Category: In The Time of The Butterflies

In the book, In the Time of The Butterflies, Dedè Mirabal the final surviving Mirabal sister tells the story of her family and how her three sisters grew to become martyrs and national heroines. The novel takes place in The Dominican Republic during the era of rule under Rafael Trujillio. The story focuses on three of the four sisters, Patria, Minerva and Mate (“The Butterflies”) who go through many hardships as they fight for freedom as a woman in their country. Minerva Mirabal, the third sister and the ringleader of “the butterflies” was the most revolutionary and influential martyr of the sisters. A martyr is someone who is killed because of their beliefs. Chinese feminist and revolutionary martyr, Qiu Jin was executed in the process of trying to overthrow the Qing government. Both women became profound historical figures after being killed for adhering to their beliefs for both themselves and their countries. Comparing these two women, we ask the questions, were they fighting for the same thing, did they use the same tactics, and were they effective?

Qiu Jin was known as China’s Joan of Arc and their first feminist. During this time, women’s rights in China were close to non-existent and she was concerned with the fate of China and Chinese women. Longing for independence, equality, and power for women, Qiu Jin wished to serve her country. Although, this was not possible because women “belonged” to their husbands in marriage and were viewed as property. In her late 20’s, Jin abandoned her marriage and left her two children to study in Japan and when she returned home, she had hopes of reforming women’s role in society. Minerva Mirabal, known as “Butterfly #1” desires freedom for both herself and women in general. “Sometimes, watching the rabbits in their pens, I’d think, I’m no different from you, poor things”. (Alvarez 11) The rabbit symbolizes Minerva in the way that she is always at home and she has to ask for permission from her parents to do everything. In the novel, Rafael Trujillio was the president of the Dominican Republic at the time and the whole country was basically confined by him. Minerva is the first to be opened up to the reality and the brutality of Trujillio’s regime. Sinitia tells her “Trujillio became president in a sneaky way. First, he was in the army, and all the people who were above him kept disappearing until he was one right below the head of the whole armed forces”. (Alvarez 17) After hearing this from Sinitia, Minerva’s image of Trujillio changes and she realizes how evil of a man he is. She is the first of the sisters to join the revolutionary movement against Trujillio. Overall, Minerva has a very restless personality and she is fighting for freedom from the rules of her father and from Trujillio’s dictatorship. Qiu Jin and Minerva are not fighting for the exact same thing but they both have the same theme of freedom.

Both women martyr used similar tactics for their beliefs. They both used education to support their beliefs. Qiu Jin removed toxic factors in her life such as leaving her husband so she could go study in Japan and get an education. Minerva goes to school in expectations of graduating and earning a license to practice law. In 1905, Qiu Jin returned home to China and took part in political activities by joining the Triads, an underground society who advocated in overthrowing the Qing government (Engel). Minerva completes law school and graduates with her diploma but Trujilli gets revenge on her and does not give her a license to practice law. Both Minerva and Mate get married and have children with revolutionaries, and take part in an underground resistance movement against Trujillio. Minerva helps influence her sister Patria whose lifestyle is very different from hers, and she feels the need to join the movement with her sisters. Minerva, Mate, and Patria are now known as “The Butterflies”. Minerva was arguably the bravest and the most outspoken out of the sisters and she was considered the leader of the group. Qiu Jin also was a voice in the support for women’s rights and became a national hero. Still today, she is viewed as a leader and a symbol of women’s independence in China (Engel).

Although both women died trying to stand up for what they believe in, they left a long lasting mark on their counties. Both Qiu Jin and Minerva’s tactics were effective to an extent. The most known tactic used by Qiu Jin for promoting women’s rights in China was through her writings and her poetry. Jin wrote about equal education for women, the abolition of foot binding, and arranged marriages in China through newsletters, articles, and poems. (Tow) Jin’s plan to make political changes to China’s central government has some successes on the way, but overall was not victorious. Although Qiu Jin and her cousin, Xu Xilin lost their lives trying to overthrow the Qing government, it resulted in bringing more attention and support for women’s rights. Minerva was effective in the sense of gaining freedom from her father’s rules but she was able to overthrow the reign of Trujillio. “…after I got to Inmaculada 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 13) Minerva realizes that even though she was starting to branch out from her home, she was still not free under the rule of Trujillio. After Minerva got out of prison, she started searching for people still involved in the revolution. Minerva, Mate, and Petria all went to visit their husbands in jail on multiple occasions but on the fourth trip to see them, the butterflies and their driver, Rufino are attacked and killed. The incident was made to look like an accident but everyone knows that Trujillio did it. Although Minerva died, she was restless and she fought hard for her freedom.

Two vastly different women, from completely opposite ends of the world both used their education and their desire to live freely to try and reform their countries. Qiu Jin and Minerva were ultimately fighting for different things but each of them wanted freedom and a voice to speak out. One similarity we see in the two of them is their personalities, in the way that they were restless, idealistic, and brave. Although they both were killed, fighting for what they believed in, they each left a long lasting mark on their countries and on the world as a whole. Qiu Jin is knowns as China’s first feminist and Minerva, along with her sisters Mate and Petria are national symbols of the resistance movement. To this day, we recognize both women as revolutionary martyrs and national heroes.

Works Cited

1. Engel, Keri EngelKeri Lynn. “Qiu Jin, Chinese Feminist & Revolutionary Martyr.” Amazing Women In History, 4 June 2019, https://amazingwomeninhistory.com/qiu-jin-chinese-feminist-revolutionary/.
2. Tow, Don M. “Qiu Jin (秋瑾) – China’s First Feminist.” Don Tow’s Website, 27 Nov. 2009, http://www.dontow.com/2009/08/qiu-jin/.
3. Alvarez, Julia. In the Time of The Butterflies. New York, Algonquin Books, 2010

In one’s life, one may take the things they have for granted. In many scenarios one person may not cherish the things they have and when those things eventually disappear they realize they should have cherished them more. The book, In the Time of the Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez tells the story of 4 sisters and their struggle against the Trujillo regime. In the book one clearly evident theme that Alvarez writes about is to cherish ones loved ones, cherish what one has while one has it.

In the book one theme clearly stated is to cherish ones family. For example, in chapter one we are introduced to Dede, she is being interviewed by a woman from the United States. Dede is hoping that she does not have to retell all of the stories that bring back the horrible memories and the questions of why she was the sister who survived. Eventually the woman asks Dede how she can keep a tragedy from taking her under and Dede replies “There were many many happy years. I remember those. I try anyhow. I tell myself, Dede, concentrate on the positive!”(Alvarez 7). This quote shows that Dede tries to focus on the happy moments that she can remember, and thinks back to how she loved her family. This is significant because it proves that one should love and cherish their family because one may never know when they might disappear and never come back. As a result of Dede being the one sister who survived, she has to think about the past and how she could have loved and shown her sisters more appreciation. Dede has had many years to think about this topic however, it is finally sinking in.

Moreover, chapter 9 gives evidence to prove the theme that one should cherish what they have while they have it. Dede is continuing to tell the interview woman about her life and what happened with her sisters. Dede finds herself remembering a poem that Minerva used to say. Dede recites the poem and thinks how it always goes through her mind at that particular time and she says to the interview woman “That poem always goes through my head this time of day, Minerva used to recite it a lot those last few months…”(Alvarez 171). This is significant because it shows that Dede is stuck in the past and how she remembers the little things that her sisters did that made her happy. When Dede says this quote she is remembering how her sisters impacted her life in the slightest of ways and how she cherished the happy things that mattered to her. Thus this evidence supports the theme that one should cherish the things they have while they have it. Though Dede did not know that she was going to be losing her sisters she cherished them while she had them.

The themes from above are further reinforced later in the book in chapter 12. All of Dedes sisters are going to see their husbands in the prison in the mountains. Dede got in an argument with her sisters saying that they are all commiting suicide because they are all going to be in one place at one time where it would be easy to kill them. Thus Dede does not want to lose her sisters and she does not want them to risk their lives all together. Because of this Minerva tells Dede “Come on, Dede. Think how sorry you’d be if something should happen to us and you didn’t say goodbye.” then Dede ran to the car sobbing and replied “I don’t want to have to live without you” (Alvarez 266). These quotes illustrate that even in the times where Dede is mad at her sisters she still loves them, cherishes them, and wants them to know that. Dede does not support her sister’s decision to go to the prison but she still wants them to know that she loves them. Dede expresses her concerns for her sisters all traveling together because they are important to her and she wants them to return safely.

As one can see above, one must cherish ones loved ones, cherish what one has while one has it. When a person cherishes what they have they will ultimately be thankful that they did cherish it. This is a theme that was shown throughout the book and was displayed through Dede. After Dede’s sisters died she realized how much she truly did love them and she was thankful that she cherished them while they were alive. There were many examples throughout the book where Dede cherished her loved ones.

Julia Alveriaz Is the author of the novel In The Time of The Butterflies which undoubtedly contains; multiple metaphors throughout the book about life, love, etc. Also, how each of the characters goes through their own personal journey to complete their ultimate goal. The historical-fiction novel is about how four sisters (Dede, Minerva, Patria, Maria) attempt to overthrow a vicious dictator (Rafael Trujillo). Throughout the novel’s story, there are numerous themes expressed in each chapter in separate ways. One relevant theme is the more chains are tightened the more someone eagerly wants to break free. For example, how in the beginning that with their home life with Papa he does not want the sisters to attend school and they have to convince him for them to go. Moreover, with Minerva when she obtained her degree to be a lawyer but is unallowed to practice. When the sisters are in prison plus house arrest they always keep their spirits high for example the crucifix necklaces. All of these examples the sisters push through and do not allow them to bind them, force them to be someone they are not.

Relation to the theme is when the sisters go to prison and when they get out they are still on house arrest. All throughout the jail, if they show they are still strong-willed they are sufficiently punished like when Minerva stood up to a guard and went solitary. This might have disturbed her when she got out but after she overcame that hitch she became a stronger person and wanted to break free from Trujillo. The next reason why this is related to the theme is how when the sisters get out of prison and during that time it is almost the end of Trujillo. With almost all his key allies fleeing him Trujillo tries to tighten his control over the country but more people start opposing him even Minerva feels getting apart of the revolution again is not worth it. But continuing in the chapter Minerva gets her old self back is trying to find resistance cells to assist her to get rid of Trujillo. Although finding out almost all the resistant cells are dead she still is persistent in discovering a person still interested and involved in the cause. Also, how she is so tired of Trujillo, that she just desires him to die just to get rid of him she does not care who or how it’s done. The reason why this is related to the theme is after being burdened by what he has performed to her and the people with extreme restrictions she just wants him gone.

Going farther into depth with Minerva and how after she graduated but was unallowed to get her necessary license and how it is reasonably related to the theme. A specific piece of evidence that supports this claim is how is when in the chapter (seven) Minerva informs her sister that she is a leader in the revolution. With her not gaining her license piled on the various reasons Trujillo should not be in power, she realizes that for her to get free of the chain that is Trujillo she needs the key which is his death.

Final pieces of evidence are when Papa is basically forcing the sisters to do what he wants and does not let them do stuff that they want to do, for example, go to school. Evidence for this at the beginning of the book Minvera explains they have to ask Papa to do anything. This is related because for Minvera she longs for freedom, and when seeing her chance to flee to school with her sister she took even to imply that she “got free.” Next piece of evidence is when Papa tells the sisters one of them has to stay, and Minerva is extremely reluctant as going to school is the only way for her to get out of the house. How this is related is she is so sick and tired being caged even finding similarities to her pet rabbits and them being caged that she waits until Dede is forced to volunteer to get her freedom.

Minerva is put in numerous dangerous situations, but she does not let it scare her away, she is determined to make change. Maria Teresa gives up her love of things for what is morally right which makes her a stronger person, and Patria offers her land which could put her at risk, and gives her religion up realizing that she must put her faith aside, and support her family even if she does not fully agree with what they are doing. Throughout In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alverez, the Mirabal sisters make sacrifices that lead them to change as the novel goes on.

Minerva sacrifices her well being to change history and make her mark. She has realized that she puts herself in dangerous situations that have bad consequences, but she continues to do it to make a change, and be a part of history. Minerva says, “Condemn me, it does not matter. History will absolve me!” (Alvarez, 123). She sacrifices her safety and well being to make a difference. At first, she wanted to study law, but at the end of the novel before she dies, she no longer cares if she will never be able to study law, as long as she makes her mark in the revolution and changed history.

Maria Teresa gives up her materialistic life of things to fight for what she believes in, and as a result she becomes a stronger person. In the beginning of the book, she writes in her diary, “I love my new shoes from my First Communion. They’re white leather with just a little heel like a grownup young lady” (30). She was rehearsing, and wanted the right outfit for her Communion, and she was caught up with the materialistic and, and small personal parts of life. Later in the book, she dedicates herself to the revolution, and gets arrested. While in jail she wrote “Then one day, you’re out of here, free, only to discover you’ve locked yourself up and thrown away the key somewhere too deep inside your heart to fish it out” (231). Even though she will get out of jail, she will never be who she was before, and she will forever be a different person because of what she sacrificed and what she went through. She went from a young girl who was concerned about her shoes, to a strong young woman who survived the gut wrenching experience of jail during Trujillo’s leadership.

Patria offers her safety up, and becomes more involved and aware of the revolution as opposed to just sticking to her faith. In the book, I group formed by people who are close to Patria has to meet to discuss plans for furthering the revolution. They need a place to meet, so Patria “offered them our land” and it also said “If the SIM came” which means the SIM, a secret police that would arrest people who were taking part in the revolution, could come at any time and arrest everyone including Patria. However, she still lets them meet on her land because even though it puts her at risk, she realizes that she has to make a sacrifice for the greater good, and put her faith behind her so that she can hopefully live a fuller life of peace without Trujillo in power. At first, Patria would pray a lot and basically hope that things would get better, but she now got to the point where she will let her family fight in the revolution and even help and support them even if she is not fully on board.

Throughout the novel, all of the sisters changed a lot because of the sacrifices they make. Minerva becomes a stronger, more selfless person after giving up her future and safety for the revolution. Marea Teresa because a stronger woman after she leaves her materialistic life behind, and focuses on saving her country. Patria becomes more aware and less reliant on faith when she realizes that praying won’t fix anything, and she must sacrifice her beliefs, and her safety to support her family, even if she does not fully agree with what they are doing.