purpose of butterflies

I have not yet finished reading Alvarez’s book In the Time of the Butterflies, but thus far into the book I have began to see why she wrote this book. Knowing that Alvarez did thorough research before writing this gives the reader confidence that her words in this book are truthful and hold the memories of once living people.

It is interesting, too, to see that the interviewee in In the Time of the Butterflies is actually Alvarez. I think that is important to note that since she is of Dominican heritage but was raised in the United States. It creates a connection that was not established with the tragedy on November 25, 1960 and with the Spanish people of the United States. This was a huge event when it happened and is still commemorated every year as Alvarez writes in her book. Dede is stuck every year with the reporters, setting up the house for guests, and the exhibit in the museum she works at. But that aside, the people of the United States did not pay much attention to this awful tragedy, that is, assuming that the majority of the people even heard about what had happen on that day.

So Alvarez has a purpose in writing this book, which is to teach and educate people through her words and through history so that there is a better understanding of life in countries other than the United States. It is also more personal for Alvarez because she shares a common point with the characters, which is the heritage and culture, even though she was raised in a different country. And being of a similar decent, she can use her dual heritage to bring a different cultural history to a new country to be recognized.