Emerson Hanna Mr. Wahl Honors English 10 8 March 2024 Most individuals have a driving force that influences their actions, but not necessarily one that controls every aspect of their life. In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, she introduces how women are forced to conform to political appeal rather than being able to freely choose how they live. Four sisters; Patria, Dede, Minerva, and Maria Teresa are all similarly affected by the dictatorship encircling them. They loathe their leader, Trujillo, as he is sending them to prison, leaving them without their loved ones, and operating their fantasies. The political setting comparably alters their behavior and has the strongest impact on them personally. This ultimately highlights the
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On her 56th day locked behind bars, Maria Teresa begins to experience the pain of being held captive: “The fear is the worst part. Every time I hear footsteps coming down the hall, or the clink of the key turning in the lock, I’m tempted to curl up in the corner like a hurt animal, whimpering, wanting to be safe” (227). Due to the government's overwhelming control over her life, Mate feels trapped in this cage of desolation. She is stripped of her freedom to manage her own life and is left feeling hopeless from the political authority she is being forced to abide by. Similarly, Patria mourns her losses while being isolated from her sisters, husband, and her son. The government deprives Patria of her loved ones and this allows her to put into perspective the consequences she is compelled to accept. She is haunted by the images of how her family slowly begins to fall apart: “Over and over again, I saw the SIM approaching, I saw Nelson and Pedrito hurrying out the back way, Noris’s stricken face. I saw the throng of men at the door, I heard the stomping, the running, the …show more content…
On the other hand, some may think that the social setting in the novel impacts the characters' behaviors more strongly. Dede, for example, is being impacted by the ardent revolution enclosing her through her sister's passions. This led her to make her first individual choice, without the influence of the government: “She would leave him. Next to that decision, attending the underground meeting over at Patria’s was nothing but a small step after the big turn that had been taken” (180). Without the social guidance Dede is accepting, she would not make this choice to assist in overthrowing the dictatorship. This offers Dede an escape and therefore impacts her behavior immensely. Although, Dede along with her sisters would not decide to join the revolution if it were not for the political hatred they are facing and being affected by. Even Minerva, being the high-minded individual she is, is getting forced into manipulation by her impudent leader. All she wants is to attend law school, and there is only one thing stopping her: “He strokes the cheek I slapped, smiling a razor sharp smile that cuts me down to
On her 56th day locked behind bars, Maria Teresa begins to experience the pain of being held captive: “The fear is the worst part. Every time I hear footsteps coming down the hall, or the clink of the key turning in the lock, I’m tempted to curl up in the corner like a hurt animal, whimpering, wanting to be safe” (227). Due to the government's overwhelming control over her life, Mate feels trapped in this cage of desolation. She is stripped of her freedom to manage her own life and is left feeling hopeless from the political authority she is being forced to abide by. Similarly, Patria mourns her losses while being isolated from her sisters, husband, and her son. The government deprives Patria of her loved ones and this allows her to put into perspective the consequences she is compelled to accept. She is haunted by the images of how her family slowly begins to fall apart: “Over and over again, I saw the SIM approaching, I saw Nelson and Pedrito hurrying out the back way, Noris’s stricken face. I saw the throng of men at the door, I heard the stomping, the running, the …show more content…
On the other hand, some may think that the social setting in the novel impacts the characters' behaviors more strongly. Dede, for example, is being impacted by the ardent revolution enclosing her through her sister's passions. This led her to make her first individual choice, without the influence of the government: “She would leave him. Next to that decision, attending the underground meeting over at Patria’s was nothing but a small step after the big turn that had been taken” (180). Without the social guidance Dede is accepting, she would not make this choice to assist in overthrowing the dictatorship. This offers Dede an escape and therefore impacts her behavior immensely. Although, Dede along with her sisters would not decide to join the revolution if it were not for the political hatred they are facing and being affected by. Even Minerva, being the high-minded individual she is, is getting forced into manipulation by her impudent leader. All she wants is to attend law school, and there is only one thing stopping her: “He strokes the cheek I slapped, smiling a razor sharp smile that cuts me down to