In the Time of the Butterflies
September 25, 2012
Sometimes Even to Live is an Act of Courage In Julia Alvarez’s, In the Time of the Butterflies, the Mirabal sisters show just how strong sisterly bonds can truly be. Even though the sisters do not openly show their gratitude for one another, they all indeed have something in common. The sisters overcome many obstacles throughout the novel, but to overcome any obstacle, one has to have courage in oneself and others. In order for the sisters to be able to achieve their goals they have to be able to have faith and trust in one another so that the Mirabal sisters can each be courageous enough to overcome all the obstacles that get in their way. The oldest sister, Patria, came across many complications throughout her life but she did not have to go through it alone. Patria was the oldest Mirabal sister of the four girls. She was the sister who wanted to go away and become a nun; however her Papa disagreed upon the matter “Patria as a nun would be a waste of a pretty girl” (Alvarez 11). Once Patria was sent away to school she realized being the religious one of the Mirabal family was indeed what she wanted, even if she had to disappoint someone of her family. It takes a strong willed person to be able to stand up against her family and go after what she believes in, no matter if anyone important to her has different ideas upon the matter. Once Patria realized that the school was no longer suited for her needs, she then returned home to help Papa out with the farm. Patria later married the love of her life, and they had two kids; Noris and Nelson. During this time period it was a blessing from God to be blessed with the presence of another life. Patria was so excited, until she discovered something was wrong with her third child, “And I realized I was giving birth to something that was dead” (52). No mother can ever imagine losing a child. In order to get over the incident and move on with one’s life one has to be able to believe in herself and
Sometimes Even to Live is an Act of Courage In Julia Alvarez’s, In the Time of the Butterflies, the Mirabal sisters show just how strong sisterly bonds can truly be. Even though the sisters do not openly show their gratitude for one another, they all indeed have something in common. The sisters overcome many obstacles throughout the novel, but to overcome any obstacle, one has to have courage in oneself and others. In order for the sisters to be able to achieve their goals they have to be able to have faith and trust in one another so that the Mirabal sisters can each be courageous enough to overcome all the obstacles that get in their way. The oldest sister, Patria, came across many complications throughout her life but she did not have to go through it alone. Patria was the oldest Mirabal sister of the four girls. She was the sister who wanted to go away and become a nun; however her Papa disagreed upon the matter “Patria as a nun would be a waste of a pretty girl” (Alvarez 11). Once Patria was sent away to school she realized being the religious one of the Mirabal family was indeed what she wanted, even if she had to disappoint someone of her family. It takes a strong willed person to be able to stand up against her family and go after what she believes in, no matter if anyone important to her has different ideas upon the matter. Once Patria realized that the school was no longer suited for her needs, she then returned home to help Papa out with the farm. Patria later married the love of her life, and they had two kids; Noris and Nelson. During this time period it was a blessing from God to be blessed with the presence of another life. Patria was so excited, until she discovered something was wrong with her third child, “And I realized I was giving birth to something that was dead” (52). No mother can ever imagine losing a child. In order to get over the incident and move on with one’s life one has to be able to believe in herself and
Cited: Alvarez, Julia. In the Time of the Butterflies. Chapel Hill: Algonquan, 2010. Print.