Julia Alvarez's Personal Connection to In the Time of the Butterflies

Voiceover

Presenter(s)

Anna Witte

Abstract or Description

Julia Alvarez’s novel In the Time of the Butterflies is known for sharing the story of the Mirabal sisters' rebellion against the Trujillo regime. However, the novel is more than just a historical novel; it is an expression of the emotions and struggles of not only the Mirabal sisters, but also Alvarez and all of the people of the Dominican Republic who experienced the Trujillo regime. This project examines how the events of Alvarez's life inspired and motivated her to write the novel, and how she has a personal connection to it. Facts and information gathered from biographies and past interviews Alvarez has done reveal that Alvarez and her family’s experiences while living in the Trujillo regime sparked her interest in the Mirabal sisters and influenced the ways in which she chose to express their story. Through the examination of Alvarez’s personal experiences, it is better understood why Alvarez chose to write her novel in a way that not only teaches about history of the Dominican Republic, but also brings attention to and captures the raw emotions and hardships of those who lived under the Trujillo regime.