IN THE TIME OF THE BUTTERFLIES Julia Alvarez

Historical Context Transports us to the Dominican Republic in the mid-twentieth century when the country struggled under the brutal dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. A work of historical fiction, the novel honors the lives of Patria, Minerva, and María Teresa Mirabal, who became icons of freedom and women’s rights when they were assassinated in the autumn of 1960 for their role in the underground movement against Trujillo’s regime. The murders of the three women inspired many in the Dominican Republic to denounce the regime publicly and marked the beginning of the end for Trujillo’s reign. In 1999 the United Nations General Assembly designated the date of the Mirabal sisters’ deaths, November 25, as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Meet the Author: Julia Alvarez Dominican-American poet, novelist, and essayist. Born in New York, she spent the first ten years of her childhood in the Dominican Republic, until her father’s involvement in a political rebellion forced her family to flee the country. Many literary critics regard her to be one of the most significant Latina writers. Many of Alvarez’s works focus heavily on issues of assimilation and identity. Her cultural upbringing as both a Dominican and an American is evident in the combination of personal and political tone in her writing. She is known for works that examine cultural expectations of women and for investigations of cultural stereotypes.

Inspiration for the Novel Alvarez says: "In 1960, a few months after my family fled the dictatorship of Trujillo in the Dominican Republic, the three Mirabal sisters were brutally murdered. Founders of the underground, las Mariposas (the Butterflies, their code name) had inspired resistance cells throughout the country. (My father had joined one of these cells, which was cracked by the SIM, the secret police, in the summer of the reason we were forced to flee.) This novel tells the Mirabal story through the lens of fiction. Needless to say, this book is one I felt compelled to write."

Where are we?

The Dominican Republic Population: 8,862,000 Capital: Santo Domingo Language: Spanish Religion: Roman Catholic Currency: Dominican peso ECONOMY Industry: Tourism, sugar processing, gold mining, textiles Agriculture: Sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cacao; cattle Exports: Sugar, gold, silver, coffee The nation became independent in 1844, but endured political instability and repressive governments. Today it is a democracy, economically dependent on agriculture and tourism.

Rafael Trujillo In 1930, Trujillo eliminated his political rivals through intimidation or force and won the presidential election unchallenged, ushering in the “Era of Trujillo.” Renamed the capital Cuidad Trujillo in his honor, along with thousands of other streets, monuments, and landmarks throughout the country. During his oppressive dictatorship Trujillo was credited with: improving sanitation, constructing new roads, schools and hospitals, and increasing the general standard of living for the Dominican people HOWEVER... he redistributed the majority of the economic gain to his family and his supporters/military personnel.

Rafael Trujillo's Brutal Rule Trujillo retained ultimate control over the Dominican Republic for 31 years. The secret police force he established included a widespread network of spies that was used to censor the press and to threaten, expel, torture or kill dissenters in orchestrated accidents or “suicides.” Before a definitive border had been established in 1936, disputes between the Dominican Republic and neighboring country of Haiti had persisted for centuries. Trujillo feared the “darkening” of Dominican people and publicly promoted anti-Haitian sentiments. In October 1937, amid reports of Haitians stealing cattle and crops from Dominicans along the northwest border, Trujillo ordered the massacre of an estimated 20,000 Haitians.

Meet the Mirabal Sisters Minerva Mirabal is determined to get an education but, even after finishing law school, is prohibited by Trujillo from practicing. She is the first to join the revolution—la primera mariposa, the first Butterfly. Her husband Manolo is also a leader in the underground. María Teresa (Mate) Mirabal: María Teresa becomes aware of the underground through Minerva. She marries Leandro and both join the resistance and work to overthrow Trujillo. Patria Mirabal: The eldest sister becomes involved with the underground after witnessing a battle in the mountains between government forces and anti-Trujillo rebels on the fourteenth of June, Dedé is the sister that was not with the rest of the sisters on that tragic day. However, she then dedicated her life to preserving her sisters memory. She died at age 88 on February 1, 2014 of pulmonary fibrosis. Her family was at her side.

Watch: In the Time of the Butterflies

Reflect and Write #1: 10 Minutes Directions: On a separate piece of paper, write AT LEAST ONE PARAGRAPH answering each question. You will hand this in for a grade. Remember: quality over quantity! 1. Reflect on someone you believe is a hero. Why are they a hero to you? What characteristics do they have that make them heroic?

Reflect and Write #2: 10 Minutes Why do you think it is important to reflect on and remember the past ? Do you think that the past influences the present? What does the past teach us?