Directions: Here is a list of characters from Part I (chapters 1-4) of In the Time of the Butterflies . As a group it is your job to fill in as much information as you can about these characters. Most groups are only responsible for 3-4 characters so it should be easy to add this information. Remember it is important to add from all the chapters! If you have a question about any of the characters please start a DISCUSSION...and either someone in your class or I will answer your question.

1. Dede Mirabal
  • main character
  • storyteller
  • only survivor
  • 2rd oldest
  • went to Catholic school
  • is asked how she stays positive...she states that, "she focuses on the cheerful memories of the past."
  • father predicted that she would be a future millionaire

2. American woman
  • the interviewer

3. Minerva Mirabal
*meets poor girls/Sinita, befriends her
  • hates the president
  • 3rd sister
  • told her father that she wanted to be a lawyer!
  • Going to school was how she, "got free"
  • Finds out about Sinita's brothers and how the Trujillo government was behind it all
  • goes to secret meetings with Hilda
  • is in a skit with Sinita and they perform this for Trujillo and his son.

4. Maria Teresa Mirabal
  • Youngest sister
  • covers for Minerva
  • becomes confused about Trujilo from the things Minerva told her
  • is religious...not as religious as Partia
  • born 6 years after the Minerva...parents were hoping for a son.
  • her part is told through the diary
  • this is told through 1st person POV
  • Lies for Minerva
  • has to bury her diary...
5. Patria Mirabal
  • grew up wanting to be a nun, but discovers boys and changes her mind
  • met Pedrito and got married
  • had two kids and then lost her baby boy
  • becomes depressed and lives at home for a while
  • Most religious and most beautiful of the sisters
  • father didn't give her a fortune
  • washing Peditro Gonzales' feet and falls in love with him they have three kids, one did not survive
6. Mama Mirabal
  • faithful to Trujilo
  • wanted her kids to have an education
  • is a religious woman
  • cannot read
7. Enrique Papa Mirabal
  • Supporter of Trujillo
  • doesn't like communism
  • doesn't want daughters to become nuns
  • owns a shop
  • doesn't like to take them out of the house
  • cheats on his wife...
8. Trujillo ( El Jefe)
  • president of Dominican
  • falls in love with Lina
  • killed Sinita's family
  • Dictator of the Dominican Republic...self directed
  • kills anyone who is in opposition of his beliefs
  • sneaky
  • has spies who spy on the prominent families in the Dominican to see if they are loyal to him
  • his picture has to be in everyone's house
9. Sinita
  • Very poor
  • best friends with Minerva
  • hates Trujillo because he killed her family
  • sneaks off to her grandpa's house
  • in the play with Minerva and points an arrow at Trujillo
10. Lina Lovaton
  • Princess of the school.
  • One of Trujillo's girl friends.
  • Gets pregnant and Trujillo's wife finds out and comes after her with a knife.
  • Trujillo sends her to Miami.
11. Hilda
  • Minerva's "underground" friend.
  • In trouble for taking papers and going against Trujillo.
  • Hides out at school and eventually gets caught.
12 Peditro Gonzalez
  • he was a farmer.
  • he married patria
  • enjoyed nature and was not very bright.
13. Nelson Gonzalez
  • is Patria and Maria Teresa's nephew
14. Noris Gonzalez
  • is Patria and Maria Teresa's niece

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