"We went our own ways, we became ourselves... And maybe that is what it means to be a free people..."

Although I didn’t expect In the Time of the Butterflies to have a happy ending, I was still both shocked and saddened by the book’s conclusion. Although I knew from the start of the book that the three sisters all lost their lives fighting against the Trujillo regime, Alvarez managed to describe the sisters’ incredible perseverance and determination in a way that boosted my hopes for their survival. The brutal conclusion came very suddenly: one minute I was caught up in the miraculous story of the Mirabal sisters, and the next minute they were brutally murdered and the story came to a crashing halt.

Minerva, Patria, and Maria Theresa had been on their way back from visiting their husbands where they were being imprisoned in the mountains, driving through a storm. Maria Theresa and Minerva had just been released from prison themselves after several months there, having been taken in because of their revolutionary plans and activities. Around this time, the country’s dictator Rafael Trujillo informally announced his only two problems in running the country as the church, which had been doing its part to encourage change and reform, and the Mirabal sisters. Thus, right on cue, Minerva, Patria, and Maria Theresa were pulled over in their car, strangled, clubbed, and mercilessly killed. Their bodies were then dumped back into their car, which was pushed off the mountain in an extremely poor attempt to make it appear as though the deaths were only accidents.

One of the most memorable aspects of this book was Alvarez’s phenomenal ability to bring these four characters to life. She did an excellent job giving them each a distinct personality and defining traits, and I really felt like I knew each of the sisters and could predict exactly how they were feeling and what they might do next. Since Alvarez dedicated so much of the book to character development, it is easy to see why she made the ending so abrupt. Alvarez clearly wanted the readers to remember the book for the extraordinary heroism of the Mirabal sisters, for their contribution to their country, and for their legacy that lives on past their deaths. To commemorate Alvarez’s four main protagonists and to give those who have not read this novel a better idea of how their personalities developed throughout the book, I have given each of the sisters a celebrity doppelganger.

Minerva was the Mirabal family rebel and reformer ever since she and her sisters were young. With her revolutionary fever and contagious spirit, she seemed unstoppable for a time in her fight against Trujillo’s regime. Despite warnings to watch out for her own safety and well being, Minerva continued to push boundaries and dared to go where all other Dominicans feared to go. Fittingly, her doppelganger is Jack Bauer, the almost superhuman hero of the hit TV show 24. Moreover, after Jack is forced to go into hiding, he leaves behind his legacy to his daughter Kim Bauer. Patria left behind her own historical legacy and heroine status to her daughter Minou.

Patria was the religious, faithful sister, who showed her hidden audaciousness when she joined Minerva in her revolutionary scheme. Patria’s doppelganger is Bree Van de Camp from the ABC drama Desperate Housewives. Bree as well is extremely religious and family oriented but had proved she will go to extremes to protect her beliefs and her family members. Just as Patria slightly shifts her religious views as she develops throughout the novel, Bree shifted her own after her discovery that her son was gay.

Maria Theresa was the happiest, the most upbeat, and the most agreeable Mirabal sister. She initially joined Minerva’s cause because she became caught up in the excitement and daring of the operation. In the beginning, she was only along for the ride, but as she continued to work towards change for her country, she became more and more inspired and touched by her own goals. Her doppelganger is Dory from Finding Nemo, who shares a similar personality and story.

Lastly, Dede was always the most cautious and careful sister. She was one who remained relatively uninvolved with her sisters’ revolution. In fact, Dede had warned the others that were danger and that should not go up to the secluded prison on the twisting mountain path through storms. She was the cynical one, and although her sisters tried more than once to include her in their cause, she adamantly refused. Dede’s doppelganger is therefore Simon Cowell, the famously cynical former American Idol judge.

As evidenced by these four very different TV/movie characters, the four Mirabal sisters were very unique from one another. Although Minerva, Maria Teresa, Dede, and Patria had similar hopes for their families and for their country, Alvarez did a fantastic job in ensuring that each had a very distinct personality. Each girl was remarkably selfless and heroic, but at the same time, Alvarez gave each sister certain unique traits that made it possible for the reader to distinguish between the four protagonists. While the ending of this book will inevitably be remembered as upsetting and slightly alarming, this book stands out to me as a story of great heroism and personal sacrifice. It is a fantastic work of historical fiction, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

"Dios, Patria, Libertad!"

            In the Time of the Butterflies only continues to become more dramatic and powerful as the novel progresses.  Minerva, Patria, and Maria Theresa Mirabal have become more and more passionate with their revolutionary hopes and ideals, as they struggle to inspire lasting change on their country.  Dede, meanwhile, must cope with personal issues.  Her husband Jaimito doesn’t want her involved with the political controversies that her sisters have gotten themselves wrapped up in, and her forced choice between her sisters and her husbands is causing tension in all aspects of Dede’s life.  Perhaps the facet of the story that has developed the most throughout the last chapters has been the source of the sisters’ anguish – Trujillo’s political regime. 

The dictatorship of the Dominican Republic has obviously exhibited its corruption and greed previously in the book, but only now that the Mirabals are becoming real threats to the administration is its true brutality beginning to be uncovered.  Minerva and her husband, Maria Theresa and her husband, and Patria’s husband and son are all arrested.  Their houses are pillaged and burned, and their cars and possessions are stolen.  Each day, listings of prisoners that appear in the newspapers contain hundreds of names, and hundreds of other prisoners, whose names are not listed, mysteriously go “missing.” 

The fear that the Dominicans lived through during this time period must have been astounding.  Rafael Trujillo and his leadership repressed the essential freedoms and culture of the country, even forcing each household to hang his picture on their walls.  He embodied the opposition of the Dominican Republic’s present-day motto, “Dios, Patria, Libertad!” or “God, Fatherland, Liberty!”  To celebrate and learn of the country’s greatly improved current conditions, test your Dominican knowledge on Sporcle!

http://www.sporcle.com/games/ecpark09/country_dr

After taking the above quiz myself and looking further into the history and growth of the Dominican Republic, I couldn’t help but to take notice of the national motto.  Patria Mirabal shares her name with one of the country’s primary principles, the meaning of which is “fatherland.”  Additional curiosity driven research revealed the meanings behind each of the Mirabal sisters’ names, and surprisingly, the results appear to correspond with their personalities and their historic roles as well.  Each of the sisters’ Glogsters below represent the symbolism behind their names and offer greater incite into their lives.  Can you infer the significance of each one before reading my own reasoning and interpretations?

            The first visual, Dede’s, depicts a mosaic of a heart.  The bigger picture is made up of smaller, broken pieces fitted roughly together.  In the Spanish culture, the name Dede means “broken heart”, and as Dede is the only one of the four Mirabal girls to survive their stand against Trujillo’s regime, her heart as well is left shattered.  Moreover, she suffers through a trying divorce and is left to raise her children and her sisters’ children alone.

            The second Glogster is Minerva’s, and it portrays crossed swords, as the name Minerva means “war” and “craft.”  Minerva has certainly always been the most rebellious, dramatic, and determined of any of the other characters in the novel.  Even after Maria Theresa and Patria join her in her revolutionary cause, Minerva remains at the head of the country’s rally for change.

            Patria’s Glogster depicts and owl because although her name does mean “fatherland,” it also means “wisdom” and “nobility.”  As the oldest Mirabal sister, Patria always has been of the concerned, motherly type.  She would be the one to go to for advice or guidance free of judgment.  She was a role model for her little sisters when they were all younger, and throughout the novel, she has remained strong and supportive of her family and their choices.

            Maria Theresa’s poster shows a large star, as I found her name to mean just that, “star.”  The youngest Mirabal is clearly the most bubbly in the family.  With a big heart and caring nature, she shines from the inside out.  However, because of their great distance, stars in the night sky often appear to be shining when in reality their sparks may have died out long ago.  In the same way, Maria Theresa seems to have gotten too far ahead of herself.  She quickly became involved in Minerva’s revolutionary ways because of the draw of the excitement and danger.  Not long after though, she found her husband jailed and her belongings taken or destroyed.  Maria Theresa continued to advocate for reform because she didn’t know what other options she had if she wanted things to change, but she may have potentially reached her limit.  Her passion could be fading, or it may already have expired.

            As In the Time of the Butterflies continues to develop and suspense continues to build, I’m looking forward to reading on!

Sisterly Support and Political Turmoil

This section of In the Time of the Butterflies, although still suspenseful and exciting, acted as a transition phase in the novel.  There were several surprises and unexpected twists, but for the most part, the Mirabal sisters were only growing up, maturing and deciphering their feelings about Trujillo’s regime.  Although I myself have never read it, another novel The Feast of the Goat details the extent of the corruption and sheer terror of the Trujillo administration.  The Feast of the Goat earned its author Mario Vargas Llosa the 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature.  The following links provide an overview of the story as well as of the author and will hopefully serve to give you further insight into the horrors that the characters of In the Time of the Butterflies must cope with.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1133562

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/books/08nobel.html

             Additionally, at one point in the story, news of Cuba’s revolutionary success reached the Dominican Republic.  The Castro brothers had overthrown the previous leader there with the help of Ernesto “Che” Guevara, a historical figure so influential and controversial so as to be considered either heroically famous or murderously infamous depending entirely on whom you ask.  I’ve previously read his memoir The Motorcycle Diaries and find him an extremely intriguing and rather tragic man.  It was therefore particularly interesting for me to read in In the Time of the Butterflies of his life after The Motorcycle Diaries and of how his actions provided such hope for people throughout Latin America.  To gain some basic knowledge on Che Guevara and his story and thus also gain further awareness of the events and political unrest of the time period, watch the following movie trailer of The Motorcycle Diaries.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u0U3dbVMHk

             Anyway, within this section of the novel, each Mirabal sister also continued to undergo her own personal struggles and face her own difficulties.  Dede was included in these particular chapters very little, as the other three sisters become caught up in doing their part to overthrow Trujillo and her husband Jaimito forbids her from having anything to do with the trouble.  It now becomes clear why, as revealed in the very first pages of the novel, she is the only one of the four of them to survive an untimely death. 

            Meanwhile, Maria Theresa gets married and has her first baby, a daughter named Jacqueline.  She and her husband soon become involved with a cult of rebels who begin to strategize anti-government plots.  Unsurprisingly, this cult is led by none other than Minerva Mirabal and her husband, the family’s most driven couple, determined for change. 

            The biggest shock to occur in In the Time of the Butterflies so far, however, was definitely Patria’s developing role amidst all this drama.  Based on what you learned about her and her personality from this post and especially from her introduction in the quiz in my previous post (and perhaps based on what you might do in her situation had she been your result of said quiz), can you infer how Patria reacted to the most recent barriers she faced?

Patria Mirabal

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            With all of the incorporated historical references, surprises in character development, and the inevitable suspense, In the Time of the Butterflies has by all means exceeded my expectations.  Can’t wait to keep reading!

Characters, Conflicts, and Quizzes

In the Time of the Butterflies, at least the first eighty-three pages, is not at all how I expected it to be.  It’s not a novel recounting a timeline of the main character’s remarkable feats or the dramatic sob story of an impressive yet avoidable tragedy.  Instead it’s a tribute to its genre, the perfect balance of history and fiction.

The first three Mirabal sisters, Patria, Minerva, and Dede, were each born a year apart, with the fourth, Maria Theresa, lagging nine years behind.  Each girl has her own unique personality, driving forces, secrets, and fears.  Chapters switch off between each of their points of view, and as they all play integral parts in the chronicle, this adds a whole new dimension to the novel.  There are four sides to this story, and even just one missing link would leave it incomplete. 

To both introduce and commemorate the four famous and intriguing sisters and their conflicts, find out whose views and life you would most likely identify with.  Which Mirabal sister are you?!    

1. You are suspicious that the person you want to marry may be involved in illegal activity.  What do you do?

a.)   Marriage?  I have to focus on my education and career!

b.)   No one close to me would be involved in anything too serious or severe.

c.)   I would be relatively open-minded about it as long as my family remained safe, healthy, and together.

d.)  Break it off!  I can’t be around people like that!  It’s dangerous!

2. You’ve just been offered a position at the one of the most prestigious school in the country…halfway across the country.  It’s a great opportunity, but you’ll be so far away from you’re family and friends.  Do you still go?

a.)   Absolutely!

b.)  Yes, but I’d most likely be homesick often and miss my family dearly.

c.)   Yes, but I would consider leaving to return home to my boyfriend.

d.)  No, my father’s business needs help, and someone has to make the sacrifice to stay behind.

3. Where would you be most likely to meet the love of your life?

a.)   Political convention

b.)  Journalist convention or book club

c.)   Church

d.)  Somewhere close to home, like a neighborhood party

4. You’re favorite political candidate has just been accused of assault.  You…

a.)   Feel betrayed and begin organizing rallies for an opposing party.

b.)  Don’t believe it and double check to verify the facts.

c.)   Probably wouldn’t hear about it let alone be overly concerned about it.  You are too preoccupied with personal dramas right now.

d.)  Decide to ignore it.  You have always remained loyal to and defended your political positions.

5. You would most likely describe yourself as…

a.)   Rebellious and dramatic

b.)  Innocent and naive

c.)   Family-oriented

d.)  Goody-goody

6. Your mom has just told you that your sister has left for her best friend’s house.  She wants to check on her because she is sick.  You saw your sister’s friend earlier that day though, and she felt fine.  You…

a.)   Make a statement.  Something isn’t right, and you’re not about it let it slide.

b.)  Go along with it.  Your sister must have a good reason for telling the lie, and you can ask her about it later.

c.)   The conversation doesn’t faze you.  You’re more concerned about other things in your life right now, and you don’t read too much into it.

d.)  Tell the truth.  Your sister could be out somewhere dangerous.  You don’t want her to get into any trouble.

7. What type of career do you most likely see yourself having?

a.)   Lawyer

b.)  Writer

c.)   I’m not sure, but I do know I just want to take care of my family.

d.)  Taking over the family business

If you answered mostly A’s, you are Minerva Mirabal!  Minerva is the rebellious, dramatic sister!  She is a great public speaker (and an expert arguer!), aspires to be a lawyer, and values her education.  When Minerva goes away to boarding school, she meets a girl whose family was killed by the country’s dictator Rafael Trujillo and begins to doubt the man she has considered an idle her whole life.  Furthermore, another of her friends, Lina Lovaton, is taken by the married Trujillo as one of his “girlfriends.”  Trujillo builds her a house isolated from her family and friends and leaves her to live there alone, waiting for him to come back to her.  Having witnessed firsthand Trujillo’s secret cruelty, Minerva starts to sneak out of school during the nights to attend meetings of opposition to his political regime.  Her hatred for Trujillo and thirst for change only increases after she meets Virgilio “Lio” Morales, a young doctor and revolutionary.   

If you answered mostly, B’s, you are Maria Theresa Mirabal! Maria Theresa is the innocent sister, who often becomes homesick while attending school.  She relies on her diary to comfort herself, writing daily entries and expressing an early interest in writing.  Maria Theresa learns of Minerva’s late night revolutionary meetings when she is called into the school principal’s office one day.  She is asked if her uncle is sick, as that was the excuse Minerva had given for her sneaking out.  Maria Theresa covers for her older sister, and she soon learns the whole story of Trujillo’s corruption.  However, although she is surprised, the bigger picture does not seem to register with her and she remains more or less unconcerned.    

If you answered mostly C’s, you are Patria Mirabal!  Patria is extremely family-oriented and loyal to her husband Pedrito.  Despite previously believing she wanted to be a nun, family is more important to her, and she was crushed when her third child was stillborn.  After noticing her husband leaving the house late at night, she becomes suspicious of his activities.  Afraid he might be reburying their stillborn son on unconsecrated grounds, she digs up her baby’s coffin but finds his body just as it was originally buried. 

If you answered mostly D’s, you are Dede Mirabal!  Dede is the sister who is the most loyal to her family and volunteers to assist her father’s business instead of following her sisters to school.  She is considered the smart one in the family but often makes decisions based on what others expect of her rather than what she herself wants.  Despite her doubts, she accepts the proposal of her boyfriend Jaimito because their families always assumed they would end up together.  Additionally, Dede is untrusting of Lio, who is considered an enemy of the country and its government, and she is wary of his relationship with Minerva.  When he gives her a letter to relay to Minerva, she reads it and finds that he is inviting her to join him at a rally opposing Trujillo’s regime.  Knowing the danger and risk involved in attending such an event, Dede burns the note to protect her sister.   

Based on your results and the sisters’ various stories, what do you think will happen next?

1. Minerva has always wanted to be a lawyer, but her parents won’t allow her go to law school.  What do you think of will become of Minerva’s aspirations to be a lawyer?

a.)   She will continue with her education and will remain determined to become a lawyer.

b.)  She will continue with her education but will pursue a different career path.

c.)   She will drop out of school and join Lio in his political demonstrations.

d.)  She will drop out of school but will also break ties with Lio after her sister’s burning of his letter to her.

Considering Minerva’s personal choices and problems so far in the novel, I would predict that she would continue with her education and remain determined to become a lawyer.  Minerva is stubborn and smart and unwavering in her decisions and opinions.

2. Maria Theresa doesn’t like being at her boarding school.  She is constantly homesick.  She…

a.)   Stays home but continues covering for Minerva.

b.)  Stays in school and continues covering for Minerva.

c.)   Stays home and tells her parents about Minerva’s late night activities.

d.)  Stays in school but tells the principal about Minerva’s late night activities.

Maria Theresa is loyal to and admires her older sisters, and although she does not like school, she manages to endure it as long as she has her diary to confide it.  I would therefore predict that she would stay in school and continue covering for Minerva.

3. Patria is still slightly suspicious of Pedrito.  She…

a.)   Confronts him about it and uncovers a big secret.

b.)  Confronts him about it and learns of its harmlessness.

c.)   Decides not to confront him about it, as long her baby’s body is safe to rest in peace.

d.)  Decides not to confront him about it but later finds he was hiding something important, illegal, scandalous, etc.

Personally, I would predict a certain combination of the last two possible responses.  Patria is so family-oriented that I believe she would not press her husband on his strange activities as long as she knew her baby’s body remained undisturbed.  At this point in the novel, she is too consumed in her own grief over this loss to be too concerned with anything or anyone else.  However, I do not think his strange behavior has a completely harmless explanation, and he must be up to something.

As the suspense builds and the plot and characters continue to develop, I have high expectations for the next chapters of In the Time of the Butterflies, and I am anxious to learn how the sisters’ struggles pan out.  Can’t wait to read on!

Background and Beginning

            First of all, welcome!  Over the next weeks, this blog will examine and discuss Julia Alvarez’s timeless In the Time of the Butterflies. 

Although I don’t yet know too much about the novel, several people have recommended In the Time of the Butterflies to me in the past, and I expect it to be thought provoking and extremely worthwhile.  Originally published in 1994, it has received rave reviews and was nominated for the 1995 National Book Critics Circle Award. 

            The back cover reveals that the story details the lives of the Mirabal sisters Patria, Minerva, Maria Teresa, and Dede, to whom the novel is also dedicated.  The four Dominican women became known as “Las Mariposas,” or “The Butterflies,” in their opposition of dictator Rafael Trujillo, leader of the country from 1930 until his assassination in 1961.  The famous quartet reveals the true expense of political oppression as they fight to gain liberty and freedoms for the people of the Dominican Republic.  The sisters’ nickname itself may foreshadow a happy ending or lasting change provoked or inspired by their will, as butterflies are often symbolic of glory, passion, and possibilities.  The tremendous popularity of In the Time of the Butterflies brought it to the big screen in 2001 when Mariano Barroso directed the movie version starring Selma Hayek.

            Author Julia Alvarez was raised in the Dominican Republic until she was ten years old, when her own family was forced to move to the United States after getting into trouble with the dictatorship.  She obviously writes of issues that are personal to her and quite literally close to home.  Other novels she has written include bestselling How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents and In the Name of Salome.

            As far as the reading schedule, I plan to finish the book by March 19^th  at the latest, although I will aim to and probably will finish before that date.  The first eighty-three pages will be read before February 26^th, the next eighty-five pages (up to page 168) will be read by March 5^th, the next eighty-eight (up to page 256) will be read by March 12^th, and the final sixty-five pages will be read by March 19^th.  Can’t wait to start!