In the Time of the Butterflies

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What ideas come to mind when you hear the word dictator? What is the difference between a dictator and a president? What might life be like under a dictator?

Teaching Suggestion: To introduce students to the concept of living in a dictatorship—and with sensitivity to any students with firsthand experience—ask them to draw up a list of freedoms they have. Have them explain the importance. Introduce the concept that government that respects individual freedom and the rule of law is a relatively recent concept. Use contemporary examples of dictatorships—Putin, Maduro, Kim Jong-un, Kagame, Al-Assad—to underscore the relevance of the story of the Mirabal sisters under the Trujillo regime.

• A 2005 article published by the Society of History Education by high school teacher Stephen Pagaard explores how to explain dictatorships to teenagers using the example of the Nazi regime in Germany. (Teacher-facing; requires school or library JSTOR account to view)
• A helpful, current, and objective overview of the Trujillo era from ThoughtCo

2. What obligations does a citizen of a country run by a dictator have to oppose that unjust government? What are the risks? What must a person give up to join a resistance movement? Is it more heroic to oppose such a government or to find ways to survive?