In the Time of the Butterflies

How is Dede a martyr? Dede was the only surviving Mirabal sister after her three other sisters were murdered in a staged car accident. Living without her sisters is the main reason that Dede is living martyr, but it is not the only reason. Given the amount that Dede has sacrificed, and yet she's still alive, shows how hard it is to be the only surviving Mirabal sister. The change from before her sisters murders to after, is immense. And yet Dede still manages to be a hero. All these reasons show how much of a martyr Dede really is.

Anyone who's lost a family member tragically, not to mention all three of your closest siblings, knows the difficultly of having to live on without them. And when your sisters were national heroes for standing up in the revolution, it becomes even harder. Having to listen and retell stories over and over would begin to take a toll on a person. Dede even says, “Each visitor would break my heart all over again...” This shows how Dede is a living martyr.

From her marriage, to her family, and even her peace of mind, Dede has sacrificed an enormous amount for the revolution, although she never directly took part in it. And after her sisters were murdered, Dede had to sacrifice even more to take care of her sister's children. No matter how much Dede tries, she loses even more in the end. From having to always worry about her sisters, to always having to remember her sisters, Dede never does stop sacrificing. Although her life does change after the death of her sisters, she still lives in a world of sorrow.

By being the only surviving Mirabal sister, Dede becomes some sort of a heroine to the people of the Dominican Republic. And her willingness to retell the story of the Mirabal sisters, as well as listen to other people talk about them, shows her strength. This puts her as a hero in the people's eyes.

Dede Mirabal is a living martyr because she has to live without her sisters, she has to retell the story of the Mirabal sisters over...