In the Time of the Butterflies: Supreme Blog

How are women depicted in contemporary fiction and media? During your reading of the novel, comment on the ways in which women are being portrayed. Consider relationships, experiences, situations, etc.

In this particular novel, the women are portrayed in four very different ways based off the different characters. These different portrayals help demonstrate the sexual stereotypes that women were both experiencing and working to overcome. For example, Patria and Dede are examples of the more traditional type of housewife who go to a Christian school and almost immediately marry and have a family. Dede even married her cousin, whom her parents had been wanting her to marry every since she was a baby. However, at this time, there is also a huge sexism movement intertwined with the revolution as women are beginning to realize that they don’t have to remain at home in order to have a fulfilling life. Minerva, the most outspoken of the four sisters, demonstrates this type of progressive thinking women started having in being hesitant to engage in romantic relationships because she doesn’t want to risk her involvement in the revolution or the loss of respect from her peers since she sees marriage as a type of weakness.

Alvarez makes a definite attempt to show all four women as being very different in what they want out of life, their opposing views, and involvement in society. However, she is careful not to make any general assumptions about which sister is perhaps the most correct or courageous; she just portrays them as they are. Her indifference is important because it allows the reader to see each woman for who she really is and be able to sympathize with each character type as well, whether it be Dede and Patria or the more rebellious spirit of Minerva. Alvarez also shows the impact that each sister has on each other. For example, Minerva has a huge impact on the political views of Patria and Maria Teresa because they view her as inspiration and as someone for truly sees things as they are. Therefore, when Minerva becomes involved with the resistance, it is difficult for her sisters to remain innocent to the horrors of Trujillo’s regime because of their close relationship with her. Ultimately, Alvarez portrays the four main women as being extremely individualistic although still heavily influenced by society and each other.