Plot Overview

In the Time of the Butterflies the story takes

place in the Dominican Republic when Rafael
Trujillo became a dictator and created a
tyranny environment. Trujillo had it for the
Mirabal family from the beginning of his rule. It
first started with him inviting the family to his
parties, then he put the Mirabal father in jail.
The father was not released until Minerva
made a deal with him, but because the father
was tortured, soon after his release he died.
As a result of his horrible actions, three
Mirabal sisters (Las Mariposas) created an
underground secret group that would go
against Trujillo throughout his rule. However,
one day the SIM, which were Trujillo's
soldiers, invaded Patrias house and two of the
sisters, Mate and Minerva, were arrested.
Since their husbands were part of the
underground plus Patrias, they too were
arrested. The sisters were in jail for about a
year and once they were released they had
permission to visit their husbands in jail.
Although, Trujillo generously gave them
back their freedom, at that point he had
already taken the land and cars of the family.
One day on their way back from visiting their
husbands, the car in which the three mirabal
sisters were in was stopped. After, the driver
and the three sisters were forced to come out
of their car and all four of them were brutally
murdered. Their deaths are important in the
D.R. because the death of these women
angered many people and six months after
Trujillo was killed.

About the Author

Alvarez was born in New York, although her parents
were from Dominican Republic. After three months
of her birth they decide to go back to D.R. Alvarez
as inspired to write this nonfiction story because her
father got involved with the underground group,
which was run by the Mirabal sister. Also, his father
knew the sisters. However, they fled because the
group was discovered and many members were
either being jailed or killed, so he feared for the
safety of his family. Alvarez's main reason for writing
this story is because she feels lucky she got to live
because three months after they fled the Mirabal
sisters were murdered. As a result, she wrote the
nonfictional story to remember and remind us about
the brave women who helped the revolution against
Trujillo be successful.

Historical Context
During the dates in which the story takes place
many were being tortured and murdered if they
opposed Trujillo. Although he was a horrible person
and mostly used his power for personal use he
made some improvements in the economy of the
Dominican Republic. However, he was very
demanding and managed to forcefully continue to
rule for 31 years, more than the citizens of the
Dominican Republic would have wanted him to.

Novel Notes
In the Time of the Butterflies
By: Julia Alvarez
Student Name: Josselyn Navarrete
Date: 9 Oct. 2015

Essential Quotes
A chill goes through her, for she feels it in
her bones, the future is now beginning. By
the time it is over, it will be the past, and she
doesnt want to be the only one left to tell
their story (Alvarez 10).

The nightmare is over, Ded. Look at

what the girls have done Was it for
this, the sacrifice of the butterflies?
(318).
Add Work Cited Here:
in-the-time-of-the-butterflies.juliaalvarez.com
gradesaver.com
neabigread.org
biography.com
therealdr.com

Character Analysis

Themes

Minerva: strong because she was the first girl

to begin an underground group with many
guys and endured about a year in jail
strong , unsettling, stubborn, outspoken,
original, inspiring, headstrong, very smart

~Dictatorship is bad:
The whole revolution started because of Trujillo and
continually throughout the story many of the
problems of the Mirabal revolved around Trujillos
dictatorship. Also, the death of the Mirabal sisters
was the outcome of opposing Trujillos dictatorship.

~Maria Teresa (Mate)

brave because she stuck next to Minerva
throughout the whole Revolution time, until
the very end
loyal, strong, risk taker

~Religion:
all the butterflies believed in God and in prayer, so
throughout the story they attended to church,
prayed, and believed in God

~Patria:
faithful because throughout the revolution
when anything bad happened or was about to
she always believed everything would turn out
fine
religious, caring, kind-hearted
~Dede:
undecisive because she never joins the
revolution, although many times she thinks of
joining, but ends up not joining
caring, protective, responsible
~Trujillo: (El Jefe)
unjust because in his eyes you were either on
his side or not and if you were not on his side
he would in jail you or kill you
harsh, cruel, killer, strict, demanding,
corruptive

~Freedom and Imprisonment:

in the revolution time if you were in Trujillo's side
you were free, but if you opposed him somehow
you were imprisoned
~Courage is the key to surpass the cruel
Minerva needed courage to create the
underground, her sisters needed it to make the
decision to join, and all the people who joined the
revolution used it to finally stand up to Trujillo and
kill him
~Something bad has to happen, so the good can
take over:
People were murdered, put in jail, tortured and land
was taken away from them, but at the end Trujillo
was killed, times got better, and liberty was gained
back

Motifs and Symbols

Family:
throughout the whole story even though the
family disagrees, makes outrageous
decisions, and hides things from each other,
they always stay together to help each other
and support each other through their
journey of going against Trujillo

Butterflies:
It started as a code name for the
underground, but then it became a symbol
to others, one used to symbolize freedom
and was used to give faith to others that the
future would becoming a better place