Preview

In the Time of the Butterflies Setting Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
496 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
In the Time of the Butterflies Setting Analysis
In the Time of the Butterflies is a recountment of the Mirabel sisters’ story that took place in various locations in the Dominican Republic during the 1940s – 1960s under the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo, and also including brief moments taking place in 1994. The different locations depict the sisters’ actions for leading the revolution throughout the country. In almost every place, Patria, Dedé, Minerva, and Maria Teresa, encounters many obstacles from their enemies, but that does not discourage them from leading a revolution. The story follows each sister as they fight for freedom, however Dedé was the sole survivor out of the four.
The Mirabel sisters were born and raised on their father’s farm with his hopes that they will continue the family tradition of running the farm. However, all of them leave their home to Inmaculada Concepción as part of their coming of age. “And that’s how I got free. I don’t mean just to sleepaway school …I realized that I’d just left a small cage to go into a bigger one, the size of our whole country” (13). Minerva said this when she entered the school and befriending Sinita, who was one of her inspirations in leading the rebellion. Patria attended the school to become a nun and strengthen her faith. However, she ended up conflicting with herself about having someone, besides God, to love. “There was a struggle, but no one could tell. They rambled over my growing body…I tried reining them in, but they broke loose, night after night” (47). She was told by the nuns at the school to listen to His calling and she chose flesh of spirit by marrying the one she fell in love with at first sight, Pedrito González. Inmaculada Concepción was the first place where all four sisters discovered life outside of their secluded farm.
As the Mirabels come to the new places on their journey, most of the time something occurs that alters one of the girl’s personalities. Dedé was against the revolution at first and did not want to be involved

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Minerva says to her mother, “I’d just left a small cage to go into a bigger one, the size of our whole country” (Alvarez 19). The small cage Minerva talks about is being trapped in the Mirabal household, thinking Trujillo is a God. After she learns about the rebellion, her views of her dictator are ruined. Her whole life she has not thought anything of women not having a voice in the government, but Minerva turns herself around and discovers her strength to change that. Although Minerva fears Trujillo, she does not show it towards him. When the Mirabal family receives an invitation to Trujillo’s party, they are shocked to see that he would especially like to see Minerva present. While Trujillo is dancing with Minerva, he becomes forceful with her and begins to throw himself onto her. Minerva knows not to give into what he…

    • 723 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In, In the Time of the Butterflies written by Julia Alvarez shows that ordinary lives can lead to heroic action. This fascinating story that shows the true story about the love between four sisters, and their families. Julia tells all in her heroic story through one of the Mirabal sisters, Maria. Maria Teresa Mirabal the youngest of the sisters was very passionate about what she believed in. Maria always looked up to her older sister Minerva and decided to join her sisters in their political activities.…

    • 249 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The novel, In the Time of the Butterflies, explains the life of the four Mirabal sisters. There was Minerva, Maria Teresa, Dede, Patria. The only survivor was Dede. These girls played a major role in getting rid of the dictatorship of the Dominican Republic. Las Mariposas was their code name. They fought to overthrow Trujillo out of office, even though he forced himself in. Patria, Mate, Minerva lost their lives trying to free others.…

    • 271 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In her novel In the Time of the Butterflies, Julia Alvarez tells a tale that shows how life can be both beautiful and horrible at the same time. The book is set in the Dominican Republic, where an oppressive dictator named Trujillo is in power. Living under his iron fist is the Mirabal family, a relatively normal family with four beautiful daughters. While the girls are protected relatively well from Trujillo’s political patriarchy, a few of them are introduced to patriarchy via minor oppression through the church. However, as they grow older, the Mirabal sisters cannot be so easily protected, and they see how unbearably oppressive Trujillo really is, and eventually each one decides to help fuel a rebellion against him. However, the Mirabal sisters are not just being oppressed by Trujillo; they are also being oppressed by the men in their families.…

    • 1048 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Julia Alvarez’s “In The Time of the Butterflies”, the four Mirabal sisters, Minerva, Maria Teresa, Patria, and Dedé, struggle with accepting principles such as courage, freedom, andfear. As the sisters began to become symbols for freedom during a revolution, each must discover what these concepts mean to them and how to apply them in their fight against a dictatorship. When Trujillo, dictator of the Dominican Republic, sends three of the Mirabal sisters to prison in an attempt to silence their rebellion, Maria Teresa begins to develop a deeper understanding of her role alongside her sisters in the battle against Trujillo, as well as concepts of courage and bravery. In prison, Maria Teresa feels inspired and understands the true feeling of…

    • 692 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Here she earns the nickname “Mariposa”. Over the course of the novel, readers are able to witness Minerva’s increasing strength and determination as she defies social expectations. All of her life Minerva desired to be free. Like a butterfly, she was always eager to spread her wings. She desired to be free from her father’s rules when she was young, and from Trujillo’s dictatorship when she was grown. As Minerva matures, she becomes more aware of her country’s political circumstances. At one point in the novel Minerva reflects, “And that's how I got free. I don't mean just going to sleep away school on a train with a trunkful of new things. I mean in my head after I got to Immaculanda and met Sinita and saw what happened to Lina and realized that I'd just left a small cage to go into a bigger one, the size of our whole country” (Alvarez __). Minerva feels that becoming aware of the political situation in her country is similar to being freed. Rather than being sheltered and naïve, Minerva is able to open her eyes and face the imprisonment that pervades the Dominican Republic. Minerva’s character development embodies the perseverance that butterflies show as they undergo…

    • 851 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mirabal Sisters

    • 992 Words
    • 4 Pages

    All except one are silenced but like the butterfly, their beauty, courage and sacrifice lasts after their death and transforms a country. The resulting publicity of the assassination of the Mirabal sisters only served to highlight their cause further and create more public and international interest in the political state of the Dominican Republic. Trujillo himself would not know that within a six month period, he himself would face assassination in 1961. The tale of the Mirabal sisters is an ongoing legacy of bravery and compassion in order to save the lives of many people in the Dominican Republic. They defied the flow of conformity and stood out as National…

    • 992 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dictator Rafael Trujillo ruled the Dominican Republic for over 30 years. He made his way to the top by destroying anyone that got in his way. This abuse of power continued throughout his reign as dictator. In the novel In the Time of Butterflies, Julia Alvarez gives numerous examples that express how Dictator Trujillo abused his power. Trujillo took away women’s rights , took away prisoner’s rights, and took away freedom of speech in all the citizens of the D.R. This evidence proves that Trujillo was a bad man and abused his position of authority.…

    • 1232 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    For decades, the Dominican Republic was ruled under the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. His harsh ways destroyed the chance for freedom, equality, education, and happiness for the citizens. In the novel, In the Time of the Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez, the Mirabal sisters, Patria, Minerva, Dede, and Maria Teresa, politically take a stand in hope to fight for their country. They were Las Mariposas, “the butterflies,” the strong sisters of the face of rebellion and leadership fighting against the moths, the political army of Trujillo. Butterflies and moths, creatures alike, yet different in significance, illuminate the different opposing sides that underline the struggle of the Dominican Republic.…

    • 686 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The central theme of the Lord of the Flies is the influence of others. Each boy had to pick between a set of rules and morals to live by, dividing them into two groups. The conflict consisted of Civilization versus savagery. In one group the influence of Ralph was a sense of order and everyone lived by rules. The influence of good beliefs and values generated these boys from committing sinful crimes. In Jacks group, the boys were influenced by evil. The killing of animals empowered them to become sinful people. Jack would measure value in the group by ones immediate desire to kill coldblooded. To obtain authority you needed to act violently. These acts shaped how the boy’s mental state developed. Damaging the human they will grow up to be.…

    • 311 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    "As Americans, we want peace -- we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the will and whims of a ruthless and aggressive dictator. I'm not willing to stake one American life on trusting Saddam Hussein." -George W. Bush. President Bush promised America that he would bring down Saddam Hussein no matter what it took. But why? Why would the president make such an imposing promise? In order to ensure the safety of his people (the Americans) such terrorists must be brought down. President Bush was willing to sacrifice the lives of many heroic soldiers to halt terrorism from afflicting this country. Are the lives of these young brave soldiers worth the sacrifice that is needed to bring change into the corrupt government of Iraq? Sacrifice becomes necessary to achieve social change when there is loss of personal freedoms, abuse of power, and physical abuse. This is demonstrated by the revolutions in Nicaragua and Haiti as well as the novel, In the Time of the Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez.…

    • 1175 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Day Of The Butterfly

    • 212 Words
    • 1 Page

    First, “The Literature of Americans,” Kimberly Koza writes: “By discovering the Literature of our neighbors, we may also learn about ourself.” The story I chose was The Day of the Butterfly by Alice Munro. The theme of The Day of the Butterfly varies resulting in a theme from the story; include the realization that the theme relates to our common desire and struggle to belong—to have a friend—and the cruel consequences for those who become outsiders. Additionally, the story Day of the Butterfly is about a sixth-grade girls Myra Sayla who is an immigrant, and responsible for her little brother, Helen a friend of Myra gives her a tin butterfly from a Cracker Jack box. Daring to reach out to Myra makes Helen feel both self-congratulatory and…

    • 212 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    On the surface, Patria is portrayed as the most mundane of the Mirabal sisters because she is very religious and family-oriented character. However, Alvarez uses these characteristics and emphasizes on the events that led up to her loss of faith in order to shape her motivations for joining the revolution. In the beginning of the novel, Patria had no interest in being part of the revolution. However, her views change when surprise invasion when she was on a religious retreat. During the explosions, Patria witnesses a traumatic event when she looks out the window and witnesses the death of a young boy. She relates to this boy as if he were her own son and the terrible scene had a profound impact on her. After this traumatic event, Patria began to doubt God’s ability to protect her and her family. In her narration, she says, “I'm not going to sit back and watch my babies die, Lord, even if that's what You in Your great wisdom decide” (Alvarez 162). This event had a compelling effect on this character in two aspects. In one aspect, since Alvarez emphasized on Patria loss of faith, she was able to to transform the character, Patria from an ordinary, religious woman into a strong member of the revolution. In another aspect, by highlighting this traumatic event in Patria’s life, Alvarez was able to create depth in…

    • 948 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Courage is valued among the characters, and they display it in varying amounts. Among all the sisters Minerva shows the most courage. First she starts off by wanting to be a lawyer and she is not afraid of speaking her mind. She goes to a boarding school where she meets a girl who is against Trujillo and learns how bad Trujillo really is. This is when she begins to start acting rebellious. Once she is older, Minerva’s family is invited to a party at Trujillo’s palace where she does things that most people would never even dare to think of doing. Minerva plays a game with Trujillo which she wins and gets her father released from arrest and gets her into law school. In law school, she joins a group that is speaking out against Trujillo. A lot of courage is needed to complete the tasks that Minerva completed and with these tasks she developed a love-hate relationship with Trujillo making some of the tasks easier to complete. In the end three out of the four sister have a lot courage and become a symbol for many people. The three sisters are killed, but by who they were killed is very controversial. The sisters are all aware of their cowardice as they perceive it, and while they sometimes fight for courage, in some cases they simply accept their cowardice, except for Minerva who shows courage at all times.…

    • 1649 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    "Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man' heart, and the fall through the air of his true, wise friend called Piggy" demonstrates the main theme of this novel: man is evil by nature. The three things that Ralph weeps for are the lessons he has on this island: innocent boys become savage; all human beings have evil deep inside their hearts and the fall of science and rationality before the evil of human. These three issues are developed throughout the whole novel with this passage as the conclusion of the main theme - human beings are evil by nature.…

    • 959 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays