Archetypal Criticism in In the Time of the Butterflies
Recurring symbols and themes can be found in just about any form of literature. These archetypes can easily be spotted when using a literary theory. A literary theory is used to analyze and interpret literature. Archetypal Criticism is a literary theory that focuses on common archetypes in literature. Archetypal Criticism claims that certain characters recur in literature, and there are no new stories (Davidson). Archetypal Criticism can be applied to In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez to reveal the common character types and motifs portrayed in the novel. The characters Minerva and Trujillo closely resemble the character types of the rebel and villain, and Patria is a reflection …show more content…
Minerva is the most rebellious out of her sisters and is not afraid to fight for what she wants. Even at a young age, Minerva was rebellious when it came to issues she didn’t agree with. When she didn’t like that she saw rabbits caged up, she “[...] opened a cage to set a half-grown doe free” (Alvarez 11). She didn’t think, or care, what the consequences of her actions could be. As she grew up, she continued to become more rebellious. When she finds out about Papa’s other woman, she drives to her house, “[...] turn[s] into the dirt path and crash[es] into the Ford, making the bumper curl up and shattering the window in back” (Alvarez 88). She is so mad at Papa that she destroys his car, clearly showing how rebellious she can be. Minerva is such a rebel that she even slaps Trujillo. When Trujillo keeps pulling her into him while dancing, she says, “I can see my hand in an endless slow motion rise—a mind all its own—and come down on the astonished, made-up face” (Alvarez 100). He makes her get so mad that she can’t help but rebel against him and slap him. She hates Trujillo so much that she becomes a leader of a movement to oppose his regime and overthrow him. According to the article “American Villain-Types” by sociological researcher Orrin E. Klapp, the common rebel character type can be defined as, “A kind of outlaw who seems to specifically …show more content…
The application of Archetypal Criticism to the novel reveals how Patria often relates to the common motif of martyrdom. Patria tries many times to give herself up for others. When the SIM comes to take Mate to jail, Patria says, “‘Take me instead, please.’ Patria knelt by the door, pleading with Captain Peña. ‘I beg you for the love of God’” (Alvarez 195). She would rather go to jail than let her younger sister go. Later, while most of her family is in jail, she talks to the picture of Trujillo every day when she changes the flowers. Patria says, “Hear my cry, Jefe. Release my sisters and their husbands and mine. But most especially, I beg you, oh Jefe, give me back my son. Take me instead, I'll be your sacrificial lamb” (Alvarez 203). Patria pleads and prays that her family will be released from jail. When she thinks that begging won’t be enough to let them go, she adds that she is willing to give herself up for them, especially Nelson. She can’t stand the thought of her young son being behind bars, so she is willing to sacrifice herself for him, like a martyr. According to an article titled “The Martyr Motif in the Gospel According to Mark” by Donald W. Riddle, Christian writings “[...] developed the martyrology as a literary type[...]” (Riddle). Religious writings developed the martyr motif, which shows that martyrs are often very religious, just like Patria. The article
Recurring symbols and themes can be found in just about any form of literature. These archetypes can easily be spotted when using a literary theory. A literary theory is used to analyze and interpret literature. Archetypal Criticism is a literary theory that focuses on common archetypes in literature. Archetypal Criticism claims that certain characters recur in literature, and there are no new stories (Davidson). Archetypal Criticism can be applied to In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez to reveal the common character types and motifs portrayed in the novel. The characters Minerva and Trujillo closely resemble the character types of the rebel and villain, and Patria is a reflection …show more content…
Minerva is the most rebellious out of her sisters and is not afraid to fight for what she wants. Even at a young age, Minerva was rebellious when it came to issues she didn’t agree with. When she didn’t like that she saw rabbits caged up, she “[...] opened a cage to set a half-grown doe free” (Alvarez 11). She didn’t think, or care, what the consequences of her actions could be. As she grew up, she continued to become more rebellious. When she finds out about Papa’s other woman, she drives to her house, “[...] turn[s] into the dirt path and crash[es] into the Ford, making the bumper curl up and shattering the window in back” (Alvarez 88). She is so mad at Papa that she destroys his car, clearly showing how rebellious she can be. Minerva is such a rebel that she even slaps Trujillo. When Trujillo keeps pulling her into him while dancing, she says, “I can see my hand in an endless slow motion rise—a mind all its own—and come down on the astonished, made-up face” (Alvarez 100). He makes her get so mad that she can’t help but rebel against him and slap him. She hates Trujillo so much that she becomes a leader of a movement to oppose his regime and overthrow him. According to the article “American Villain-Types” by sociological researcher Orrin E. Klapp, the common rebel character type can be defined as, “A kind of outlaw who seems to specifically …show more content…
The application of Archetypal Criticism to the novel reveals how Patria often relates to the common motif of martyrdom. Patria tries many times to give herself up for others. When the SIM comes to take Mate to jail, Patria says, “‘Take me instead, please.’ Patria knelt by the door, pleading with Captain Peña. ‘I beg you for the love of God’” (Alvarez 195). She would rather go to jail than let her younger sister go. Later, while most of her family is in jail, she talks to the picture of Trujillo every day when she changes the flowers. Patria says, “Hear my cry, Jefe. Release my sisters and their husbands and mine. But most especially, I beg you, oh Jefe, give me back my son. Take me instead, I'll be your sacrificial lamb” (Alvarez 203). Patria pleads and prays that her family will be released from jail. When she thinks that begging won’t be enough to let them go, she adds that she is willing to give herself up for them, especially Nelson. She can’t stand the thought of her young son being behind bars, so she is willing to sacrifice herself for him, like a martyr. According to an article titled “The Martyr Motif in the Gospel According to Mark” by Donald W. Riddle, Christian writings “[...] developed the martyrology as a literary type[...]” (Riddle). Religious writings developed the martyr motif, which shows that martyrs are often very religious, just like Patria. The article