In The Time Of The Butterflies By Julia Alvarez
Historical fiction novel: In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez is about four sisters living through the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. In my opinion Alvarez’s work of historical fiction is more beneficial rather than detrimental towards helping the reader understand the Mirabal sisters history and what actually took place. For instance, it allows the reader to re-experience how much Trujillo’s regime really impacted the sisters lives, accordingly, by Alvarez making the characters alive it gives the reader a sense of empathy too.
Allowing the reader to re-experience the Mirabel sisters lives, in their point of views gives a better understanding on what happened during the era of Trujillo's dictatorship in the Dominican
Republic. In the beginning of the novel the Mirabal sisters were oblivious to Trujillo’s bad ways until they went to Immaculate Concepcion, Minerva is first addressed by her friend, Sinita: “You still don’t get it ? Minerva, don’t you see? Trujillo is having everyone killed!” (19) Sinita is the first one to arise Minerva from her illusion of Trujillo being an innocent leader he is portrayed to be. Minerva is one of many under Trujillo’s spell even though his violent dictatorship is obvious to anyone that is aware. When Sinita tries to explain to Minerva the first time how bad Trujillo is, Minerva doesn’t fully accept it because Trujillo is respected by any Dominicans that are blind. Although the Mirabel sisters didn’t win against Trujillo during their lives, their perspectives are important and help the reader comprehend the conditions back then.
Along with making the reader re-experience the sisters lives, the reader receives a feeling of compassion for the Mirabel sisters. Minerva’s licence to practice law at her graduation was declined because she rejected Trujillo's romantic actions. Trujillo highlights his power by ruining her graduation day. Selfishly Trujillo wipes away all Minerva’s hard work: acts petty when controlling over all aspects of Dominican life. Julia Alvarez adding the sisters thoughts, emotions, and problems with the regime displays how the majority of Dominican Republic's felt and the mental state they were in at the time giving the reader an understanding of how it was.
Allowing the reader to re-experience the Mirabel sisters lives, in their point of views gives a better understanding on what happened during the era of Trujillo's dictatorship in the Dominican
Republic. In the beginning of the novel the Mirabal sisters were oblivious to Trujillo’s bad ways until they went to Immaculate Concepcion, Minerva is first addressed by her friend, Sinita: “You still don’t get it ? Minerva, don’t you see? Trujillo is having everyone killed!” (19) Sinita is the first one to arise Minerva from her illusion of Trujillo being an innocent leader he is portrayed to be. Minerva is one of many under Trujillo’s spell even though his violent dictatorship is obvious to anyone that is aware. When Sinita tries to explain to Minerva the first time how bad Trujillo is, Minerva doesn’t fully accept it because Trujillo is respected by any Dominicans that are blind. Although the Mirabel sisters didn’t win against Trujillo during their lives, their perspectives are important and help the reader comprehend the conditions back then.
Along with making the reader re-experience the sisters lives, the reader receives a feeling of compassion for the Mirabel sisters. Minerva’s licence to practice law at her graduation was declined because she rejected Trujillo's romantic actions. Trujillo highlights his power by ruining her graduation day. Selfishly Trujillo wipes away all Minerva’s hard work: acts petty when controlling over all aspects of Dominican life. Julia Alvarez adding the sisters thoughts, emotions, and problems with the regime displays how the majority of Dominican Republic's felt and the mental state they were in at the time giving the reader an understanding of how it was.