In the Time of the Butterflies

Patria is beside herself with grief after losing everything. In time, however, she finds consolation and learns to bear her “cross.” To strengthen herself, Patria repeats a Bible verse over and over again: “And on the third day He rose again” (201). After three days, however, the SIM arrest Mate. It will be three months before Patria sees her sisters, husband, or son again.

Patria must come to terms with her circumstances and readjust to life in Mamá’s new house, where everything is the same but rearranged. In the hallway, she finds the obligatory portrait of Trujillo. The picture now portrays El Jefe in his old age, however, looking fatter and tired from doing “all the bad things in life” (202).

As she is used to seeing the picture of Jesus next to the portrait of Trujillo, Patria sometimes says a prayer to El Jefe as she passes by his portrait. Soon, Patria starts doing this on purpose, as she wants something from Trujillo: her family’s safety. The only way she knows how to obtain it is through prayer. She also hopes that if she treats El Jefe kindly, he might start acting kindly too. Patria effectively prays for her family’s safety and offers herself as a “sacrificial lamb” in their place.