Chapters 8-10

• Trujillo's picture--must be hung in the house
• Patria prays to El Jefe, puts flowers under his picture
• Fear of being overheard--use of bugging devices
• Jacqueline's bath water is used to douse Trujillo's spies-teach them the concept of boundaries
• Constant battle over boundaries
• Homes change to accommodate the revolt--Patria's home becomes a base for the resistance movement
• Patria looks at all young men as her own children, rebuilds her lost faith
• She sacrifices her own stability for a common cause
• She uses biblical ideas:  "I come with the sword as well as the plow to set at liberty them that are bruised."
• Memories are built into house; the house then becomes a site of ammunition and weaponry
• Destruction of Patria's home-dismantling of the wood beams, pitting and sacking of the entire home
• Identity and land are bound up--for Pedro, his land is the most important part of his livelihood
• Pena's visits--constant surveillance, petty bribery with the candies and the children, and the overt and grotesque with the Captain fondling himself--Uncle Pena
• Patria sacrifices her pride to work with her half sister
• She pleads with Captain Pena, she will pray for him since that is the only thing she has left
• Pedro offered freedom if he divorces his wife
• Patria offers herself up to God if Trujillo lets free Nelson--I'll be your sacrificial lamb
• Mother makes a similar deal with God
• Creation of conflict within the home based on allegiance
• Roadblocks, security checkpoints--these make traveling home dangerous and such travel gives Trujillo's representatives access to the movements of the Mirabal sisters.
• Feeling of safety at home, but a qualified feeling of safety--threats and dangers lurk everywhere
• Nationalization of property--cars taken away

SIM--Servicio Inteligencia Militar--Trujillo's secret police