The Mirabal sisters are three revolutionaries, who were greatly involved in the overthrow of Rafael Trujillo, the dreadful dictator in the Dominican Republic. These courageous sisters at a young age observed countless flaws in Trujillo's regime, including his overpowering nature and the establishment of numerous unjust reforms. Moreover, the Mirabals recognised that it was their obligation to assist and support this revolution in order to terminate this terrible regime, so the sisters immersed themselves into the revolution becoming, Las Mariposas. The sisters were obliged to abandon their children and eventually sacrificed their own lives for this rebellion. However, the sisters are viewed as selfish by numerous people because they abandoned …show more content…
The Mirabals were obligated to depart from their young children who remained with Dede, the eldest sister, in order to challenge the tyrannical regime. During my venture in the Dominican Republic, I got the wonderful opportunity to interview Minou Mirabal, Minerva Mirabal’s daughter, who is also a senator in the Dominican Republic. Minou during the interview established that she was certainly appreciative for her mother’s bravery, because her life along with countless others immensely improved due to their sacrifices. If the Mirabal sisters didn't take these risks their children would have grown up in a country lacking various liberties. Furthermore, Minou understands that her mother had to relinquish her as a child, to provide an exceptional life for her daughter, family, and country.
Another enormous sacrifice made by the three Mirabal sisters is their own lives, on November 25 1960, Trujillo’s henchmen murdered the Mirabal sisters for participating in the revolution. The death of Las Mariposas definitely inspired their companions from the revolution to permanently end the disastrous regime and kill Trujillo. The sisters were willing to risk everything for the Fourteenth of June Movement, the heroic actions made during these valiant women's lives absolutely changed the Dominican Republic
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.
Gabriel and Maria’s arguments are portrayed through the lens of Antonio. Gabriel Marez, Antonio’s father, was a vaquero all his life. His last name signifies
Trujillo had no respect for women, to him, and many other male characters in the novel, women were sex symbols. This type of behavior shows in how the narrator views women also in Oscar and his one sided relationships, INSERT QOUTE about YUNIER AND EXPLAINATION It is arguable that cultural lens is more relative in the book than that of the feminist lens. This perspective makes sense because in the book the dominican culture is very significant. The story of Oscar, the character whom the novel is about, is told through the voice of Yunior, the narrator.
It provides a role in character development shown predominantly in Patrias character. It shows the extent of Trujillo’s actions against the Dominican people by showing Patrias desperateness for her son. These examples depicted in the book show how the theme of religion has an impact on In the Time of the
In the beginning of In the Time of the Butterflies, the sisters were living cooperatively under Trujillo’s rule, but throughout the novel the reader watches each sister grow and develop their own values. As people around the world heard about their story the sisters started to be called mariposas, or butterflies. The Mirabal sisters are associated with butterflies because each in their own unique way can identify with the subtle bravery of the insect; Minerva’s strength, Patria’s stability, Mate’s development, and Dedé’s instincts. The eldest sister, Patria, was always a child of God. She starts off her first chapter by telling the reader, “No one had to tell me to believe in God or
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.
The text states, “...on my second novel. My mother heard from one of my sisters that I was writing about the dictatorship. The novel would be a fictional retelling of the story of three Mirabal sisters, contemporaries of my mother, whose murder had been reported in… Time magazine… my mother warned, I was not just going to anger family members, but I would be directly responsible for their lives. There were still old cronies of the dictator around who would love an excuse to go after my family, after my father, after her… hardest challenges I had ever had to face as a writer. ”(para.28)
Trujillo gets worried when he learns about the 14th of June Movement because he knows that the goal of the movement is to overthrow or kill him. One by one, he starts jailing members of the movement, as well as ransacking or destroying their homes. At Patria’s house, Trujillo has the SIM tear “...the house apart, hauling away the doors, windows, the priceless mahogany beams of Pedrito’s old family rancho” (Alvarez 192). The way that he messes with those involved in the movement is cruel. After having their homes ransacked, Trujillo jails only the Mirabal husbands, which makes the sisters think they are safe.
In paragraph 27 it states ,”there were still old cronies of the dictator around who would love an excuse to go after my family after my father ,after her ,” the cronies were loyal servants to the dictator even when he was dead so alvarez's mother thought they were still in danger of being captured or killed ,because of the cronies the mother would live in fear unlike alvarez who didn't fully believe they would come after them . Alvarez wrote her novels knowing they may wreak havoc on her family members who were still in the dominican republic and maybe her parents and sisters. In paragraph 29 and 30 it talks about the last novel she wrote about the island and how her mother thought about it ,”I don't care what happens to us i'm so proud of you ,” her mother says ,alvarez wrote the novel at the risk of her family but her mother and her new the story had to be told and the things the people had to go through
In search for a better life outside of the Dominican Republic, Anita’s whole family tries to move to America. One day sitting in her room, Anita look out her window to see no one left on the compound. Anita explains, “I look out the door and down the dark driveway. The whole flock of our family has fled. Only Mami and Chucha and I are left (pg.100 p.9).”Her whole family has gone to America to be free, leaving everything behind.
Gabriel, a vaquero, who exposes the love of the llano, expresses his way of life and freedom. Their kids, three eldest sons, two daughters, and youngest son Antonio, the protagonist, become
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.
Over there, there is a group of rebels trying to overthrow the government. Innocent bystanders are being affected. Most of them want to avoid the conflicts occurring, so they flee. The motion of running away is similar to what Anita’s family did in Before We Were Free. They traveled to the United States, where they would be safe from the dictatorship in the Dominican Republic.
Over the years of fitting in, she enjoyed her independence but believed it “…didn’t have to be an exile…” (Alvarez 1304) from her native ways. In regaining her identity, she believes she must reconnect with her favorite childhood “…antojos, guavas…” (Alvarez 1300). In finding and eating the guavas, it is her way of reconnecting with her family and calling back the memories of the once Dominican
Fatima was more important than his treasure” (95). Santiago is willing to drop everything