Who Is Responsible For Trujillo's Life

In the book Alvarez informs us that this takes place during Trujillo 's reign over the Dominican Republic in the 1930’s to the 1960’s. Throughout history dictators have risen and fallen all across the world. Many have been seen as evil, and sometimes good to others, but no matter what a persons view tend to be there are some who even consider them god. Due to a dictators extensive powers and complete control over every aspect of a persons life this is what comes to be. Trujillo is just the same, at first his true motives were questioned and it wasn’t apparent to all what he really was. As the Mirabel sisters grow up it becomes clear that Trujillo is in control of more of their lives than it may seemed. Trujillo leads a complete authoritarian rule over the Dominican Republic with spies everywhere, this can suggest that he trying to assume the role of a terrible god, who is always watching and ready to punish. While all

who thinks poorly of Trujillo. She leads Minerva into the rebellious part of her life where she finds

In this essay, female oppression in La Casa de Bernarda Alba will be discussed and analyzed. However, in order to be able to understand the importance of this theme and the impact it has had on the play, one must first understand the role of female oppression in the Spanish society in the 1930s.

The Dominican Republic’s dictator Rafael Trujillo had thousands of people killed because of their disobedience to him. From the 1930s to 1960s the country was under the control of Trujillo. He had taken control of the Dominican Republic and used his power against people who decided not to follow him and his laws. The four Mirabal sisters, Minerva, Patria, Mate, and Dede were all risking their lives because of their involvement in the underground, against their harsh dictator. In the book In the time of the Butterflies, the four Mirabal sisters perspectives are impacted by the underground movement against Trujillo because of each of their involvement with the revolution.

While the Mirabal family was thought to have been a loving family, Minerva’s father had a second family, because he wanted to have a boy. It took Minerva a while, but she was the first to acknowledge them. She eventually wanted to meet them, “I waited for things to settle down inside me. Then I said, ‘I want to meet them. They’re my sisters, after all’” (Alvarez 91). Minerva figured out that justice means justice for all, not just for those one likes. Minerva wanted to go to law school, but she had to face off against Trujillo. She decided to gamble with dice, “I can guess what he wants. But I’m so sure I can beat him now that I know his secret. ‘I’ll toss,’ I say” (Alvarez 115). Minerva was so sure of herself, so she just did a very risky move. Minerva, combined with her empowerment by knowing Trujillo’s secret, and knowing that she wants justice, combined, created a strong idealism for her to

The Mirabal sisters are all considered heroines for their work against Trujillo. Three of them

As Tim Burton, a famous director and producer once said, ¨one person's craziness is another person's reality¨ This directly applies to the Dominican Republic during the time of Rafael Trujillo's rule. Minerva Mirabal, is a woman who risks her life rebelling against her powerful dictator and his regime. Her ultimate goal is freedom and her rights. However, Minerva has not always shown disdain and hate towards Trujillo. Minerva's views on Trujillo and the regime change throughout the book. When Minerva is a young girl, she thinks of trujillo as a god like figure. After Sinita tells her about Trujillo's secret, Minerva's views of him and his regime change tremendously. Minerva turns against Trujillo and the regime, and has joined the rebellion.

Minerva was a truly incredible person. She was just as ordinary as anyone else, but

Dedé Mirabal was the sister who survived and persevered through constant grief and loss. She felt forced to fake a smile and pretend that her life was perfect. On page 65 it states, “I’m my own person. I’m tired of being the daughter of a legend,” (Alvarez.) Most of her life she was overlooked because of the death of her sisters, but she was a hero too. Despite the marvelous life’s that her sisters lived , she was forced to live most of her life without them. Dedé is a symbol of the one who was left behind. Her sisters’ left her to live in their legacy. She had a lot to live up to, but managed to rise above and make a name for herself.

Minerva's parents, Papá especially, favorited her. She was responsible and made mature decisions. Mamá said, "All my daughter wants is to be a good, loyal citizen of the regime" (75). Mamá takes up for Minerva. She knows her daughter was true to herself and others around her. Minerva said, "I spoke right up, "I don't think it's fair if you just make an exception for us" (14). Minerva was responsible and mature enough to speak up on everyone being treated fairly. "Papá laughed, his eyes flashing proudly at me. The others said I was his favorite" (12). The other sisters believed Minerva was Papá's favorite. She was responsible, mature, and outgoing. Why wouldn't she be favorited? Minerva stood her own ground even if it was against Trujillo. She became a hero to anyone that's heard the story of the Mirabal sisters.

Minvera Mirabal stood as a symbol of revolution to those who wanted to see the downfall of Rafael Trujillo. Her and two of her three sisters were advocates of the revolution until the sad ending of the story in which the three sisters were killed in a car crash. But before the ending of the Mirabal sisters can be discussed, the life of Minerva and the point she developed her political principles must be addressed.

When thinking of New York City, more often than not, the first things one visualizes is the beautiful skyline, the bright lights, and Times Square. But without a second glance, one might miss one of the important things about the city. New York is the most heavily Dominican populated city in the United States. It’s ironic that the first non-native American to migrate to and reside on what is today New York City, was from Santo Domingo, the capital city of the Dominican Republic. Throughout history, Dominicans have migrated to the US in search of economic opportunity. This is the factor that influences nearly every immigrant group that migrates to the US in history. In the early 1900s, The United States and the Dominican Republic had a very close diplomatic relationship, to the point where the President considered annexation. At one point, the United States completely controlled the Sugar industry, one of the country’s most profitable markets.

Rafael Trujillo, a Dominican dictator, developed a harsh reputation as being one of the most violent and domineering leaders of South America in his thirty-one years of power. In The Time of the Butterflies, Julia Alvarez provides insight into the effects of Trujillo’s infamy by sharing the stories of three Dominican sisters and their struggles to gain independence and speak their truth. The Dominican-American author dramatizes the lives of the Mirabal sisters, three historical women who were assassinated in 1961, for their involvement in the anti-Trujillo movement. Roberto Gonzalez Echevarria, a Cuban critic of Latin American literature, provides a bias insight with regards to the novel.

The word courage is a prime example of the Mirabal sisters. The Mirabal sisters show their courage by stepping up to the plate and looking fear right into its eyes. In spite of the sisters fears they find a way to fight through trials and tribulations. Since the Mirabal sisters were just ordinary people they were role models for women in the Dominican Republic and women around the world. Even though Minerva is the most valiant out of all her sisters, don’t let her make you think she isn’t the only courageous one in the family.

The backstory of Beli’s family told in the novel’s fifth chapter reveals the reasoning behind Oscar’s family believing they are cursed which is symbolic to Trujillo’s tyrannical power at the time in which the chapter focuses on. The chapter concentrates on the story of Abelard, Beli’s biological father who finds himself in trouble with Trujillo as the chapter progresses. Abelard’s daughter, Jackie is now a well endowed adolescent which makes her susceptible to Trujillo wanting to have sexual intercourse with her. Abelard does not want this for his daughter, so when Trujillo insists she come to his next party, Abelard does not bring her. This angers Trujillo, and a few weeks later Abelard is arrested for slandering Trujillo despite the evidence being fabricated.