of the play Antigone by Sophocles; she is a courageous and ambitious woman for committing dangerous crimes in the name of morality. Both of Antigone's brothers Eteocles and Polyneices kill each other in a civil …show more content…

The dictator, Rafael Trujillo, invites Minerva to the Discovery Day Dance in an attempt to seduce her. While dancing together he gets too close to Minerva and nears a sexual assault. The situation unfolds, "He yanks me by the wrist, thrusting his pelvis at me in a vulgar way, and I can see my hand rise in an endless slow motion rise - a mind all its own - and come down upon the astonished, made-up face" (Alvarez 100). Minerva knows she could be imprisoned for hitting a powerful leader, but she also knows that it is wrong for him to try to touch her and make advances on her. Trujillo "yanks" her, already a violent act, then "[thrusts] his pelvis," clearly acting in a predatory way to Minerva. Nonetheless Minerva brings her hand "down upon" Trujillo, defending herself against his crude behavior. A lot of bravery is needed to slap the leader of your country in the face, and Minerva shows that she has that

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