Preview

In The Time Of The Butterflies Summary

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
692 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
In The Time Of The Butterflies Summary
In Julia Alvarez’s “In The Time of the Butterflies”, the four Mirabal sisters, Minerva, Maria Teresa, Patria, and Dedé, struggle with accepting principles such as courage, freedom, andfear. As the sisters began to become symbols for freedom during a revolution, each must discover what these concepts mean to them and how to apply them in their fight against a dictatorship. When Trujillo, dictator of the Dominican Republic, sends three of the Mirabal sisters to prison in an attempt to silence their rebellion, Maria Teresa begins to develop a deeper understanding of her role alongside her sisters in the battle against Trujillo, as well as concepts of courage and bravery. In prison, Maria Teresa feels inspired and understands the true feeling of …show more content…
Maria Teresa describes the feeling, “Courage, I told myself. And this time, I felt it,” (238). This particular passage highlights Maria Teresa’s initial thoughts of uncertainty towards what she is feeling, as she then has to convince herself that what she feels is actually courage. As she has to convince herself that this is what courage feels like, it seems Maria Teresa has not experienced this fearlessness before, making it an even more important moment, signifying an even more dramatic change. She then goes on to say “And this time, I felt it”, emphasizing the fact that feelings of courage and bravery are no longer empty words to her, and after watching Minerva’s small but significant action of defiance, she understands what these notions truly mean to her. Much like the way a butterfly undergoes metamorphosis, Maria Teresa experiences courage, something she has always sought out, for the first time, proving she no longer has to assure herself of feelings that are not
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Summary Of In The Time Of The Butterflies By Julia Alvaraz
    • 1090 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Summary Of In The Time Of The Butterflies By Julia Alvaraz

    Maria Teresa was the youngest sister and was very materialistic. She was very passionate about the revolution and matured into a very strong and revolutionary woman. Then there was Dedé, the second youngest. Dedé was always hesitant about joining the revolution because she feared for her sisters lives and worried about them getting killed. Little did she know that her prediction would later come true. Eventually she decided against joining the revolutionary group, making her the only surviving sister to pass down her other sisters tale. Next there was Minerva, the third sister, and most definitely the most headstrong. It was Minerva who suggested starting a revolt against Trujillo after completing law school, which was very uncommon for women at that time. Finally the oldest sister was Patricia. Patricia was very religious and also was a main contributor to her sisters revolutionary group. Some other main characters that would be good to know is Rafael Trujillo, also known as “El Jefe” or “The chief/boss”. He is seen as the main antagonist of this novel. He is a self-appointed dictator of the Dominican Republic and is very harsh to his people. Ultimately he is the one who…

    • 1090 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Mirabal Sisters In The Dominican Republic: An Analysis
    • 396 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Mirabal Sisters In The Dominican Republic: An Analysis

    “enemy” of the Jefe; soldiers arrest and keep members of the family incommunicado; and security forces surround the Mirabal estate, immobilizing every child, woman, and man in this formerly private space. Her turning him down made him do things to her family and almost everyone in the Dominican Republic. (Rodríguez) At this point, the Mirabal sisters know that it is impossible to just ignore or be indifferent to the political issues that were going on. They were all been suffering great losses.…

    • 396 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Julia Alvarez's In The Time Of The Butterflies
    • 1235 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Julia Alvarez's In The Time Of The Butterflies

    1. It was difficult to find out who was the narrator of In The Time Of The Butterflies was, seeing as how the book kept switching from the viewpoints of each of the Mirabal sisters. Although the Mirabal sisters spoke firsthand of what happened, it seemed as if we were being told how they felt, but not from the directly from the sister. Finally, I thought back to the very beginning of the story and realized that the narrator of the book was the reporter who went to Dede's house, which happens annually on November 25th. Through Dede, the reporter was an outsider who could tell the readers what happened, the sister's feelings and thoughts, and still talk about the story without speaking in the first person. When Dede invited the reporter in her house, the reporter walked the hallways of the house and observed the portraits on the walls. This was from an outsiders point of view, Dede wouldn't have noted certain characteristics of her own house. I believe the reporter is the narrator of In The…

    • 1235 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Four Mirabal Sisters In In The Time Of The Butterflies
    • 271 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Four Mirabal Sisters In In The Time Of The Butterflies

    The novel, In the Time of the Butterflies, explains the life of the four Mirabal sisters. There was Minerva, Maria Teresa, Dede, Patria. The only survivor was Dede. These girls played a major role in getting rid of the dictatorship of the Dominican Republic. Las Mariposas was their code name. They fought to overthrow Trujillo out of office, even though he forced himself in. Patria, Mate, Minerva lost their lives trying to free others.…

    • 271 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    In The Time Of The Butterflies By Julia Alvarez
    • 358 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In The Time Of The Butterflies By Julia Alvarez

    Historical fiction novel: In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez is about four sisters living through the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. In my opinion Alvarez’s work of historical fiction is more beneficial rather than detrimental towards helping the reader understand the Mirabal sisters history and what actually took place. For instance, it allows the reader to re-experience how much Trujillo’s regime really impacted the sisters lives, accordingly, by Alvarez making the characters alive it gives the reader a sense of empathy too.…

    • 358 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    In The Time Of The Butterflies By Julia Alvarez
    • 480 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In The Time Of The Butterflies By Julia Alvarez

    “To infinity, and beyond”, a common phrase used by a well known hero called Buzz Lightyear. A hero can be described in many different ways. Many people consider a hero as someone who is handy, brave, trustworthy, strong, faithful, or even powerful.…

    • 480 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    In The Time Of The Butterflies Summary
    • 2620 Words
    • 11 Pages

    In The Time Of The Butterflies Summary

    Although it is a novel of fiction, the historical facts that are mentioned in the novel, In the Time of the Butterflies written by Julia Alvarez, come alive through the lens of four courageous sisters pushing reformations for all. Living as a prosperous farming family in the city of Ojo de Agua in the Dominican Republic from 1930 to 1960, the Mirabal family was privileged enough to have four strong-headed daughters named Maria Theresa, Minerva, Patria, and Dede. The sisters were lucky enough to be given an excellent education from attending the Colegio de Inmaculada Concepcion, or the school…

    • 2620 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    In The Time Of The Butterflies Quote Analysis
    • 1791 Words
    • 8 Pages

    In The Time Of The Butterflies Quote Analysis

    Pg. 20: I lifted the covers, and for a moment, I couldn’t make sense of the dark stains on the bottom sheet. Then I brought up my hand from checking myself. Sure enough, my complications had started.…

    • 1791 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    In The Time Of The Butterflies Religion Essay
    • 665 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In The Time Of The Butterflies Religion Essay

    The book "In the Time of the Butterflies" is written by Julia Alvarez. This text talks about how religion affects society. One main theme in the novel is to inform the reader how a dictatorship terrorizes the people of the Dominican Republic, but still shows religion is so important to the people of the country that the church can help fight the revolution.…

    • 665 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    In the Time of the Butterflies
    • 1211 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In the Time of the Butterflies

    1. All the sisters lose their innocence pretty early into the novel. Minerva was the first to learn about the real world around her. While at boarding school with Patria and Maria Teresa, she meets a girl named Sinita who tells her the truth about Trujillo. Minerva realizes that her country isn’t as she thought it was. Patria realizes the same thing while out on a retreat in the mountains. She witnesses a young man about the age of Noris, get gunned down. That’s when she realizes how bad the Dominican Republic is getting because of Trujillo. Maria Teresa was very immature throughout the novel but once the girls were taken to prison, she had really become aware of the trouble she had gotten herself into. Dede loses her innocence the same way Maria Teresa does. When the girls were arrested, she was forced to take care of the children and be strong for the rest of her family.…

    • 1211 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Time Of The Butterflies Character Analysis
    • 428 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Time Of The Butterflies Character Analysis

    Alvarez presents a series of ironic situations to make candid observations about how women are just as capable as men to do what society defines as “men’s” work. In The Time of the Butterflies is set in the era of Rafael Trujillo’s dictatorship in the Dominican Republic, where the Mirabal sisters assist in organizing a rebellion against the regime and are soon known as the “Butterflies.” Despite the bravery they demonstrated, the Mirabal sisters were ordinary wives and mothers who did not take the passive role of a woman but instead rose above their titles. When the Mirabal sisters try to convince sister Dedé to join them in the revolution, Dedé expects charismatic and passionate Minerva to speak up but instead hears littlest sister Mate do so, the little sister…

    • 428 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Abuse of Power from Rafael Trujillo the Novel In the Time of Butterflies
    • 1232 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Abuse of Power from Rafael Trujillo the Novel In the Time of Butterflies

    Dictator Rafael Trujillo ruled the Dominican Republic for over 30 years. He made his way to the top by destroying anyone that got in his way. This abuse of power continued throughout his reign as dictator. In the novel In the Time of Butterflies, Julia Alvarez gives numerous examples that express how Dictator Trujillo abused his power. Trujillo took away women’s rights , took away prisoner’s rights, and took away freedom of speech in all the citizens of the D.R. This evidence proves that Trujillo was a bad man and abused his position of authority.…

    • 1232 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    In the Time of the Butterflies
    • 574 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the Time of the Butterflies

    In the beginning of the novel Dedė is discussing the life of the butterflies with the interviewer because she says, “tell me all of it.” (Alvarez 5). She starts off by describing the three girls, Minerva, Maria Teresa, and Patria. “Yes, so different. Minerva was always into her wrongs and rights.” Dede3 realizes she is speaking to the picture of Minerva, as if she were assigning her a part, pinning her down with a handful of adjectives, the beautiful, intelligent, high-minded Minerva. “And Maria Teresa, ay, Dios,” Dedė sighs, emotion in her voice in spite of herself. “Still a girl when she died, probecita, just turned twenty-five.” Dedė moves on to the last picture and rights the frame, “Sweet Patria, always her religion was so important.” (Alvarez 6). Within that passage, it is unquestionable that Dedė is sad and deeply misses her sisters and has an appreciation of their memory, as any sibling should.…

    • 574 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Day Of The Butterfly
    • 212 Words
    • 1 Page

    Day Of The Butterfly

    First, “The Literature of Americans,” Kimberly Koza writes: “By discovering the Literature of our neighbors, we may also learn about ourself.” The story I chose was The Day of the Butterfly by Alice Munro. The theme of The Day of the Butterfly varies resulting in a theme from the story; include the realization that the theme relates to our common desire and struggle to belong—to have a friend—and the cruel consequences for those who become outsiders. Additionally, the story Day of the Butterfly is about a sixth-grade girls Myra Sayla who is an immigrant, and responsible for her little brother, Helen a friend of Myra gives her a tin butterfly from a Cracker Jack box. Daring to reach out to Myra makes Helen feel both self-congratulatory and…

    • 212 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Persepolis And Patria Character Analysis
    • 948 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Persepolis And Patria Character Analysis

    On the surface, Patria is portrayed as the most mundane of the Mirabal sisters because she is very religious and family-oriented character. However, Alvarez uses these characteristics and emphasizes on the events that led up to her loss of faith in order to shape her motivations for joining the revolution. In the beginning of the novel, Patria had no interest in being part of the revolution. However, her views change when surprise invasion when she was on a religious retreat. During the explosions, Patria witnesses a traumatic event when she looks out the window and witnesses the death of a young boy. She relates to this boy as if he were her own son and the terrible scene had a profound impact on her. After this traumatic event, Patria began to doubt God’s ability to protect her and her family. In her narration, she says, “I'm not going to sit back and watch my babies die, Lord, even if that's what You in Your great wisdom decide” (Alvarez 162). This event had a compelling effect on this character in two aspects. In one aspect, since Alvarez emphasized on Patria loss of faith, she was able to to transform the character, Patria from an ordinary, religious woman into a strong member of the revolution. In another aspect, by highlighting this traumatic event in Patria’s life, Alvarez was able to create depth in…

    • 948 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics