How Does Minerva Show Courage

Fighting for Freedom

Although the Mirabals have all had their courage put to the test, Minerva is the most courageous sister. All four sisters have gone through life together. They have had both ups and downs, but how they all have handled the downs is what truly shows their character. Minerva is a mature, intelligent, natural leader, who isn’t afraid to be the first to jump at something that she believes is wrong. She puts others before herself and fights for what is right. Although Minerva is courageous throughout her entire life, there are 2 major times when she steps up when most people would back away. Minerva shows an immense amount of courage when she has to confront Trujillo and throughout her entire relationship with papá.

Minerva

Trujillo is worshiped and praised by most everyone in the Dominican Republic. Minerva knows that his doings do not deserve to be praised, and she does something about it. The first time Minerva truly confronts Trujillo is when the Mirabals are invited to a dinner hosted by Trujillo. When they arrive to the dinner, Minerva discovers that Trujillo has invited her to his table. She does not have the comfort of sitting with her family but instead is put in the spotlight right next to him. Eventually Minerva dances with Trujillo. While they are dancing together, Trujillo makes some very vulgar remarks about Minerva. Clearly Minerva is not comfortable with his comments. Then Minerva does the unthinkable. She slaps Trujillo in the face. Minerva says, “I can see my hand in an endless slow motion rise- a mind all of it’s own-and come down on the astonished made-up face.” (Alvarez 100). Minerva shows a great deal of courage when she slaps him in the face. Most people wouldn’t even think about standing up to Trujillo because they know the power that he holds over them. Minerva

When Minerva is going through papa’s closet she discover that papa has been hiding many secrets from the her and the entire Mirabal family. Minerva feels the need to confront her father because she knows she can’t just let him get away with keeping such important things from her. Minerva says, “ I knew where to find him all right… I knew damn well he wasn’t reviewing the fields if he had taken the ford not the Jeep. I headed straight for that yellow house”(Alvarez 88). Minerva is completely let down and shocked when she discovers that papa has another family with a different woman. Minerva drives to papá’s other families house and makes it clear to both him and the daughters that she knows exactly what he has been up to, and what he has been keeping from their family. This is very courageous for a young girl to do because most people would be to scared and nervous to step up and confront their father, letting him know that they figured out his wrong doings. This act of courage in stepping up to Papá resulted in Minerva discovering that she was a very strong person. After their confrontation, Minerva talks with papa alone. While they are talking Papá hits Minerva, which he had never done before. During this moment Minerva knew that papa wasn’t who she had always thought he was. Minerva says, “I saw his shoulders droop. I heard him sigh. Right then and there, it hit me