Julia Alvarez In the Time
of the Butterflies
Dr. Ramirez
Caribbean Literature
How does Alvarez illustrate the
sisters' involvement in revolutionary activity?
What kind of deals are made? What
kind of sacrifices?
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