According to Rafael Trujillo, “He who does not know how to deceive does not know how to rule(azquotes)”. This explains the mindset of the dictator of the Dominican Republic shown in the book The Time Of The Butterflies by Julia Alvarez. In this historical fiction book it explain the story of the Mirabal sister in there fight to stop the oppression of Trujillo. It goes though there life story and gives insight to what the conditions were. Trujillo and the Dominican Republic government oppressed the citizens by arresting if you resist them, Machiavellian control and the deplorable conditions these people lived in. Arresting people for visiting the governments wants can be seen when The Mirabal family was invited to Trujillo’s party and attended it, but Minerva was placed at an “important” table while her family was at one of back tables. Minerva was asked to …show more content…
Nelson, Patrias son, had been arrested with his father, Jaimito, for being part of the revolution. Shown in Patria writings, “Suddenly it all came out, along with the tears. How I had read in the papers about El Jefe excusing minors, how my boy had just turned eighteen in prison, how I wondered if there was anything at all Peña could do to get my boy pardoned(258)”. The fear for her son drove her to become helpless and fall right into what the government wants, which is to hold the cards against people who resists. They use torture, murder, and imprisonment to invoke fear into the citizen on the Dominican Republic. The way Trujillo treats his people are to have them fear him, so he gets his way. The injustice is the extortion he uses against his people so they will go with his ways. Trujillo used manipulative techniques to restrain and dominate his citizens by invoking
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez portrays the Dominican Republics in a time where Rafael Leonidas Trujillo is the ruthless dictator. Throughout the novel, Trujillo accentuates the idea of manipulation by controlling all aspects of Dominican life and manipulates Dominicans from an early age by alluding himself to be the ideal leader. In the beginning of the novel there is a passage from a textbook that is meant for young Dominican children: “All through nature there is a feeling of ecstasy. A strange otherworldly light suffuses the house smelling of the labor and sanctity.
From 1931 to 1961 the Dominican Republic was under the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. Born in 1891 Trujillo was raised in San Cristobal and in a middle class family. Wanting to escape his rural life Rafael Trujillo joined the army and through force was deemed the highest office possible. After his time in the military Trujillo placed himself as a candidate in the presidential elections and “organized a secret police force to torture and murder supporters of the opposing candidate. Not surprisingly, Trujillo won the election by a landslide” (Rafael Trujillo Biography, 2014).
In the Time of the Butterflies is a book about 4 sisters, Patria, Dedé, Minerva, and María Teresa. The book is about the three girls growing up and their experiences during the time of the underground movement to overthrow Trujillo. The book was written in memory of Dedé’s 3 sisters who had been ambushed and murdered, which we are aware of since the beginning of the novel. The beginning chapter of the book is describing Dedé as she waits for a woman who is going to interview her about her three sisters, she then goes into a flashback she has of her family talking at the dinner table and her father mentions someone named Trujillo, which then gives a hint at who this book might be formed around. Through the book, we read stories about times in the girls’ lives when they were going to school at Inmaculada Concepcion and being at home and falling in love, as well as there run ins with Trujillo himself.
May of 1961 - A monumental day for the citizens of the Dominican Republic. Their corrupt, authoritarian ruler, Rafael Trujillo, was assassinated by a group of men, bringing joy to the oppressed masses of the country. Prominent leaders of the revolutionary movement were the Mirabal Sisters, who ultimately sacrificed their life in order to overthrow Trujillo. But was this sacrifice necessary in order to set right the inhumane and cruel regime of Trujillo? A vast collection of evidence suggests otherwise.
During the 1930’s, Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina was the dictator of the Dominican Republic. Corrupt Trujillo ruled with an iron fist and maintained control by using the unscrupulous patronage system for appointing people to important offices, discretely murdering political opponents, and enforcing strict censorship laws. Many countries invested into the Dominican Republic without Knowing the horrors that the Regime was causing for the povern stricken people. Junot Diaz was raised in the Dominican Republic’s chaos and a sense of unity has been forced upon him for survival as a result.
While Esteban, who beat his wife and cut his daughter’s lover’s fingers off, suffered no consequences. Esteban had the power to order the police to do what he liked, only because of his status. Pedro was left defenseless due to his lower class. He had no authority to help him protect himself against the police, and the wealthy patron. Allende uses Esteban as an example to show how a member of the
My parents and I moved to the Dominican Republic when I was thirteen years old. Living there as a young American came with many challenges. One of the biggest threats against foreigners is violence. Within my first years of living in Dominican Republic, I had experienced two incidents at it firsthand. The first incident happen a week before school began, I was mugged by two assailants; man on a motorcycle and another man on foot.
Focusing on Patria, after listening to advice about joining the revolution she has made her final conclusions about what she wanted to do about the situation. Julia Alvarez uses Patria's faith in God as an illustration of courage. Patria is a very religious person. She used her faith in God to help her get through difficult situations demonstrating moral, physical, and emotional courage in time of danger.
Virgilio Morales, known as Lio, was a young revolutionary who fought against Trujillo. He influenced Minerva to demand change for Republic Dominica. Lio Inspired Minerva to fight against Trujillo’s dictatorial government. He encourages her to involved in the revolution, which changed Minerva’s lifestyle: “When I met Lio, it was as if I woke up. The givens, all I’d been so many covers when you sit up in the bed” (86).
As the eldest sister, Patria is introduced as a motherly figure toward her sisters. She married at a young age and was happy being a wife and mother. Her Christianity is central to her character, and although it was tested due to the death of her stillborn child, a retreat in the mountains with her church group profoundly affects both her faith and her view of the rebellion. At the retreat, Patria witnesses a young rebel, not much older than her own daughter, being shot and killed by Trujillo’s guard force.
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.
In the novel “In the Times of the Butterflies” by Julia Alvarez, the 4 Mirable sisters tell their stories about how they will destroy Rafael Trujillo. The two sisters that standout the most are Minerva and Mate, which is also known as Maria Teresa. Minerva, thro first person narration and Mate, throw her journal entries are developed to show they are unique personalities, both their feelings and, and how they develop. All 4 sisters fight for theyre rights and against Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic.
It can be said without question that the Mirabal sisters made extreme sacrifices in the name of social justice. They gave up their time, their energy, their families, their safety, and finally, their lives. But did those sacrifices really make a difference? After all, they were killed before they could see Trujillo’s regime topple. And the sisters arguably did little to impact Trujillo’s reign and his assassination several months after their deaths.
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.
Compare and Contrast Essay Outline Template I. Introduction a. General information about DR and Dominican Republic b. Similarities between these two countries c. Thesis statement II. Body a. Body paragraph 1: Differences/people. i. How are they considered - Extroverts vs shy people 1.