An Analysis of Emotional Effects and Historical Significance in Time of the Butterflies

In the world of historical fiction, few authors offer new and innovative approaches, seldom creating new genres. Typically, in the styles of Leon Uris and James Michener, two prolific contemporary historical fiction authors, the main characters are depicted over a brief period of their lives. Their feelings are used primarily to illustrate the political circumstances that surround them.

"In the Time of the Butterflies" is a new breed of this genre; it closely follows the four Mirabal sisters from their early childhood till the very end, and showcases the impact of the tyranny of the Dominican oppressor, Ral Trujillo, on their family.

Julia Alvarez, an American of Dominican descent, wrote the novel from the perspective of all four sisters at different times, even using Ded Mirabal's viewpoint in 1994 when she was interviewed by Alvarez for information. Minerva, Maria Teresa, and Patria Mirabal were assassinated, along with their driver Rufino de la Cruz, on November 25, 1960 due to their underground resistance against Trujillo's regime.

"In the Time of the Butterflies" traces the journey of these sisters, and the sister who was not killed, Ded, from their time in elementary school. Frightening tales about Trujillo and his government led each sister, except Ded, to join the secret resistance against Trujillo and the SIM, a group of guards that functioned like a secret police. The sisters had numerous encounters with the dictator, culminating in a seven-month stint in prison. Yet, a significant part of the novel is filled with joy and light-hearted camaraderie among all the characters. The novel is divided into four sections—three principal parts and an epilogue. The first two parts, save for the death of the sisters' father, fondly recount the sisters' blissful childhood. This adds a layer of irony that makes the narrative even more heart-wrenching. These parts describe their time at boarding school, their various courtships, and their eventual opposition to Trujillo—all formative times for the women.

The latter two sections of the book center on the sisters' incarceration and the time when Trujillo and the SIM's power spiraled out of control. At this point, the family becomes a genuine target of the government. Trujillo himself reportedly said, "My only two problems are the damn church and the Mirabal sisters" (51). Had "In the Time of the Butterflies" been written like typical contemporary historical fiction novels, it wouldn't possess half its vibrancy. The beauty of the book lies in the profound emotional impact it has on the reader, combined with the superb portrayal of the actual horrors of Trujillo's historic reign.

A Michener or Uris novel may accurately document a political event or routine, yet it could leave the reader with little in the way of emotion or enthusiasm. In contrast, works of any other genre may not be valuable to the reader for their historical worth, but they could be a masterpiece of emotion. A typical critic may be hard-pressed to find a novel similar to In the Time of the Butterflies in terms of emotional impact and historical value. Alvarez is an excellent writer and can move many readers to tears, but the emotional impact might be a bit too much for such a book. However, it is a true story, and to make it dull enough to not be as powerful as it is would certainly be a farce.

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