Brief Historical Context
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The Dominican Republic is an island nation in the Caribbean region, located next to Haiti. The official language of this country is Spanish. In the novel, there are many Spanish phrases such as las mariposas, which means the butterflies.
THE ERA OF TRUJILLO
Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina's (nicknamed El Jefe) regime was in absolute control of every aspect of the Dominican Republic, ruling the country ruthlessly with an iron fist from 1930 to his assassination in 1961. Officially, he was president from 1930 to 1938 and from 1942 to 1952. When he was out of office, he chose a puppet to succeed him, and still continued ruling by force. Trujillo also used his power to gain personal wealth. During the regime, Domincans faced constant oppression and fear. The people suffered the losses of civil rights and political freedom. The Servicio de Inteligencia Militar (SIM) (English: Military Intelligence Service), Trujillo's secret police, kept strict control with a fearful reputation. Many people opposed to Trujillo mysteriously disappeared, faced imprisonment or torture, or were murdered at the hands of the SIM. Despite the cruel dictatorship, the quality of life for the people did increase and the economy expanded and modernized. Trujillo was assassinated On May 30, 1961 outside the capital.
THE MIRABAL SISTERS (LAS HERMANAS MIRABAL)
Patria Mercedes Mirabal, Bélgica Adela "Dedé" Mirabal-Reyes, María Argentina Minerva Mirabal, and Antonia María Teresa Mirabal were four widely-known sisters who stood up against Trujilllo's regime, while enduring harassment, jailing, and persecution. The sisters became inspirational leaders of a resistance movement called the Fourteenth of June Movement in which they were known as las mariposas. Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa were brutally murdered on November 25th, 1960. It was Trujillo's decision to have them killed. Dedé is the single surviving sister. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women was chosen to be on November 25th, the day the Mirabal sisters were murdered. November 25th also starts the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, the 16-day period that ends with International Human Rights Day on December 10th.
THE ERA OF TRUJILLO
Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina's (nicknamed El Jefe) regime was in absolute control of every aspect of the Dominican Republic, ruling the country ruthlessly with an iron fist from 1930 to his assassination in 1961. Officially, he was president from 1930 to 1938 and from 1942 to 1952. When he was out of office, he chose a puppet to succeed him, and still continued ruling by force. Trujillo also used his power to gain personal wealth. During the regime, Domincans faced constant oppression and fear. The people suffered the losses of civil rights and political freedom. The Servicio de Inteligencia Militar (SIM) (English: Military Intelligence Service), Trujillo's secret police, kept strict control with a fearful reputation. Many people opposed to Trujillo mysteriously disappeared, faced imprisonment or torture, or were murdered at the hands of the SIM. Despite the cruel dictatorship, the quality of life for the people did increase and the economy expanded and modernized. Trujillo was assassinated On May 30, 1961 outside the capital.
THE MIRABAL SISTERS (LAS HERMANAS MIRABAL)
Patria Mercedes Mirabal, Bélgica Adela "Dedé" Mirabal-Reyes, María Argentina Minerva Mirabal, and Antonia María Teresa Mirabal were four widely-known sisters who stood up against Trujilllo's regime, while enduring harassment, jailing, and persecution. The sisters became inspirational leaders of a resistance movement called the Fourteenth of June Movement in which they were known as las mariposas. Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa were brutally murdered on November 25th, 1960. It was Trujillo's decision to have them killed. Dedé is the single surviving sister. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women was chosen to be on November 25th, the day the Mirabal sisters were murdered. November 25th also starts the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, the 16-day period that ends with International Human Rights Day on December 10th.