In The Time Of The Butterflies Sacrifice Analysis

Making sacrifices are never easy, but when one finds something worth fighting for, the risk is always worth it. In the novel In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, four sisters from the Dominican Republic face difficulties as they are under the regime of the dictator Rafael Trujillo. Three of the four sisters, Minerva, Patria, and Maria Teresa, choose to become members of the underground revolution where they establish a plan to bring down Trujillo. As Minerva learns more about the revolution, she becomes the most determined to resist against the political tyranny and reveals how sacrifice is essential when fighting for change. Throughout the novel, Minerva’s involvement in the revolution becomes so compelling that she is willing
While she is in prison with Maria Teresa for being involved in the revolution, they are given the opportunity to leave but she does not accept it. She convinces Maria Teresa to not accept it either as it would mean that “[they] thought [they] had something to be pardoned for” (236) and it would not be right for them to be free “unless everyone else was offered the same opportunity” (236). Minerva could have easily left the prison but she has faith that she is doing the right thing by staying, regardless of the fact that the condition of the prison is unhealthy as she and her sister are locked up in a tiny cell with other women. Minera is also often put in solitary confinement for misbehaving but it is still not enough to make her want to accept the jail pardon. Maria Teresa states that “it was like the time Minerva wanted to do the hunger strike” (236). Minerva and her sister were already half-starved yet Minerva still felt it was necessary to fight for change. Her urge to continue to challenge authorities despite the struggle conveys that the sacrifices she makes are not used in vain. Therefore, Minerva is able to do whatever she must do to take Trujillo