The Vital Aspects of the Setting in the Time of the Butterflies

The setting of a tale plays a vital role in developing and advancing the story, its motif, and its characters. Weather and location, for example, are two crucial elements of the setting of In The Time of the Butterflies, a historical story by Julia Alvarez. The use of weather, whether rainy or sunny, has been utilized throughout the story to establish an atmosphere for the story’s tone, as has the geography in developing the characters, their conflicts, and the progression of the plot.

One instance of the use of weather to create an atmosphere that suits the story’s tone occurred on October 12th, the day of the Discovery Day Dance in El Jefe’s estate (Alvarez 93). A turbulent storm arrives, disrupting El Jefe’s party and his dance with Minerva. After an uneasy night dancing with El Jefe, Minerva hides her hatred of him, preserved from her time spent with Sinita. She nostalgically recalls the same “stage fright from five years back” (98). Trying to make the most of the night, Minerva pleads for his approval to attend law school with the intent of becoming a lawyer. However, after one too many inappropriate advances from El Jefe, she forcefully reacts by slapping his surprised face (100).

The uncertainty of the night and her sudden reaction are reflected by the sudden rain that “comes down hard,” causing “squeals of surprise” (100). The rain helps contribute to the “mysterious” and “gloomy” tones of the scene (Foster 71). Minerva worries that she may be arrested for her sudden actions. To her surprise, El Jefe decides not to arrest her, prompting a flicker of hope, or a “rainbow,” that accompanies the rain (74). However, upon leaving the party, she realizes she has left behind her purse, containing potentially incriminating letters from the traitor, Lio. This elicits feelings of anxiety, stress, and uncertainty, for if El Jefe were to find these letters, she and her family could be labeled traitors. These emotions are accompanied by the continuing “rainy spell,” wherein “the rain comes down all morning” on this “dreary day” (Alvarez 102).

Another instance of rain developing a sensation of intrigue and anxiety occurs when Patria, Maria Teresa, and Minerva journey to Monte Cristi to meet with their husbands. They are accompanied by Rufino and a soldier they met on the way. As they approach Monte Cristi, a storm engulfs the mountainside road. An ominous tone is established as Minerva observes the “steep drop just inches from the slippery road, […] the hazardous possibilities, the fumes from the malfunctioning muffler [and] the roughness of the road” (284). This sense of danger is intensified by the approaching storm, making “the interior of the Jeep […] dark and stuffy” (285). Rain is isolating in this context (Foster 71). Minerva notes that, due to the heavy downpour, she “could barely hear Patria or Mate talking, let alone Rufino and the young soldier up front” (Alvarez 286). The ambiguity and suspense of the dark and stormy night further heighten when Manolo advises Minerva to refrain from returning home during the storm and to wait out the night instead (294). Nevertheless, despite his warning and feeling “a little worried” (296), Minerva and the rest of the group decide to carry on traveling that night, only to face their formidable predators.

The geographical location of the Dominican Republic is essential for the events of this novel and in shaping the circumstances for the characters to become the Butterflies. The government of this country is ruled by General Trujillo, the self-proclaimed president who governs the nation like a dictator. Anyone who opposes or dissents him is either killed or imprisoned (Alvarez 19), with even an unintended typo in a newspaper resulting in months of imprisonment. His likeness pervades through the society as every household has a “mandatory portrait of El Jefe” (202).

Individuals are forced into apprehension either directly by the SIM or through agents who breach their privacy, invading the sanctuary of their homes. An increasing resentment from the society towards this regime leads to the formation of a resistance group. Every Mirabal sister is prompted by their own catalyst, be it the denial to exercise law or a devastating explosion during a church retreat. This sparks a revolution intended to overthrow Trujillo’s regime. The citizens of this society and country, unable to tolerate Trujillo and the SIM any longer, make possible the revolution and the agitated events leading to the end of Trujillo’s tyranny and the onset of genuine democracy in the nation.

Rain symbolizes more than just precipitation, and a location signifies more than merely where a story transpires, as manifested by Julia Alvarez’s historic fiction, In the Time of the Butterflies. Without integrating these strategies into her narrative, the Mirabal sisters wouldn’t have been able to convey their poignant tales with as much significance and impact. By creating a tense atmosphere and suspense through the weather, and articulating the emotions and grievances of the people through the geography, Alvarez successfully enables the readers to vicariously experience the narrative of the Mirabal sisters as they challenge Trujillo’s regime.

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