Crisis of Reconciliation Alvarez's In the Time of Butterflies

Abstract

This research examines Julia Alvarez’s In the Time of the Butterflies from the perspective of historico-cultural trauma theory of Dominic LaCapra and Jeffery Alexander. For decades, the Mirabal sisters suffer from totalitarian regime of Trujillo. Forces loyal to Trujillo run the sisters off the road and murder three of the Mirabal sisters, Minerva, Maria, and Patria. The reason for their killings was their opposition to the regime and inciting others to try to overthrow the brutal dictator. Dede, the fourth sister, remains alive to tell their story to the world. Once reluctant to get involved, and for years feeling guilty about her sister's deaths, Dede eventually understands that her life still has purpose. Dede cannot work normally through her life because she is not free from the echo of murder of her sisters and the dreadful effects of the war. Her effort to work through her trauma by telling the story remains perpetual so she cannot get rid of it throughout the novel. Key Terms: Trauma, Perpetual, Resistance, Transmitted, concentration, Working Through Trauma, acting Through Trauma, Brutalities, violence, Deception etc.