Pride In In The Time Of The Butterflies

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As Ezra Benson once said, “Pride is concerned with who is right; humility is concerned with what is right.” Likewise, the historical fiction novel, In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, demonstrates the idea that pride can get in the way of one’s courage. The story outlines the lives of four sisters who performed various courageous acts in order to fight against Trujillo, the harsh dictator of the Dominican Republic. Minerva, the second youngest sister, participates greatly in the rebellion and ultimately starts it. However, many of her actions are caused by pride rather than doing what’s right. Due to her pride increasing throughout the novel, Minerva does not deserve to be admired for her courage, suggesting one should be aware of his own pride.
Towards the beginning of the novel, Minerva’s pride, more than courage, leads to her to speak out against the …show more content…
Minerva’s pride becomes so great that she declines a pardon when she is in jail. Maria Teresa comments on her sister’s behavior when she says, “We Mirabals had to set a good example. Accepting a pardon meant we thought we had something to be pardoned for. Also, we wouldn’t be free unless everyone else was offered the same opportunity” (Alvarez 236). It may be true Minerva is showing moral courage as she declines the pardon, but it is also due to her pride. She always has to set a good example and is trying to prove a point rather than just doing the right thing. Additionally, Minerva's pride had a negative outcome on the situation. Had she accepted the pardon, she would have continued to fight the rebellion and made more of an impact. Once again, Minerva isn't truly doing what's right because she knows it is right; she does what’s right to prove she's right. Because of her prideful attitude through her courage, she shouldn't be

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