In the book, In the time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, examples of oppression takes place within the Mirabal sisters lives. Censorship, search and seizure, and fear of life and liberty are three examples of such oppression. Censorship prevented the citizens to express their feelings and opinions about their political system. The regime of the Dominican Republic tried very hard to keep the people from speaking their minds or from disobeying its dictator. For instance, Patria, who was a religiously devoted individual tried to convince Minerva, her younger sister, to attend church, but Minerva told her that a friend said that even the Priests were on a double pay roll (52).
This suggested that even the priests were being paid to spy on and then report suspicious or guilty people who were planning to go against the regime.
The people were at risk of being spied on during a confession. Oppression through censorship also made people question that they could trust. Maria Teresa explained that the yard boy, Prieto, was betraying her family by reporting everything he hears in the Mirabal household down at security for a bottle of rum and a couple of pesos. The family was then hesitant to speak in their own house and they cant fire him or that would look like they have something to hide (129).
Even while the family had gathered in the front yard to tell stories, when Minerva and Papa began discussing Trujillo and women in the government, they all fall silent. Suddenly the dark fills with spies who are paid to hear things and report them down at security (10).
The Essay on Depression Australia People Families
The Depression 1921-1940 The Great Depression known as 'Black Thursday' began in October 1929 and lasted for about a decade. It was the worst economic crash ever in U. S. history, and one, which spread to virtually the entire industrialized world. The depression started when large numbers of people brought shares in companies. By buying shares low and selling them at a higher price, investors ...
The family always felt as though spies were around to report them, and they were at risk of speaking anything too suspicious. Through their worrying, they had learned to keep silent whether they had rebellious feelings or not. In the United States, the forth amendment protects and secures citizens from search and seizure. This means, that no person should have their home searched, or be seized without a warrant. The Dominican Republics regime at this time seized people in the streets, in their homes, and searched through their homes without explanation or legal documents that give them permission to do so. Galindez, known for his rebellious acts, was writing a book about the regime.
Trujillos workers tried to bribe Galindez and get the book, to make sure his word never got out. But Galindez refused the money. As Maria Teresa explains, disappearances happen every week (136), and soon enough, Galindez was kidnapped. Another is example was the fact that Minerva was part of secret meetings which she attended behind scenes. One of her friends, Hilda, was eventually caught. She was grabbed by the police while trying to leave the convent and after that, everyone who was part of those secret meetings had to destroy anything that would make them guilty. Minerva was burying things like her poems and papers and letters(43) in order not to be caught.
The interesting thing is that Hilda was only suspected because she had some secret papers in the trunk of her car and the trunk was pried open(41).
The fact that they searched Hildas property without warrant, and then seized her at a convent, exemplifies the oppressive acts of search and seizure. The people of the Dominican Republic were in fear for their lives and their liberty if they spoke privately or publicly against the regime, or its dictator. If they were to do so, death and/or execution would be a factor in their future. An example was when Sinita and Minerva were glorified for their performance about liberty, something they both strongly believed in. One of the parts had Sinita pointing a bow and imaginary foes, but during the performance for Trujillo, Sinita kept on stepping forward and didnt stop until she was right in front of Trujillos chair and there was a stunned silence in the hall.
The Essay on Life 27
In the opening chapter of Julia Alvarez's second novel, a woman receives a caller in the countryside of the Dominican Republic. The visit is an awkward obligation, a meeting between a Dominican survivor of the Trujillo regime and a younger Dominican-American woman who wants to know more about Las Mariposas the Butterflies as they are known in the history of the country. The visitor has come to ...
Ramfis, Trujillos son snapped the bow in half and yelled, Use your dog death, bitch! to untie Minervas character. Sinita bent down and untied Minerva with her mouth (28).
Even Maria Teresa at a young age felt as though she was being followed by the eyes of Trujillo while his picture hung in her house. She felt it was as though he were trying to catch her in doing something wrong (39).
Even worse was when Sinita tried to explain to Minerva that People who opened their big mouths didnt live very long (18).
Minerva had found it very hard to understand what was truly going on in her country at such a young age, but then Sinita exclaimed, Minerva, dont you see? Trujillo is having everyone killed! (19).
Sinita knew of such things because her Father, Uncles and brother were all killed for rebelling against the regime. Minerva, learned from then on that her life was at risk if she chose to act upon her liberty. The Mirabal sisters were active opponents of the dictatorship of Trujillo.
The examples illustrate the oppressive power of the regime intimidating specific lives and the tyranny behind it. Trujillos rule manifested in the hearts of the Dominicans and he influenced their every day living. Just as Sinita feared her life, and was censored against her own will, she learned that someone would have to be stupid enough to say anything bad about the government (10)..
