In the Time of the Butterflies

As I am reading this book, the theme that sinks in and hits home for me is the sisterly bond that the four girls have, but in particular the bond between Minerva and Maria Teresa. Why I chose to write about this particular topic is because it reminds me of my own relationship with my sister. Although I have other siblings, similarly to Minerva and Maria Teresa, my sister and I have created this connection between the two of us that is almost inexplainable until I saw a little bit of each of us in these two sisters. Although my younger sister fits the character Minerva and I fit Maria Teresa more even though I am older. The particular quote that gave me the idea to talk about their relationship was when Minerva told Maria Teresa one of the most important secrets she had. 

"She took both my hands in hers as if we were getting ready to jump together into a deep spot in the lagoon of Ojo de Agua. Breathe slowly and deeply, she intoned, slowly and deeply. I pictured myself on a hot day falling, slowly and deeply, into those cold layers of water. I held on tight to my sister's hands, no longer afraid of anything but that she might let go."

Maria Teresa always looked up to Minerva as her role model out of all of her other sisters. Minerva took her under her wing and showed her the reins to her own life. The two of them became a unique duo throughout the book, not in the way that they were a power duo, but in that the two of them needed one another to balance each other. Minerva helped Maria Teresa come into herself as a woman and "find" herself by telling her all she needs to know about girl stuff and by giving her two diaries. These diaries are really helpful to Maria Teresa since they become her best friend and secret keeper as she goes through school life, family struggles, and a time of revolution. Maria Teresa is also an outlet for Minerva to spill her secrets without feeling judged and gaining support. Minerva tells Maria Teresa of her plans in the revolution, law school, her secret marriage to Manolo, when she sneaks out of school at night, and much more. Maria Teresa is able to open her mind to what is really happening outside her naiive bubble at school. I feel as though the two girls are able to grow and learn from one other; Maria Teresa is able to grow up and mature faster while still having someone to look up to and Minerva is able to get grounded and not too carried away with the revolution because she still can look back to her family waiting for her.  Much like these two sisters, my sister and I are quite opposite but we fit together and work off of one another. We both share with each other and give each other insight and advice, whether or not we chose to follow that advice is never judged or scolded for, but supported no matter what because of that sisterly bond.