Julia Alvarez: In the Time of the Butterflies
Directions: After reading the lecture, answer one of the main questions, which will appear in bold. This question is due no later than Thursday, Apr. 20. Following that will be other questions which you should read and think about--they may help you answer the main question. However, you are not required to answer these questions in writing.
Your responses to other students' answers are due by midnight on Sunday, Apr. 23. In order to get the full 20 points, you MUST respond to at least 2 other people's postings.
This set of discussion questions is worth a possible 20 points. Remember: late answers receive 0 points, so post early :)
We will be using the ETUDES Discussion Board for this class. Click on the link below to get to the ETUDES portal, sign in, and then click on the tab for this class. You will find the "Discussion and Private Messages" link on the left side of the screen:
Julia Alvarez, In the Time of the Butterflies
1. Alvarez gives away the ending even before the first page of the novel; why? Why not keep us in suspense until the end?
2. Dede feels compelled to tell the story of her sisters over and over; what purpose does this serve in her life?
3. Do you think the Mirabal sisters were heroic? Why or why not?
1. What is the purpose of the list of names on the title page?
2. Examine Chapter One: how does it introduce the themes of the rest of the novel?
3. How does each sister relate love to courage in her own life?
4. How do Dede's memories differ from reality?
5. Why does Dede feel guilty?
6. How does the novel show that, under Trujillo's regime, hypocrisy is necessary to survive?
7. According to the novel, how did their experiences under Trujillo's regime make it hard for people to even know the truth, much less live by it?
8. Why do so many find it difficult to remember clearly events which happened under Trujillo's regime?
9. How does each sister feel like an outsider?
10. How does each sister deal with loss?
11. How does each sister forgive herself for the things she perceives she has done wrong?
12. How does the novel contrast images of being trapped and being free? What ambivalence do the sisters feel about freedom?
13. What does the novel say about the role of women?
14. How does each sister, in her own way, discover the truth about Trujillo? How is this a journey from innocence to experience for each sister?
15. Dede sees herself as a coward; is she?
16. How does the novel foreshadow later events?
17. On page 122, there are quotes from two different poems by Jose Marti, advocating two different ways of living. Which way of life does each of the sisters choose?
18. The novel deals with political revolution; what other revolutions are taking place at the same time?
19. How does each sister deny reality?
20. When Minerva goes with her mother to get information on their father, who has been arrested, she helps an old man who is trying to obtain the release of his sons (see pp. 106-108). Her mother asks her, "You're going to fight everyone's fight, aren't you?" Minerva replies, "It's all the same fight, Mama." What does her statement imply about the Butterflies and their battle?