The Role Of Government In Julia Alvarez's In The Time Of Butterflies

What were the characterstics of tyranny or dictatorship government that were highlighted in the novel, In The Time of Butterflies?

In The Time of Butterflies is a historical novel by Julia Alvarez, regarding the account of the four Mirabal sisters or the Butterflies. Minevra, Patria, Maria Teresa and Dede, speak across dedcades to tell their own stories. Where they describe the daily horrors experienced under Trujillo's regime. The author boldly highlighted the evils and oppressions people encounter in the hands of a dictator who embody many characterstics of a tyrannical government. Such as persecution, suppression and invasion of privacy. The three sisters excluding Dede, make a political commitment to overthrow Trujillo's government. However, they are killed on Puerto Plata
Road by Trujillo's men as vengance for their political activity.

In the novel, the author introduces the reader to Trujillo by providing insight on his rise to power through a dialouge between Minerva and her friend Sinata, "according to Sinita, Trujillo became president in a sneaky way." In 1918, Trujillo joined the National Gaurd and began training with the U.S marines. He sought opportunity to impress the recruiters and elevated from lieutenant to general and commander in cheif of the National Army. Later in 1930, a rebellion against President Vasquez emerged. Trujillo and rebel leader Rafael Estrella conspired to overthrow Vasquez's government in exchange of being nominated for presidancy. Thereafter, Trujillo took office and instantly assumed dictatorial powers. His use of subterfuge was not the only scandal that has circulated among the Dominicans. In fact, Trujillo generally maintained a bad reputation due to multiple scandals and rumors that concerned him. Most of which were featured in the novel, to indicate this aspect in a tyrannical government.

Brutal oppression and harrasment is a prevalent characterstic in dictatorship government.
Trujillo employed this method against people whom he believed had wronged him or to impede their efforts of defeating his government. The author demonstrates this through the unfortunate series of events experienced by the Mirabal family. For instance, after the incident where Minerva rejected Trujillo's improper advances by slapping him, her father is "sent to the capital for questioning," but in reality it was more than a matter of questioning. Minerva's father was subject to extreme torture as punishment for his daughter's audaucity, and it was later discovered that "he has gone mad" due to his imprisonment. Furthermore, the three Mirabal sisters exposed themselves and their family to greater danger as they commenced with their political activity. They were being constantly spied on, received numerous threats, and were eventually imprisoned. Likewise, other individuals were suppressed by the SIM. Trujillo himself has implied the use of cruel tactics to silence educators of communism or politics that contradicted his own, when he quotes "but we've been teaching those teachers their lessons all
right!."

Execution and killing of actual or percieved members of any opposition was a key feature of Trujillo's rule as it was in most dictators like Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini. In addition he was responsible for initiating the Parsely Massacre in Haiti, Trujillo ordered an attack on the border, causing a great bloodshed and the number of deaths were estimated between 10,000 and 30,000. By the 1950s opposition to this dictorial regime has peaked due to further crimes commited by Trujillo such as the bombing of Bentacourt's car and the brutal murder of three Mirabal sisters. In the book the author highlights the characterstic by providing several accounts of murders executed by the dictator. Sinita is a minor character in the story, however her family has personaly experienced Trujillo's atrocious cruelities; in which most members of her family were killed due to their opposition. Sinita cries "You still don't get it? Minerva, don't you see? Trujillo is having everyone killed!" as she tries to project the evil image of Trujillo. Overall, killing is among the prominent characterstics of a dictorial government. "It's the secret of Trujillio," to suppress his enemies and avert political rebellion.

A tyrant is often described as a cruel character because they defend their position by oppressive means, tending to control everyone in the state. Trujillo's government was an examplar of brutal tyranny. He used extreme and cruel tactics against his own people as well as others. Such as killing and persecution. Moreover, tyrannical governments hold absymal reputations. Trujillo's reputation was tarnished because he was often involved in numerous scandals and rumors. Thus, inflaming world opinion against him, substantially in the 1960s when he executed the henious murder of three mirabal sisters.