In the Time of the Butterflies
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Ah, the power of revolutionaries. The Mirabal sisters had a strong impact on the citizens of the Dominican Republic during Trujillo's rule, on Julia Alvarez, the author of In the Time of the Butterflies, and on anyone else who reads the book. They invoked miraculous feelings of nationalism in their country and are regarded by Dominican Republicans as equal to Napoleon Bonaparte, Oliver Cromwell, Paul Revere, and other famous revolutionaries. Minerva, Maria Teresa, and Patria Mirabal were leaders in the revolution against General Raphael Leonidas Trujillo's dictatorship in the Dominican Republic from 1930 to 1961. Revolution, although rebellious, is a courageous, admirable, and inspiring action that is the dominant theme in this book.
First of all, it took a lot of bravery for the three Mirabal girls to go through with all that they did. They knew the way Trujillo had gained his power and the violent way he dealt with unappreciated situations were wrong, and they had a strong desire to free themselves and their country from him. In all their minds they knew the Dominican Republic didn't deserve to continue suffering it had to stop, so they took action into their own hands to stop it. The majority of the other citizens were either scared of what would happen if they were to revolt or they were blind or ignorant to the cruel, unfair things that Trujillo was doing. When it all came down to the matter of what was important, revolution was necessary...