in the time of butterflies
March 25, 2013
Mirabal Sisters
When people think of the Dominican Republic in the twentieth century, two words
come to mind: Rafael Trujillo. His dictatorship was defined by a rigid control over the
Dominican people. But many would also have people remember another history of the
Dominican Republic, a history of brave resistance and immense sacrifice. Two different
words come to mind when thinking of this history: The Butterflies. These were the code
names of Minerva, María Teresa, and Patria Mirabal, three sisters who were key members
in an underground movement to overthrow Trujillo. In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia
Alvarez is a somber historical novel showing the role of women in society and their
household in the Dominican Republic. The Mirabal sisters became role models to many
women all around the world. In the Dominican Republic, men had absolute authority over
everything in the early 1900’s. They were considered dominant, while women were
expected to be elegant and inferior. Men were able to live whatever lifestyle they wanted
to live in. What mattered was, as long as men were able to make their family’s income,
they could do whatever they desired. On the other hand, women had to run errands and
take care of their husbands and children. This was the common system at the time.
Alvarez conveys the Mirabal sisters’ courage and their desperation, and the full import of
their tragedy in order to emphasize the roles of women in the Dominican Republic.
The traditions and attitudes in the Dominican Republic did not stop the Mirabal sisters from standing up for what they believed in. For instance, the sisters proved to their
society that that the dictatorship was a horrible thing. The Butterflies were fully
committed to abolish the regime of Trujillo, even though they knew that they could be
killed. They gave up many things to gain their freedom. The
Mirabal Sisters
When people think of the Dominican Republic in the twentieth century, two words
come to mind: Rafael Trujillo. His dictatorship was defined by a rigid control over the
Dominican people. But many would also have people remember another history of the
Dominican Republic, a history of brave resistance and immense sacrifice. Two different
words come to mind when thinking of this history: The Butterflies. These were the code
names of Minerva, María Teresa, and Patria Mirabal, three sisters who were key members
in an underground movement to overthrow Trujillo. In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia
Alvarez is a somber historical novel showing the role of women in society and their
household in the Dominican Republic. The Mirabal sisters became role models to many
women all around the world. In the Dominican Republic, men had absolute authority over
everything in the early 1900’s. They were considered dominant, while women were
expected to be elegant and inferior. Men were able to live whatever lifestyle they wanted
to live in. What mattered was, as long as men were able to make their family’s income,
they could do whatever they desired. On the other hand, women had to run errands and
take care of their husbands and children. This was the common system at the time.
Alvarez conveys the Mirabal sisters’ courage and their desperation, and the full import of
their tragedy in order to emphasize the roles of women in the Dominican Republic.
The traditions and attitudes in the Dominican Republic did not stop the Mirabal sisters from standing up for what they believed in. For instance, the sisters proved to their
society that that the dictatorship was a horrible thing. The Butterflies were fully
committed to abolish the regime of Trujillo, even though they knew that they could be
killed. They gave up many things to gain their freedom. The