“In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez” Essay Example

Teresa's diary entries from 1945 to 1946. Maria Teresa describes various aspects of her childhood life, such as her pleasures and clothing. Hilda, a revolutionary who fights against Trujillo and is friends with Minerva, is also mentioned. Hilda eventually gets arrested, leading Maria Teresa to hide her diary from the police.Chapter four begins with Patria's narration in 1946, where she initially desires to become a nun but ultimately falls in love with Pedrito and marries him. They have two children, but tragically their third child is stillborn, causing Patria to lose her faith in religion. However, her faith is eventually restored when she has a spiritual encounter with the Virgin Mary.

Moving on to chapter five, Dede reflects on the year 1994 and discusses her past romantic interest in Lio, who was both a doctor and a revolutionary. Due to his involvement in revolutionary activities, Lio is forced to flee the Dominican Republic. He gives Dede a letter to deliver to Minerva, urging her to join him in exile. Ultimately, Dede decides to burn the letter instead.

In chapter six, Minerva recounts events starting from 1949 when Inmaculada graduates and expresses her desire to study law. Inmaculada later discovers that her father has been hiding letters from Lio, revealing that he has four illegitimate daughters. The family attends an event hosted by Trujillo, where Minerva slaps him for his poor dancing skills. This prompts the family to leave the party after it starts raining. Unfortunately, Minerva forgets her purse at the event, and inside it is a letter from Lio that leads to her father's arrest. However, after weeks of pleading with Trujillo, Minerva and her mother

manage to secure his release.

Lastly, in chapter seven, Maria Teresa provides a firsthand account of the years 1953 to 1958 through entries from her diary.In 1953, Minerva's father passes away, prompting her to enroll in law school where she experiences various events. Eventually, she marries Manolo Tavarez and they have a daughter. Despite graduating from law school, Trujillo refuses to grant Minerva a license to practice. Along the way, Minerva and Manolo face marital issues but resolve them when they join an underground movement against Trujillo's regime. Influenced by Minerva, Maria Teresa also joins the movement with the code name Mariposa 2, while Minerva goes by Mariposa 1. Maria Teresa's decision to join the movement is mainly driven by her feelings for Guzman, a member of the resistance. In 1958, Maria Teresa successfully marries Leandro Guzman. In the eighth chapter, Patria becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son named Raul Ernesto, inspired by Cuban revolutionaries Raul Castro and Ernesto Guevara. Patria also offers her farm as a meeting place for the movement before heading off on a retreat. Unfortunately, during the retreat, their location is bombed and Patria witnesses the death of a young boy. The bombing is carried out by Trujillo's forces who are targeting rebels hiding in the forests. This traumatic event leads Patria to join the resistance and convince Pedrito to join as well. Together, they name their resistance group the Fourteenth of June Movement. Chapter nine is narrated by Dede, who sympathizes with the movement but never officially joins due to disapproval from her husband Jaimito.In 1960, Minerva, Maria Teresa, Patria, and their husbands, as well as Nelson, are all

arrested. Patria also loses her farm. Chapter ten reveals that their home is under surveillance and Patria is visited in prison. Magrita, her cousin and a prison guard, makes life easier for her in prison. Trujillo releases Nelson. In chapter eleven, Maria Teresa's diary recounts events between March and August 1960. She narrates her time in prison with Minerva and other non-political women. Maria Teresa undergoes an electric shock while her husband watches, which forces him to cooperate with Trujillo. During a visit from the Organization of American States, Maria secretly informs them of the torture they have endured, resulting in the release of all the women. Chapter twelve details the disbandment of the movement. Maria Teresa is placed under house arrest, and Trujillo declares that the Maribal sisters and Catholic Church are his only problems. Manolo and Leandro are imprisoned far away from their wives, making it difficult for them to visit. However, the sisters manage to visit them. In the epilogue, Dede recounts how the sisters and Rufino are killed on their way home. Soldiers beat them and push their car off a cliff. The book explores various themes including authoritarianism, as demonstrated by President Trujillo and his regime.During his reign, the government under Trujillo's rule imprisoned individuals for simply criticizing them. This often led to torture or even death. To ensure loyalty, citizens were forced to display a portrait of Trujillo in their homes, and he was depicted as a national hero. The leadership exercised control over every aspect of Dominican citizens' lives, inflicting great suffering upon them. Simultaneously, there is also a prevalent theme of societal change throughout the book. The

author explores the transformation of the Maribal sisters into revolutionary leaders. Even during Trujillo's lifetime, there is an emerging wind of change in the country as more people join in criticizing the regime, including the Catholic Church. The Maribal sisters exemplify courage as they fearlessly support one another and their spouses. They are the central characters in the book, displaying immense bravery. However, Dede, although lacking courage, chooses not to join the revolution due to her family obligations. Nevertheless, instances such as her claiming to be Minerva to Trujillo's men demonstrate her own courage as she tries to protect her sister. Furthermore, Dede takes on the responsibility of caring for her nephews and nieces after losing her sisters. Conversely, Trujillo and his men showcase cowardice by their reliance on makeup, medals, and constant need for flattery about their superiority.Trujillo’s men demonstrate cowardice by committing unacceptable acts and never daring to question him. The Maribal sisters cross a previously uncrossed line for women in society. Men held positions of authority, relegating women to the kitchen and domestic chores. Gender roles were well-defined in Dominican society. Minerva's father opposed her pursuit of law school, doubting her abilities as a woman. Similarly, Dede's husband prevents her from entering the business world, believing women are incapable. Despite Dede's husband performing poorly in business, she excels after their divorce. Throughout the book, women challenge society's gender limitations and many of Minerva's school friends find success in their careers. Dominican society is depicted as patriarchal with Catholicism as the dominant religion. The book emphasizes that collective action can bring about societal change. It also showcases how poor leadership leads to suffering

for innocent individuals, prompting the necessity for all to rise against such leadership worldwide.