Summary Of In The Time Of The Butterflies By Julia Alvarez

In the novel In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, Mara Teresa (Mate) begins as a young girl captivated by materialistic desires. However, as the story unfolds, she matures and prioritizes her family above all else. This transformation ultimately highlights how the love of family can influence and change the values and priorities of a person. To illustrate this evolution, I created an Instagram account for Mate, showcasing her changing perspectives through her posts. Initially, Mate’s shown as a young girl whose world revolves around materialistic goods and personal pleasures. When Papá predicts Mate’s future as a coquette who will fulfill other people’s desires, her disappointment is evident as Dedé reflects, “The only future the
I don't want to be babied anymore. I want to be worthy of Palomino [Leandro],” (Alvarez 142). The discovery of the revolution is a significant moment which not only introduces her to a greater cause, but also reflects on her growing maturity and desire to be involved in something meaningful. Mate joining the revolution signifies her evolving values from a girl with materialistic desires, to a young woman willing to sacrifice anything. Through her love for Leandro, Mate changes into a woman who prioritizes collective well-being and the fight for justice over individualistic and materialistic pursuits. Mate’s actions, such as building bombs and her commitment to the revolution over her personal luxuries, highlight her transformation. I displayed this shift of priorities in my art piece in the second row of Instagram posts. The first post in this section is about her getting married to Leandro. This post shows how she’s committed to someone and will put their needs above her own. She has changed from a selfish and self-absorbed girl to someone who can take care of other people and focus on their needs. The second post illustrates Mate making a plan to build the