Gender Prejudice - Minerva's Determination and Fight for Equality

In many of mid 20th century novels we have studied, a prejudice feeling of some sort is present. When the word prejudice is mentioned, one may just think about the color of a person's skin or their ethnicity, but it is important to remember that there are more types of prejudice feelings that occur. One of the biggest prejudices one may notice in the novel is the prejudice towards women and their rights in society, a problem that still occurs in modern day America. Minerva so desperately to be involved with politics and law, except for the that women are not allowed to go to Law School or practice law in the Dominican Republic. Minerva, full of courage and hope, proceeded to fight for rights and political freedom even without the support of her own mother. Although her way fight for women's rights were rebellious and eventually caused her life to come to an abrupt stop, she paved the way for many women in the future to speak out and fight for what they believe.

Alvarez's Diction and Use of "Jefe"

In the Time of Butterflies author, Julia Alvarez, uses diction to help capture the mood/atmosphere of the book. Her brilliant choice of words add emphasis to the story and reminds a reader of the Dominican setting of the novel. A particular Spanish word constantly used throughout the novel as a nickname for Trujillo is "Jefe," translating to "the boss" in English.  Not only does this remind one of the Hispanic roots of the novel, but it also hints that Trujillo is the man in charge of the chaotic, aggressive political system that spins out of control and eventually leads the Mirabal sisters to rebel against the government.  The nickname, used in a negative manner, shows the reader that Trujillo is the monster and main source behind all of the uproar and violence in the Dominican Republic, proving his fault and evilness as a ruler.
Alvarez does a fantastic job of capturing the feelings and raw emotions the girls have throughout the novel. From Minerva's determination to make a difference in the political system and study law to Patria's sorrow and depression following the loss of her child, Alvarez is able to give the reader an inside peek to the Mirabal sisters' lives and allow one to empathize with their hardships all through strength of her diction. Julia Alvarez's rich, well thought out use diction captures the mood of a story, adds a high level of emotion and emphasis, and really ties the story together as a whole.