Dede's own story

3) In the epilogue, Dede’s perspective is presented from a first person point of view,

unlike her previous chapters which were in third person. Why? Has she finally

found her “I”? What has she learned about herself by this time? Who is she and

how has her view of herself changed? Why does Alvarez dedicate the novel to

Dede?

Throughout the book and her own life, Dede has had to tell the story of her three brave sisters and all that they did for the resistance and for the history of the Dominican Republic. Dede has interviewers, family, and the community residents all coming to her asking her to retell the stories of her sisters. But, not once has anyone asked her to tell her story, or given appreciation to what she has also done. In the beginning of the story when Alvarez first comes to her, Dede seems to be a bitter, mean old lady who has no time for such people but is forced to tell the story to all who ask. Dede is haunted by her sisters' memories, footsteps, and accomplishments even years after their times. When Alvarez first arrived, Dede expected her visit and interview to be just the usual routine, but Alvarez was different and asked different questions, some that included Dede in the story of her 3 sisters. 

Alvarez sets up her interview questions and the book in such a way that Dede is able to be seen as a contributor to the story. Dede was the sister who took care of the money when their father died, the children when her sisters were in prison, and her own mother while her sisters were off being martyrs. All of the behind the scenes work was done by Dede, so it was no surprise when she was against the movement that took her sisters away from her and brought her into this life of always helping her family out. Alvarez is able to bring Dede to see herself as significant and an asset to her family. She was the backbone of her family the whole time period, but because she never went out to the action physically, she was never recognized or appreciated. But, Alvarez helps her reach this conclusion of self importance and acceptance towards the end of the book when she starts to use "I" instead of a "we" or "they".

Alvarez dedicates this book to Dede to final show to the world and to Dede, that she is important in this life and in the lives of her sisters. This dedication to Dede is a way of giving her the recognition for all she contributed towards the story after all of these long years since her sisters' deceased. This book is a way of freeing Dede and her inner butterfly that has yet to be realeased like her sister's.