Mirabal sisters

The role and portrayal of women in literature has significantly changed in the last century. Before, in some pieces of literature, women were portrayed as weak, insignificant, and flawed. But, the novels In the Time of the Butterflies and Persepolis break these standards by portraying the struggles of powerful, female characters who are living in an oppressive regime. The main characters in both of these novels possess unique personalities and character traits that motivate them to rebel and…

otherwise known as Rafael Trujillo. Due to Trujillo’s unjust way of ruling and using his power, Anita’s father, uncle and other members of the family were involved in a plot to rebel against him. The fight for freedom was going on everywhere. The Mirabal sisters were some very important figures in history and they lit the fire of the rebellion. For example, “Everyone called them Las Mariposas, the Butterflies, because they had put wings on all our hearts. Some of your uncles, like Tio Carlos and…

In literature, a literary device known as symbolism is used to convey an idea about a subject, person, or place. In the works of Amy Tan and Julia Alvarez, symbolism is influential throughout their stories. The story of ¡Yo! is a great example of how well Alvarez converts the symbol of a haunting folklore to a real-life terror. Although the story of ¡Yo! takes place in the United States, it tells the story of a family that escapes from The Dominican Republic during the time of a terrifying wave…

The Cruel and Unusual Reign of Rafael Trujillo In reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz, one can observe the dictator present in the novel is a cruel, Iron-fisted ruler. This Dictator, Rafael Trujillo, was dictator of The Dominican Republic for over 30 years. From 1930 to 1961, the year of his assassination, Trujillo held a threatening presence throughout the country. Because of the many ways he would instill fear into the population, it is identifiable that Trujillo…

My Dominican identity has transplanted across borders from the impoverish dirt roads of Sabana Perdida, Dominican Republic to the vibrant streets of Washington Heights, and the multi-ethnic cultural neighborhood of Bushwick Brooklyn. I learned very early on in life that I was Dominicana. The vivid memories of my mom chasing after me with a chancleta (rubber slippers) or a palo (broom stick), the daily routine of eating Los Tres Golpes (mangu, salami and fried cheese) for breakfast, lunch and…