In the Time of Butterflies Humans have always enjoyed peace, but they always find themselves at war. Historically, war has always been a male affair. Women have learned to take charge and be strong enough to stand up for themselves too. Without war, how could people retaliate against injustices? Is armed revolution necessary? Is it more imperative to be right than to be happy? Is it our obligation to challenge evil and its atrocities? The three sisters oppose Trujillo's regime and lead to serious consequences. Latin America today has been shaped as it is because of past events like the Spanish Conquest. The book shows how the characters in the book were a modern example of daily life in Latin America. Since its creation, Latin America has been enslaved by a slew of thieving dictators. Dede and Patria are very important characters and illustrate how difficult it is to live in hell. Latin America has moved from oppression and atrocities to a much more democratic and social place. Dédé is one of the characters the book talks about the most. It is a reflection of the past and the power of the Catholic Church. The fact that she was religious shows that she obviously had a strong sense of morality. Dede's position in the book demonstrates the power of the Catholic Church in these people's lives despite the chaos around them. Dede is a survivor in the story and after the tragic fall of the other two characters. She reflects the characteristics of a butterfly in part because she is free and liberated from the murderous and heinous nature and atrocities of Trujillos' family or criminal regime. The book also shows a brief introduction on how Trujillo became the supreme leader of the Dominicans...... middle of paper ...... tell and expose the truth even if it will cost them their lives or at least be at risk of severe retaliation from the affected party. In conclusion, it is important to keep in mind that Latin America has moved from a life full of oppression and neglect to freedom and modernization with many more people educated about their rights and such. Dede and Patria are the important pieces to illustrate this through their roles and positions in the book. Through both, the book showed the importance of the past and how it contributed to the present and the building of a better future in Latin America. Works Cited Alvarez, Julia. In the time of butterflies. Chapel Hill: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2010. Print.Novelinks. Daniel Tokarev, 14 06 2003. Web. April 14. 2008..