In The Time Of The Butterflies Courage Essay

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Courage can be defined as someone who has the ability to do something in the face of fear. In the novel In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez courage is a constant theme shown through all of the characters. But the one character who never backs down from a fight is Minerva Mirabal. Minerva grew up in a family that was privileged but that never stopped her from working hard. Minerva was the first in her family to go to university, then go on to law school. She used her knowledge from this education to get politically active in the Dominican Republic and this helped her lead the revolution against the dictator Rafael Trujillo. Minerva has always shown physical, emotional and intellectual courage throughout the revolution, she showed …show more content…
Minerva used her knowledge from university and law school to help her take down Trujillo. Minerva was so dedicated to the revolution, that she stopped at nothing to take down the man she hated. Even though Trujillo put her in jail because of her association with the revolution, that never stopped her, “Minerva acted unconcerned about her safety. She could not desert the cause….and she would not stay holed up in Ojo de Agua and let the SIM kill her spirit” (Alvarez 199). Minerva would not let anyone stop her from taking a part in the revolution. Minerva used emotional courage while she was in jail to not let anyone to destroy her spirits and her feelings about the revolution. Minerva was so dedicated to the revolution that she gave up her own child to her oldest sister Patria just so she could travel more and get more involved in the revolution, “‘But Minerva, your own child—’ I began and then I saw it did hurt her to make this sacrifice she was convinced she needed to make. (Alvarez 155). Minerva used emotional courage to make the decision that she could only do one thing, either take care of her child or fight in the revolution. Minerva was so dedicated that she gave up her own child for a couple of months just so she could participate in meetings with the revolution and keep her child out of harm's way. Minerva used emotional courage to fight in the revolution and try to take down the