The historical fiction novel In the Time of the Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez, has an interesting story about four sisters who rebel against Trujillo, their cruel dictator. The book starts years after the event, focusing on the surviving sister, Dedé, as she recounts the time when her father predicts what he thinks will become of his girls in the future. In the next chapter, narrated by Minerva, the three girls, excluding Dedé, go to religious school. There, Minerva learns the cruelty of Trujillo towards Sinita’s family. Soon after, Trujillo visits the school interested in Lina. But one day, Lina never returns; she has become pregnant and is sent to Miami for safety. In a new wing of the school, a recitation contest is being hosted, and Minerva and her three friends decide to enter together. …show more content…
Additionally, María Teresa (Mate) contributes to the book in the third chapter through her diary entries. One day, she is called into the principal's office because Minerva had been sneaking out. Mate lies that Minerva was visiting her ill uncle, when she had really been sneaking out for secret meetings at Don Horacio’s house. Hilda, one of the girls who attends the meetings, joins the school to escape the police. After being caught, Mate is forced to give up her journal because of the evidence it contains about Hilda. Patria, the narrator of the fourth chapter, initially wants to be a nun, but quickly falls in love with Pedrito. They are married and have two kids. Unfortunately, her third child dies. Patria has trouble recovering from this, connecting it to how she didn’t continue her religious calling. Patria suspects that Pedrito has moved her dead son to the backyard after seeing him digging one night. Worried, she checks the cemetery, in order to see if her son is still there. She sees her son decomposing, and realizes she has lost all
Julia Alvarez’s novel, Before We Were Free is about the struggles of a young girl named Anita de la Torre who is under the evil dictatorship of Trujillo. Papi, Anita’s father and Tio Toni, Anita’s uncle are conspirators in a plan to assassinate Trujillo they succeed with the assassination, but then, unfortunately, get arrested and killed later. The excitement and drama created by Trujillo and the effects it has on Anita make an interesting novel, but the authors use of literary devices truly make the novel come to life. Julia Alvarez author of Before We Were Free, uses literary devices such as metaphors, symbolism, and motif to strengthen her writing and help the reader comprehend the novel. Before Papi and Tio Toni start executing their plan
In the short stories “The school teachers Guest”, “Phantom Palace”, and Walima” by Isabel Allende, She uses Political injustices, Magical realism, and she manipulates the realistic use of time.
“The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom is courage.” In America, Americans are blessed to have the right to freedom. Unlike other unfortunate countries, their freedom is limited. In many Latin American countries, the government’s leader has all power of the Country. Citizens have no rights to freedom, they are trapped in a cruel country where innocent people are killed each day. Civilians fear to speak out to the regime of leader; However, there were a few courageous citizens enough to speak out against the government. For example, “The Censors” by Luisa Valenzuela and the historical fictionalized account, “In The Time Of The Butterflies” by Julia Alvarez reveal individual 's role in overcoming oppression.
In The Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, the rule of Rafael Trujillo directly affected all four Mirabal sisters, Patricia, Dede, Minerva, and Maria Mirabal.
outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. I'm going to tell you about a book called in the
Within the novel, “In the Time of the Butterflies,” Mate, Minerva, Dede, and Patria had to create decisions to overcome obstacles that would transform each of their lives. Throughout the book, all of the sisters changed somehow. They all grew up, matured, and saw things how they never viewed before. While looking at these things at a different perception, they learned to make decisions that were sometimes brave and sometimes cowardly. Each of the Mirabal sisters had to choose whether or not to be fearful and give up, or be courageous and stand her ground, or make sacrifices to show her strength throughout the novel.
Although Patria is concerned with the regime she isn’t on board with the revolution yet, unlike her sisters Minerva and Mate. While on the church retreat Patria watches a boy get shot in the back by guards. She is so stricken by his death that she feels like she has lost another child, “My stillborn of thirteen years ago. My murdered son of a few hours ago.” (162). Patria is so devastated by the loss of her “son” that she decides for herself that it is time to take action. The unforeseen murder prompts Patria to begin another metamorphosis. Because Patria is so pious and protective over her family it is not expected of her to take part in such a risky movement, but it is those same characteristics that give her the courage to resist the regime. The concern for the well being of her family and the involvement of the church in the revolution bring Patria to form her new conclusion: “Amen to the revolution” (164). Patria wants a better life for her family and she now sees that the only way to achieve this is through the revolution; she must make a sudden change which is similar to the quick transition of a caterpillar to a butterfly. After some convincing, Patria is able to persuade her husband Pedrito to allow revolutionaries to meet in their backyard and eventually turn their home into a rebel control center. Patria evolves from an innocent bystander to a
in some way or another. She was naive and impulsive, but she meant well. But was she
Out from the kitchen and into the world, women are making a better name for themselves. Although humankind tends to be male dominated, men are not the only species that inhabit the world that they live on. In Julia Alvarez's novel In the Time of the Butterflies, the women of the Dominican Republic are expected to grow up to be housewives and lacking a formal education. Women may be cherished like national treasures, but they are not expected to fulfill their truest potentials as human beings.
Alvarez, Julia. In The Time of the Butterflies. New York, NY: Penguin, 1994. Print Hardback. 31 Oct 2013 - 8 Dec 2013.
People who have a position in the government can start off doing good things for the people and country, but will become power hungry and want to be in control of every little thing. This hunger for power can be seen in the novel, In the Time of the Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez, which demonstrates how the daily lives of the citizens in the Dominican Republic are affected under the rule of their oppressive ruler, Trujillo. Alvarez focuses on 4 sisters, the Mirabal family, who strive for equality and democratic rights. The 4 sisters have all been been oppressed by Trujillo´s ridiculous laws. Enforcing unnecessary laws on society makes sure that Trujillo stays in complete control, which compels the people to strive for more freedom and rights,
Through the novel In the Time of the Butterflies, Julia Alvarez paints a picture of life in the Dominican Republic under the dictatorship of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina, also known as El Jefe. His rise to power started with National Guard and eventually by 1928, led to the role of Commander in Chief in the new National Armed Forces. By thirty-seven, through the “Secret of Trujillo” – or intimidation tactics, manipulation of his military control, and fraud - he secured the position of president and control of the residents (Alvarez 17). Life under the dictator was very restrained as he had banned anyone or anything that could express dissent, took control of trade and property, and established a secret police to do his bidding. In the
For Bayado it was just a matter of time to find the right girl for him. He had this privilege due to his high social class. Angela made it very clear that she was not interested in Bayado. .” It was Angela Vicario who did not want to marry him. ”He seemed too much of a man for me”, (p) this indicates that Angela was not interested in marrying Bayado. This shows that how women were exploited in the novel. Angela’s family exerted pressure on her to marry Bayado. Angela hints towards lack of love but her mother demolishes it with a single phrase, ”love can be learned”(p). This indicates that there is no space for women to assert or even voice her own choice or opinion. The novel makes us understand how the sister had been trained rigorously on understanding their role as a wife. “The girls had been reared to get married”(p) or Purisima’s claim “Any man will be happy with them because they have been raised to suffer”(p34). The author has also hinted on failed marriages in the novel. Santiago’s mother Placida Linero as told in the novel has a loveless relationship with her husband. Santiago’s farther sexually abused Divina Flor’s mother. This is another example of failed marriage, this also represents how women were exploited in the Columbian society. Marquez seems to show the double standards that exist for men and women, and how difficult it is to determine if and how Angela Vicario's
Literature of the Americas has many stories and they all have comparisons, but they also have many differences. “Day of the Butterfly” by Alice Monro and “Crossroads: A Sad Vaudeville” by Carlos Solórzano have characters that share some traits and ways, but like all characters they have things that are different. The old woman from “A Sad Vaudeville” is a dynamic protagonist who finds herself meeting the perfect man for her, but has a dilemma when he is in denial because she is not the ideal girl of his dreams; she’s old. Myra from “Day of the Butterfly” is a static antagonist who does not have the same care free attitude as most of the children her own age. She is rather shy and does not fit in or socialize much with people her own age. She does not derive from a very wealthy family. She is responsible for her brother Jimmy which holds her back from having more age appropriate experiences.
She tells how she met her friend Isabel. She eventually comes across a man named Edward. Her and Edward instantly fell in love with each other, so they got married. They travel to Edward’s aunt ‘s home. There Laura meets Edwards aunt and his sister. Laura and Edward’s aunt get along very well, but Edward’s sister does not agree with the marriage because Edward was meant to marry someone else. Edward’s father arrives and is told about Edward’s marriage but he disagreed with it. Lady Dorothea, Edward’s ex to be wife, arrives at Edward’s aunt’s home. Laura did not really care for Lady Dorothea’s demeanor. After Lady Dorothea left Edward and Laura go to Edward’s friend’s home. Laura meets Sophia, Edward’s friend’s wife, and takes a liking to her. Near the end of the day Edward received a letter from his aunt stating that Edward’s father was displeased about Edwards abrupt leaving and ask for his return. Edward’s friend gets arrested and everyone decides to go and visit him. Laura’s pass away while she was not around. Sophia and Laura run into their grandfather and two cousins. Sophia and Laura meet a girl named Janetta they all quickly become friends. Sophia and Laura convince Janetta to get married to the person she cares about. Sophia and Laura eventually run into their husbands near their overturned carriage. The women’s husbands pass away. Laura and Sophia are taken in by a woman named Bridget. Sophia passes away. Laura gets into a carriage that has her family in it. In Don Juan, Don Juan’s father dies. His mother takes over his studies. Juan becomes fond of his mother’s friend, but does not understand his feelings. Don Juan and his mother’s friend become very close over time. Don Juan has a sexual relationship with his neighbor. His mother’s friend’s husband finds out and brings a small force. When the husband returns he finds Juan. Don Juan’s mother decides to send