In the Time of the Butterflies: Supreme Blog

What does the way women are depicted in contemporary fiction say about our culture and identity? Evaluate the purpose of presenting women in this way in your novel.

The novel In the Time of the Butterflies provides a unique look at women in contemporary times because it takes place in the Dominican Republican in a time of severe oppression and backwards sexism. At a time in American culture when women were really beginning to lead competitive and equal lives with men, the women in the Dominican were still fighting to be admitted into Universities and colleges. Despite the active feminist movement in America that we are constantly taught in school, American females were extremely well off when their rights are compared to those in other countries, such as the Domincan Republic. Also, I think the fact that readers nowadays are able to read about the treatment of women in “Butterflies” and realize that it is sexist and extremely backwards in its sense of stereotypical female roles shows that American society has come a long way in its positive acceptance of feminism. However, despite the extreme differences in the culture in the Dominican Republic and America, there are still some similarities. For example, Alvarez’s novel takes place in the 1960s at a time where many American women are still fulfilling the stereotypical “housewife” role by living the American dream in Suburbia. Similarly, in “Butterflies” all of the main female characters at some point are shown to have dreams of being just an average housewife and caring for her children. This allows many readers to feel to connection with the characters even more because even though the four sisters are extremely courageous, they are still women who had some of the same desires American women have.

I think Alvarez makes a conscious effort to portray these women as having simple as well as ambitious goals in order to show that women can lead many different roles in life. For example, Minerva is the most revolutionary out of the four sisters and seems unwaveringly strong and ambitious in her dreams for political peace. However, we as readers learn throughout the novel that at many times she wishes she could retire into her home and be a simple wife and mother for her family. Also, take Patria, for example, who was the perfect “housewife” in the sense that she followed her husband and basically immersed herself in her family. However, she soon felt dissatisfied with not only her own life but also the quality of the lives of those around her. In order to fill this void, she joined her other two sisters in the fight against Trujillo. This simple mergence of a mere housewife into a revolutionary hero who died for her country shows that Alvarez truly supports women living multiple lives. Ultimately, the depiction of women in Butterflies shows that women were, long after the American feminist movement, striving for equality in society. However, even thought equality may be desirable, it has its price to pay in the sense that women may be forced to sacrifice some of their more desirable duties to fight for what they believe in.

sorry….that is a bit long

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.