“In the Time of the Butterflies” is a historical novel by Julia Alvarez, relating an account of the Mirabal sisters during the time of the Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic. Maria Teresa is the youngest of the four Mirabal sisters. She is very superficial and materialistic in the beginning of the story, but she becomes a resilient, strong-willed revolutionary hero. Further, Maria Teresa is willing to sacrifice herself for the sake of her family’s right for a liberal nation. Maria Teresa is very artificial and bourgeois in the beginning of the story, but she becomes a robust, determined revolutionary hero. Maria Teresa narrates her story by writing in a diary, which reflects the inconsequential happenings in her life; like buying
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I want to be worthy of my Palomino," (142). Mate develops a deep connection to the underground movement against the dictatorship of Trujillo. She realizes she must stand up for the future and outgrow her childish behavior. Maria Teresa becomes a woman who can withstand the ruthless laws she fights against. Palomino is a man she has fallen in love with. Mate realizes she has much to fight for; there are people depending on Mate as an innovator. She appeals to the people of the Dominican Republic in a way that reassures their safety. “My true identity now is Mariposa (# 2), waiting daily, hourly, for communications from up north,” (143). Mariposa # 2 is a codename given to the Mate by the national underground fighting the dictatorship. Mate has grown into a leader who will stand against Trujillo, and his loyal slaves. Mariposa # 1 is her older sister, Minerva. Patria, the oldest sister, is another Mariposa who fights for her freedom. Mate looks at her accomplishments with pride, she has had a part in saving the nation from maliciousness. She realizes she has been admired for her hard work by the entire nation. “Now I can use my talents for the revolution,” (143). Maria Teresa has prodigious …show more content…
Maria Teresa gets captured by Trujillo’s men, and is taken to prison with Minerva. The sacrifice she made for the country changed her; prison was atrocious and life-altering. There were people going to prison simply because they would not put a picture of Trujillo on their wall. “Three bolted steel walls, steel bars for a fourth wall, a steel ceiling, a cement floor. Twenty-four metal shelves (“bunks”), a set of twelve on each side, a bucket, a tiny washbasin under a small high window. Welcome home,” (228). Mate is suffered emotional and physical agony being in prison. She no longer has any basic human rights. The army, under the influence of Trujillo, has put innocent men and women in cages for the sake of boredom. Mate sacrificed the role of being a mother to help her child and family grow up in a nation where opinions are respected. Mate realized before she went to prison, that joining the rebellion could take away her bliss, but she still gave up her joy for others. “What matters is the quality of a person. What someone is inside themselves,” (230). Even while Mate is in prison, she doesn’t lose herself to the fear that lies within everyone. Her kindness is valued among everyone, and Mate tries to keep her sanity for those around her who mentally breakdown and need moral support. “Then, we politicals gathered in our corner and rehearsed the three cardinal rules: Never believe them.
I want to be worthy of my Palomino," (142). Mate develops a deep connection to the underground movement against the dictatorship of Trujillo. She realizes she must stand up for the future and outgrow her childish behavior. Maria Teresa becomes a woman who can withstand the ruthless laws she fights against. Palomino is a man she has fallen in love with. Mate realizes she has much to fight for; there are people depending on Mate as an innovator. She appeals to the people of the Dominican Republic in a way that reassures their safety. “My true identity now is Mariposa (# 2), waiting daily, hourly, for communications from up north,” (143). Mariposa # 2 is a codename given to the Mate by the national underground fighting the dictatorship. Mate has grown into a leader who will stand against Trujillo, and his loyal slaves. Mariposa # 1 is her older sister, Minerva. Patria, the oldest sister, is another Mariposa who fights for her freedom. Mate looks at her accomplishments with pride, she has had a part in saving the nation from maliciousness. She realizes she has been admired for her hard work by the entire nation. “Now I can use my talents for the revolution,” (143). Maria Teresa has prodigious …show more content…
Maria Teresa gets captured by Trujillo’s men, and is taken to prison with Minerva. The sacrifice she made for the country changed her; prison was atrocious and life-altering. There were people going to prison simply because they would not put a picture of Trujillo on their wall. “Three bolted steel walls, steel bars for a fourth wall, a steel ceiling, a cement floor. Twenty-four metal shelves (“bunks”), a set of twelve on each side, a bucket, a tiny washbasin under a small high window. Welcome home,” (228). Mate is suffered emotional and physical agony being in prison. She no longer has any basic human rights. The army, under the influence of Trujillo, has put innocent men and women in cages for the sake of boredom. Mate sacrificed the role of being a mother to help her child and family grow up in a nation where opinions are respected. Mate realized before she went to prison, that joining the rebellion could take away her bliss, but she still gave up her joy for others. “What matters is the quality of a person. What someone is inside themselves,” (230). Even while Mate is in prison, she doesn’t lose herself to the fear that lies within everyone. Her kindness is valued among everyone, and Mate tries to keep her sanity for those around her who mentally breakdown and need moral support. “Then, we politicals gathered in our corner and rehearsed the three cardinal rules: Never believe them.