Themes, Motifs, Symbols, and Other Literary Elements
Themes/Motifs-
-Fear
In this book, fear is one of the major factors that keep the people in line. The people fear Trujillo and what he will do to them if they speak out against his reign. They were scared that they would be arrested or killed and were deterred from speaking out against the government. Fear is the main reason that Dede and her husband, Jaimito stayed out of the underground movement. Jaimito was scared that he would lose his property if he joined the revolutionary process and Dede was scared that she would lose her husband if she joined. Ironically, fear is also what drives some of the people in the underground movement. They fear that they will have to live trapped for their entire life, so they fight to make sure this fear does not become a reality.
-Family
Throughout the book , the influence of family is a recurring theme. The idea of family is repeated when the Mirabals stand together to fight against Trujillo. Even though Papa had an affair and had four other daughters, Mama, Dede, Minerva, Patria, and Maria Teresa still stood by him because he was their family. They still helped Papa get his freedom back when he was taken in and apprehended by Trujillo. Minerva even helped out Papa’ four other daughters because she felt that they were still a part of her family. During the book, family is a driving factor in determining the actions of the characters.
-Rebellion/Freedom
Rebellion was necessary in the sisters’ strive for freedom. Minerva and the entire National Underground were going against the government but for a greater good. So many people were rebelling, even the priest of a church, because there was a goal for final freedom. Going against Trujillo came with a large risk and price to pay, but the idea of freedom for the people was worth the danger that people were putting themselves through.
Freedom is an idea that the people of the Dominican Republic could only hope for in this book.The National Underground’s whole purpose was to fight for everyone’s freedom from Trujillo and his harsh dictatorship. The people felt so trapped and choked under Trujillo’s rule that they were willing to do anything for just a little freedom.
Symbolism-
o The button Minerva gives to Sinita (13) :
-Symbolizes Minerva’s friendship with Sinita, and her drive to be fair and understanding
o There is a law that the people cannot wear the same color shirts and khakis. The government wore the same color khaki outfits so there had to be a distinction. (78)
-Symbolizes the government’s control over the people and represents the lack of freedom the people have
o The rain symbolizes the new slate that the Maribal family now has and they are traveling and the rain is washing away the bad things that has happened (116)
o The three sisters represent a stability in Dede’s life (175) –her life starts to fall apart as she grows apart from the sisters
o Dede’s sons names (Jaimito…) represents the repeated theme of possession (182)
o The rooster fights portray the Maribal sisters because they appear as ordinary girls on the outside but they are fighting for their lives (196)
o Trujillo’s picture hanging in all the homes next to a picture of Jesus Christ (202)
-Represents the government’s presence in the daily lives of the Dominican republic and how Trujillo wants to be praised and seen almost as a god.
Repetition:
-Resurrection
-Represents how the Mirabal sisters and the people in the underground movement want their country to be reborn
-Crucifixes in the prison
-The reminders of the sacrifices the sisters are making in order to change their country.
-Needles and threads
-Represents how the piece by piece, the sisters and people of the underground movement are rebuilding their country for the better.
-Fear
In this book, fear is one of the major factors that keep the people in line. The people fear Trujillo and what he will do to them if they speak out against his reign. They were scared that they would be arrested or killed and were deterred from speaking out against the government. Fear is the main reason that Dede and her husband, Jaimito stayed out of the underground movement. Jaimito was scared that he would lose his property if he joined the revolutionary process and Dede was scared that she would lose her husband if she joined. Ironically, fear is also what drives some of the people in the underground movement. They fear that they will have to live trapped for their entire life, so they fight to make sure this fear does not become a reality.
-Family
Throughout the book , the influence of family is a recurring theme. The idea of family is repeated when the Mirabals stand together to fight against Trujillo. Even though Papa had an affair and had four other daughters, Mama, Dede, Minerva, Patria, and Maria Teresa still stood by him because he was their family. They still helped Papa get his freedom back when he was taken in and apprehended by Trujillo. Minerva even helped out Papa’ four other daughters because she felt that they were still a part of her family. During the book, family is a driving factor in determining the actions of the characters.
-Rebellion/Freedom
Rebellion was necessary in the sisters’ strive for freedom. Minerva and the entire National Underground were going against the government but for a greater good. So many people were rebelling, even the priest of a church, because there was a goal for final freedom. Going against Trujillo came with a large risk and price to pay, but the idea of freedom for the people was worth the danger that people were putting themselves through.
Freedom is an idea that the people of the Dominican Republic could only hope for in this book.The National Underground’s whole purpose was to fight for everyone’s freedom from Trujillo and his harsh dictatorship. The people felt so trapped and choked under Trujillo’s rule that they were willing to do anything for just a little freedom.
Symbolism-
o The button Minerva gives to Sinita (13) :
-Symbolizes Minerva’s friendship with Sinita, and her drive to be fair and understanding
o There is a law that the people cannot wear the same color shirts and khakis. The government wore the same color khaki outfits so there had to be a distinction. (78)
-Symbolizes the government’s control over the people and represents the lack of freedom the people have
o The rain symbolizes the new slate that the Maribal family now has and they are traveling and the rain is washing away the bad things that has happened (116)
o The three sisters represent a stability in Dede’s life (175) –her life starts to fall apart as she grows apart from the sisters
o Dede’s sons names (Jaimito…) represents the repeated theme of possession (182)
o The rooster fights portray the Maribal sisters because they appear as ordinary girls on the outside but they are fighting for their lives (196)
o Trujillo’s picture hanging in all the homes next to a picture of Jesus Christ (202)
-Represents the government’s presence in the daily lives of the Dominican republic and how Trujillo wants to be praised and seen almost as a god.
Repetition:
-Resurrection
-Represents how the Mirabal sisters and the people in the underground movement want their country to be reborn
-Crucifixes in the prison
-The reminders of the sacrifices the sisters are making in order to change their country.
-Needles and threads
-Represents how the piece by piece, the sisters and people of the underground movement are rebuilding their country for the better.