The Mother of a Revolution

Julia Alvarez’s novel, In the Time of Butterflies, is not confined to a single voice. Instead, her writing affords each sister her perspective of not only the political revolution, but also each woman’s own personal growth. Each sister experiences her own life in the similar stages of school, romance, and actualizing her own place in society, yet the particular voice of Patria, the oldest Mirabal sister, through religiously poetic prose paired with her unique motivations to join the revolution create the tone of a complex, powerful Latina woman. Through the contrast of Patria’s personality and perspective, Alvarez creates a unified harmony between elements sensual feminine power and the unique ability for women to gain more through loss