Facts of the novel

Title: In the time of the butterflies

Author: Julia Alvarez

Date of publication: 1994

Genre: Historical fiction novel

3 significant Moments/Scenes

• Three of the sisters die in the car while going to visit their husbands in jail, the government covered up to make it appear that they drove off the cliff: This is significant because it is the ultimate transition of the sister to become a symbol of the revolution, they challenged the vision of power portrayed by Trujillo’s regime, they found power in their weaknesses and constraints by refusing to be dominated. That challenge is what takes their life but the change that comes after Trujillo’s death might make it worth it. They are killed for showing resistance and bravery to the authoritarian form that rules the country, making a sacrifice for freedom that is portrayed as a selfless, admirable action.

• Minerva learns about Trujillo’s reign of horror: this moment is crucial for the development of the novel as it marks the beginning of the revolutionary ideas in the family, opening their eyes to the injustice and violence of the country. This revelation establishes not only the motivation for the characters’ actions but most importantly the major theme of the work: the empowerment of their own destiny to free themselves from the authoritative regime that they are trapped in.

• Patria gets used to the home-prison lifestyle: despite being seen as something insignificant, this period of time is key for the character’s development and final action. She goes through a difficult process of recovering her state of mind after losing her house and husband in prison, trying to overcome all the struggles and heartaches while her loved ones are in prison. She misses everyone so much but the thought of losing her son is unbearable. This moment is vital for her development and the role she takes in the revolution, from her religious struggle and her questions, this allows her to discover herself and grow to take the necessary courage to follow her sisters in their purpose. Is the symbol of the character subduing her shell, created by male figures, society, and even religion.

Major Characters X3 (Significance/Importance)

• Minerva: she is an argumentative character, a leader, and a strong person. She is committed to her beliefs and freedom, ignoring gender roles. She is the one bringing up the revolution to the family, her importance lies in the freedom and courage that motivates the individuals around to carry out this dangerous plan, even willing to break the laws to free the Dominican Republic to achieve a better future. The theme is built around her ideas and principles, representing hard work, determination, and the need for reform in a misogynistic society that admires men as heroes over women.

• Trujillo: the main antagonist of the novel, as the head of the government he is responsible for the majority of the political conflict that ends with the lives of the sisters. He represents all the things that the revolution wants to put an end to, his ideas condemned the country, forcing people to follow him because if they disagree they could have a fatal destiny or even worse death. He sets up a “personality cult” around himself, elevating himself almost to the good hood, plastering himself everywhere. The conflict lies around his perspective of good and bad, his rules provide economic stability but also fear, violence, and dissolution of civil liberties.

• Patria: she brings up the religious aspect within a political and social culture focused on power and control of the material. Being guided by her faith and relationship with God, she symbolizes the strength of believing in something beyond control. She is the last one to join the revolution because of her fears and thoughts about her family and her religion, having a hard time choosing what is the right path for her without disappointing God or her parents.

Symbols X2  w/ Meaning

• Butterflies: They represent freedom, flight, and the ability to rise above tragedy. but at the same time, they represent short lives and the struggle to burst out of one's own constraints imposed by oppressive figures around. As the end suggests, the butterflies are able to free themselves and make a change in the country, representing hope and transformation for a new future.

• Rabbits: the rabbits in the novel symbolize how the characters are trapped by the social stereotypes and machismo culture, being the father’s overprotectiveness when the sisters were young or Trujillo’s reign of fear and violence.

Theme X2  w/ Evidence

• The struggle between social classes to free a country from a dictatorship of violence and terror: The evidence is the sacrifice of the sisters that ends with the regime of Trujillo and the dark period that affected the Dominican Republic. The sisters being from a low-medium social class had a big impact on the politics of the country, battling against big figures with money and influence such as the police.

• The fundamental role of feminism and empowerment in a society plagued by gender roles and machismo that ends up developing their individual strengths and powers: the evidence is how the conflict arises from the patriarchy of the government that gives Trujillo the power to force himself into what he considers good for the country, having the audacity to sexual harras Minerva and stopping her from obtaining a license to practice law. However, in the end, her courage allows her to overthrow Trujillo and free women from gender stereotypes.