timebutterflies

.......Karen Wong, Associate Professor of English

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Julia Alvarez's In the Time of the Butterflies

Chapter Coding

RESOURCES TO UNDERSTAND
IN THE TIME OF THE BUTTERFLIES

(COURTESY OF LIBRARIAN ERIC BRENNER)

DISCUSSION BOARD

11/12/03 Interchange Discussions: Bluebird, Condor, Egret, Pelican

Please note the chapter to which you've been assigned. By the week the chapter has been assigned, work with your partners to code them, then send your results to me at wongk@smccd.net so that I can post them on our website.

CODING (WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, HOW, WHY)

I

Chapter One: Dede, 1994 and circa 1943 (Karen)

1994-- Dede is the only survivor, and as such, she maintains the sisters' legend through interviews though she seems to do so primarily out of a sense of obligation and with some reluctance; ironically, she now sells life insurance

1943-- family scene-- introduced to each girls' character; the story already sets a tone of fear of the government

Chapter Two: Minerva, 1938, 1941, 1944 (Karen)

1938-- metaphor of feeling caged in; meets Sinita at Sor Asuncion; learns Sinita's father, brother, and uncles have been killed by Trujillo for trying to start an insurgency against his rule; Minerva begins to doubt Trujillo's leadership

1941-- Lina Lovaton, their classmate, is swept up by Trujillo; Minerva sees how womanhood can trap her

1944-- in performing for Trujillo, Sinita almost gets them all in trouble as traitors; Minerva steps in and saves the day

Chapter Three: Maria Teresa, 1945-1946 (Dolores, Lili, Jesus)

At first Maria Teresa does not know what to write about, but eventually she starts writing about things that she really should not be writing about. Maria Teresa describes her childhood pleasures, especially her clothes. She comes across as sensitive and sensory oriented, dwelling esepcially on girlhood crushes and concerns. Eventually she writes about Minerva's friendship with Hilda, a revolutionary fighting Trujillo.When Hilda is caught, Maria Teresa must bury her diary so the police will not find it.

Chapter Four: Patria, 1946 (Yvette, Cesar, Beto)

Patria- mind, heart, immortal, Jesus, nuns, guayabera, religious, gospel

Patria describes through her experiences her strong faith in the church, as well as a certain longing to be intimate with a person. The nuns were trying to convince her of being one of them. She met Pedrito Gonzalez fell "in love" and knew she wanted to bear children with this man, as opposed to following the religious life. When she lost her baby her faith had weakened a great deal. All that was important to her slowly seemed to get shaken up.

II

Chapter Five: Dede, 1994 and 1948 (Alejandra Gonzalez , Lizeth, Irma)

Dede starts re-calling about Lio with the visiting journalist. Dede and Minerva met Lio at their store, and they both felt attracted to him. Later Dede begins a romance with her cousin Jaimito, whom she later marries. Minerva is attracted to Lio's Communist background and politics, though she never admits this to no one.When Lio must flee the contry, he askes Dede to give Minerva a letter where he asked her to join him in exile.Dede burns the letter thinking that way she would protect Minerva.

Chapter Six: Minerva, 1949 (Genny, Jonathan, Mercy)

Chapter Seven: Maria Teresa, 1953 to 1958 (Yajaira, Daniel, Alexis)

Chapter Eight: Patria, 1959 (Alejandra Gamez, & Joenna)

Patria becomes pregnant and decides to name the child Raul Ernesto after the Cuban revolutionaries, Raul Castro and Ernesto Guevara.Patria goes on a religious retreat. On the 14th of Jun, the retreat is bombed when Trujillo's forces attake the rebels that were hiding in the mountains. Patria watches the young boy die. She vows to help the resistance and convinces her husband, Pedrito, to do the same, but if they are caught they will lose their farm. The resistance names itself the 14th of june movement.

III

Chapter Nine: Dede, 1994 and 1960 (Matt, Ricky, Leticia)

Minou asks her aunt the real reason why she did not join her sisters. Dede states that she was not brave like Minerva and she did not like change. For instance she says she married Jamito not because she loved him, but because she did not like change. Jaimito had an influence for Dede not joining by making her feel guilty. Also in this chapter the SIM come to look for Pedrito and Nelson and take them away. Then shortly after Minerva and Mate were also taken.

Chapter Ten: Patria, January to March 1960 (Silvia, Mayela, Myra)

This chapter is from January to March 1960, and it is told by Patria. She is now living in the new house her mom made. The chapter takes place after her husband, Pedrito, and son, Nelson, are taken to prison. Also the SIM takes both Mate and Minerva. But they are able to communicate with the sisters through their half sister's cousin, who is a guard.

Patria eventually goes to petition for Nelson's release. The palace is swarming with journalists since Trujillo is trying to get some good publicity to counter all of the accusations that are drawing the wrath of the international community. He's also increased the number of pardons and prison visits.

Also, the church becomes involved in the resistance to defend human rights.

The chapter ends on a good note when Nelson is released from prison.

Chapter Eleven: Maria Teresa, March to August 1960 (Abraham & Marcia)

Mate and Minerva are at prison-Sacticlo has been smuggling things; Mate is very depressed with the feeling she wants to go home, but doesn't do it because of Minerva's persistance since "the Mirabals had to set a good example" (p.236); she won't leave unless it's a release, not a pardon. Magdalena and Mate become friends. The girls are released after seven months, and also Mate revels the mystery of April 11 at La 40, that she was tortured and most likely violated.

Chapter Twelve: Minerva, August to November 25, 1960 (Juan, Armando, James)

- August 1960 after serving 7 months in prison, Minerva and Mate were put on house arrest.

- since the sisters didn't have any money, during that month of house arest, they started a business of children's christening gowns.

- October 1960 Minerva, Patria, and Mate go ask Pena if they can see Manolo and Trujillo said that all the sisters were now a problem, not only Minerva.

- November 25, 1960 the sisters, except for Dede, and Rufino all got into a truck to go to la Cumbre, ignoring Manolo's (minerva's love) warning that there were rumors of their assasination, and also ignoring the bad feelings that the Maribal sisters were getting. as a result, Minerva, Patria, Maria Theresa, and Rufino died November 25, 1960.

Epilogue
Dede, 1994 (Ruth)

It's 1994 and Dede starts off the chapter telling about the constant return of visitors. She then goes on about the no hearted murders of her sisters. She was shocked to hear the sentence they were given. She continues to talk about the death of the three butterflies. She recalls a man named Mateo Nunez who came far to tell her about the real death of her sisters. She goes on to tell about Manolo's death three years later. Minou and Mama Dede were very close and kept good communication. Dede had a friend who she would meet up with at a restaurant and catch up on things. Her friend Olgo would also tell Dede to stop living in the past and to realize it's 1994. At the time all the kids grow up and go their own ways and become very important people.

Mama dies peacefully in bed and Dede is glad because there is no suffering in this death. Dede is now the last one and recognizes it. Dede goes to a reception and met Lio there next to a young women. He goes on talking about the great changes the butterflies made. He says because of them their "country is beginning to prosper". In the end Dede goes to Canada to see the leaves change color. And she recognizes that she is the last one left to tell the story of the great three butterflies.

	CODING (WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, HOW, WHY)
I
Chapter One: Dede, 1994 and circa 1943 (Karen)	1994-- Dede is the only survivor, and as such, she maintains the sisters' legend through interviews though she seems to do so primarily out of a sense of obligation and with some reluctance; ironically, she now sells life insurance 1943-- family scene-- introduced to each girls' character; the story already sets a tone of fear of the government
Chapter Two: Minerva, 1938, 1941, 1944 (Karen)	1938-- metaphor of feeling caged in; meets Sinita at Sor Asuncion; learns Sinita's father, brother, and uncles have been killed by Trujillo for trying to start an insurgency against his rule; Minerva begins to doubt Trujillo's leadership 1941-- Lina Lovaton, their classmate, is swept up by Trujillo; Minerva sees how womanhood can trap her 1944-- in performing for Trujillo, Sinita almost gets them all in trouble as traitors; Minerva steps in and saves the day
Chapter Three: Maria Teresa, 1945-1946 (Dolores, Lili, Jesus)	At first Maria Teresa does not know what to write about, but eventually she starts writing about things that she really should not be writing about. Maria Teresa describes her childhood pleasures, especially her clothes. She comes across as sensitive and sensory oriented, dwelling esepcially on girlhood crushes and concerns. Eventually she writes about Minerva's friendship with Hilda, a revolutionary fighting Trujillo.When Hilda is caught, Maria Teresa must bury her diary so the police will not find it.
Chapter Four: Patria, 1946 (Yvette, Cesar, Beto)	Patria- mind, heart, immortal, Jesus, nuns, guayabera, religious, gospel Patria describes through her experiences her strong faith in the church, as well as a certain longing to be intimate with a person. The nuns were trying to convince her of being one of them. She met Pedrito Gonzalez fell "in love" and knew she wanted to bear children with this man, as opposed to following the religious life. When she lost her baby her faith had weakened a great deal. All that was important to her slowly seemed to get shaken up.
II
Chapter Five: Dede, 1994 and 1948 (Alejandra Gonzalez , Lizeth, Irma)	Dede starts re-calling about Lio with the visiting journalist. Dede and Minerva met Lio at their store, and they both felt attracted to him. Later Dede begins a romance with her cousin Jaimito, whom she later marries. Minerva is attracted to Lio's Communist background and politics, though she never admits this to no one.When Lio must flee the contry, he askes Dede to give Minerva a letter where he asked her to join him in exile.Dede burns the letter thinking that way she would protect Minerva.
Chapter Six: Minerva, 1949 (Genny, Jonathan, Mercy)
Chapter Seven: Maria Teresa, 1953 to 1958 (Yajaira, Daniel, Alexis)
Chapter Eight: Patria, 1959 (Alejandra Gamez, & Joenna)	Patria becomes pregnant and decides to name the child Raul Ernesto after the Cuban revolutionaries, Raul Castro and Ernesto Guevara.Patria goes on a religious retreat. On the 14th of Jun, the retreat is bombed when Trujillo's forces attake the rebels that were hiding in the mountains. Patria watches the young boy die. She vows to help the resistance and convinces her husband, Pedrito, to do the same, but if they are caught they will lose their farm. The resistance names itself the 14th of june movement.
III
Chapter Nine: Dede, 1994 and 1960 (Matt, Ricky, Leticia)	Minou asks her aunt the real reason why she did not join her sisters. Dede states that she was not brave like Minerva and she did not like change. For instance she says she married Jamito not because she loved him, but because she did not like change. Jaimito had an influence for Dede not joining by making her feel guilty. Also in this chapter the SIM come to look for Pedrito and Nelson and take them away. Then shortly after Minerva and Mate were also taken.
Chapter Ten: Patria, January to March 1960 (Silvia, Mayela, Myra)	This chapter is from January to March 1960, and it is told by Patria. She is now living in the new house her mom made. The chapter takes place after her husband, Pedrito, and son, Nelson, are taken to prison. Also the SIM takes both Mate and Minerva. But they are able to communicate with the sisters through their half sister's cousin, who is a guard. Patria eventually goes to petition for Nelson's release. The palace is swarming with journalists since Trujillo is trying to get some good publicity to counter all of the accusations that are drawing the wrath of the international community. He's also increased the number of pardons and prison visits. Also, the church becomes involved in the resistance to defend human rights. The chapter ends on a good note when Nelson is released from prison.
Chapter Eleven: Maria Teresa, March to August 1960 (Abraham & Marcia)	Mate and Minerva are at prison-Sacticlo has been smuggling things; Mate is very depressed with the feeling she wants to go home, but doesn't do it because of Minerva's persistance since "the Mirabals had to set a good example" (p.236); she won't leave unless it's a release, not a pardon. Magdalena and Mate become friends. The girls are released after seven months, and also Mate revels the mystery of April 11 at La 40, that she was tortured and most likely violated.
Chapter Twelve: Minerva, August to November 25, 1960 (Juan, Armando, James)	- August 1960 after serving 7 months in prison, Minerva and Mate were put on house arrest. - since the sisters didn't have any money, during that month of house arest, they started a business of children's christening gowns. - October 1960 Minerva, Patria, and Mate go ask Pena if they can see Manolo and Trujillo said that all the sisters were now a problem, not only Minerva. - November 25, 1960 the sisters, except for Dede, and Rufino all got into a truck to go to la Cumbre, ignoring Manolo's (minerva's love) warning that there were rumors of their assasination, and also ignoring the bad feelings that the Maribal sisters were getting. as a result, Minerva, Patria, Maria Theresa, and Rufino died November 25, 1960.
Epilogue Dede, 1994 (Ruth)	It's 1994 and Dede starts off the chapter telling about the constant return of visitors. She then goes on about the no hearted murders of her sisters. She was shocked to hear the sentence they were given. She continues to talk about the death of the three butterflies. She recalls a man named Mateo Nunez who came far to tell her about the real death of her sisters. She goes on to tell about Manolo's death three years later. Minou and Mama Dede were very close and kept good communication. Dede had a friend who she would meet up with at a restaurant and catch up on things. Her friend Olgo would also tell Dede to stop living in the past and to realize it's 1994. At the time all the kids grow up and go their own ways and become very important people. Mama dies peacefully in bed and Dede is glad because there is no suffering in this death. Dede is now the last one and recognizes it. Dede goes to a reception and met Lio there next to a young women. He goes on talking about the great changes the butterflies made. He says because of them their "country is beginning to prosper". In the end Dede goes to Canada to see the leaves change color. And she recognizes that she is the last one left to tell the story of the great three butterflies.