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The Dominican Republic during Trujillo’s dictatorship, especially rural towns like Ojo de Agua and the capital.

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Born: March 27th, 1950, New York

Dominican-American

Awarded the National Medal of Arts

Currently 74 years old

Left the United States after three months of being born

Returned to the United States in August, 1960

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NAFTA comes into effect

Clinton ends trade embargo with Vietnam

Leading Mexican presidential candidate is assassinated

High levels of immigration into the Dominican Republic

World Wide Web is launched

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Based on real events, people, and places

Aims to inform its readers/audience

Presents accurate information

Setting is based on historical events or specific time period

Portrays customs, mannerisms, and social conditions of the time period accurately

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Alavrez uses the sisters different point of views throughout the narrative, telling the story through their perspective.

Chapter two is told through the perspective of Minerva and her experiences so far in the story, but the perspective changes in chapter three the perspective shifts to Maria Teresa and her experiences.

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Alvarez uses both first-person and third-person perspective throughout the story to show the sisters' understanding of the political situation at hand.

Dede's perspective is written through third-person, in comparison to Minerva, Maria Teresa, and Patria's first-person perspectives throughout the novel.

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Although the novel is told through the perspective of the four sisters, it does not follow a certain order of story telling - allowing the story to switch from time period to another in the sisters' lives.

The beginning of the story where Dede begins to tell the interviewer about her sisters, then the shift to their childhood, then the shift to their later years and personal lives and experiences.

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Main character:

She is the oldest of the sisters and was known to be the one most devoted to her faith. However, her character aims to show the shift from her devotion to revolution - ultimately showing the importance of her rebellion.

Adjectives : maternal, religious, loving, generous

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Main character

Dede is the only sister that survived, because of this she acts as the one who carry's on her sisters' legacy, ultimately taking on the role of a storyteller.

Adjectives : grounded, cautious, loyal

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Main character

Minerva's character aims to act as a tool to influence her sisters into joining the resistance and further educating them on the truth of Trujillo's rule. Ultimately, her character aims to resemble resistance and power as throughout the novel she was known, even during her childhood, to rebel and resist against what she believed to be unjust and unfair.

Adjectives : bold, rebellious, intelligent

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Main character

She is the youngest of her sisters and initially helped to show being naive and young, but eventually is also connected with resistance and fights alongside her sisters for freedom. Romance is what helps drive her as once she mets Leandro and falls deeply in love with him, she begins to become more involved with the resistance.

Adjectives : naive, brave, kind

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Antagonist

He is the main antagonist in the story and helps to show the effects of tyranny and dictatorship, as his people begin to go against him and his word through resistance. He was often seen being cruel and unjust -- eventually he is assassinated a year after the Mirabal sisters' deaths.

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Butterflies: Symbolize freedom, transformation, and martyrdom.

The mountain road: Represents the journey toward resistance and ultimately, sacrifice.

The diary: Reflects inner thoughts and personal growth, especially for María Teresa.

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The novel starts with Dedé being interviewed in the present. This introduces the idea of memory and legacy, framing the story as both personal and historical.

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Dedé reflects on the legacy of her sisters and how their story lives on. It’s a powerful ending that honors their sacrifice and shows the lasting impact of their courage.

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Resistance against oppression

The power of sisterhood and family

The cost of courage

Feminism and female empowerment

Memory, storytelling, and legacy

Political vs. personal identity

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"Until the nail is hit, it doesn't believe in the hammer."

The quote aims to establish the idea of not acknowledging danger and the effects of a tyranny until it directly affects an individual, which is a key idea in the beginning of the novel as the sisters slowly begin to realize the reality under Trujillo's rule.

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"I'd just left a small cage to go into a bigger one, the size of our whole country."

This quote acknowledges the realization of the world going on around Patria, as she once believed that leaving her home would mean leaving the cage (representing the idea of freedom), however instead it leads to the hidden truth of injustice and dictatorship in her country.

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"'I could be brave if someone were by me every day of my life to remind me to be brave. I don't come by it naturally'

'None of us do,' Minerva noted quitely."

The quote shows the difficult decision Dede had faced in the novel regarding whether or not to become a part of the revolution. It also considers the idea of confidence and bravery, and the difference between Dede and her other sisters.

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In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez follows the story of the four Mirabal sisters Patria, Dedé, Minerva, and María Teresa as they grow up in the Dominican Republic during the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. As the country becomes more dangerous under his rule, the sisters are slowly pulled into the resistance movement. Minerva is the first to take action, inspiring her younger sisters to join her. Dedé, the only one who survives, looks back on their story and the choices they made. The novel shows how ordinary people can become heroes and explores themes like sacrifice, family, and standing up for what’s right.