How Does Minerva Show Courage

Fighting for Freedom

Although the Mirabals have all had their courage put to the test, Minerva is the most courageous sister. All four sisters have gone through life together. They have had both ups and downs, but how they all have handled the downs is what truly shows their character. Minerva is a mature, intelligent, natural leader, who isn’t afraid to be the first to jump at something that she believes is wrong. She puts others before herself and fights for what is right. Although Minerva is courageous throughout her entire life, there are 2 major times when she steps up when most people would back away. Minerva shows an immense amount of courage when she has to confront Trujillo and throughout her entire relationship with papá.

Minerva

shows a great deal of courage when she confronts Trujillo.

Trujillo is worshiped and praised by most everyone in the Dominican Republic. Minerva knows that his doings do not deserve to be praised, and she does something about it. The first time Minerva truly confronts Trujillo is when the Mirabals are invited to a dinner hosted by Trujillo. When they arrive to the dinner, Minerva discovers that Trujillo has invited her to his table. She does not have the comfort of sitting with her family but instead is put in the spotlight right next to him. Eventually Minerva dances with Trujillo. While they are dancing together, Trujillo makes some very vulgar remarks about Minerva. Clearly Minerva is not comfortable with his comments. Then Minerva does the unthinkable. She slaps Trujillo in the face. Minerva says, “I can see my hand in an endless slow motion rise- a mind all of it’s own-and come down on the astonished made-up face.” (Alvarez 100). Minerva shows a great deal of courage when she slaps him in the face. Most people wouldn’t even think about standing up to Trujillo because they know the power that he holds over them. Minerva

knows that although he is very powerful, he can't have his way with her. The slap represents the greater good. This act of courage results in Minerva stepping up and intensifying her role in the revolution to create a better world that isn’t completely ruled by Trujillo and his regime. While Minerva is talking to Mate, Mate asks Minerva why she is doing such a dangerous thing by going against the regime. Mate says, “She said the strangest thing. She wanted me to grow up in a free country” (Alvarez 39). Minerva's courage isn’t an empty value. It has a motivation: a better future. She uses her youngest sister as inspiration. The idea that Mate can grow up in a free country is what gives her the courage stand up to Trujillo and his regime.
Along with standing up to someone as powerful and strong as Trujillo, Minerva also stands up to her father.

When Minerva is going through papa’s closet she discover that papa has been hiding many secrets from the her and the entire Mirabal family. Minerva feels the need to confront her father because she knows she can’t just let him get away with keeping such important things from her. Minerva says, “ I knew where to find him all right… I knew damn well he wasn’t reviewing the fields if he had taken the ford not the Jeep. I headed straight for that yellow house”(Alvarez 88). Minerva is completely let down and shocked when she discovers that papa has another family with a different woman. Minerva drives to papá’s other families house and makes it clear to both him and the daughters that she knows exactly what he has been up to, and what he has been keeping from their family. This is very courageous for a young girl to do because most people would be to scared and nervous to step up and confront their father, letting him know that they figured out his wrong doings. This act of courage in stepping up to Papá resulted in Minerva discovering that she was a very strong person. After their confrontation, Minerva talks with papa alone. While they are talking Papá hits Minerva, which he had never done before. During this moment Minerva knew that papa wasn’t who she had always thought he was. Minerva says, “I saw his shoulders droop. I heard him sigh. Right then and there, it hit me

harderthan the slap: I was much stronger than papa, Mama was much stronger. He was the weakest of all” (Alvarez 89). This shows that Minerva finally realizes that she is a very strong girl, who doesn’t need to rely on other people. She understands that although someone may show that they are big and strong on the outside, they can still be weak and broken on the inside.
Minerva was courageous and fought for what she believed was right, when most people would back down and turn away. She stood up to both the leader of her country, Trujillo and the leader of her house, Papá. Minerva perfectly exemplifies this quote by T.S. Eliot, “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly figure out how far one can go.” Minerva went above and beyond and risked her life for the new generation. She saw the opportunity to make a change, and she jumped at it. Minerva is a strong, hardworking, and the most courageous Mirabal sister.