Minerva was looking to fulfill her own ambitions and goals. She always wanted to go to Law school. One of the biggest challenges was her father who insisted that she stay home and tend to the store. But Minerva was thinking to herself that she wanted to become more and she felt she was ready for it. This feeling of independence was being fueled by Lio and his telling her of true stories of what was happening to the people around them. Any woman who considered education would have been looked down upon. Unfortunately the town was being run by a tyrant ruler who had little or no regard for women.
As part of his ruling, he expected all other males to think the same regarding the females in there lives. Minerva began to question such rulings and soon it began to weigh heavily on her. Why can’t we be free or equal to men? Is it really like this? Slowly the truth was sinking in as to what her role was to be.
While driving on the family property going down the side road, she noticed a family house. As she drove by the house in the family Ford, four children ran up to the car flailing their hands and yelling the words “mints.” This went on each time Minerva drove by this house. On one particular day, Minerva decided to pull over. Little did she know some of those stories she heard were about to come true.
These four children were caught off guard when they saw a woman in this car. Apparently, the person they were expecting to see behind the wheel was not this woman. Clearly Minerva was very surprised to see the “Mirabal eyes” in someone else. She thought to herself, aren’t we the only ones? When the children noticed it was not who they were expecting, they became very reserved in their actions. Even though they kept their distance, they were close enough to be asked certain questions.
Minerva’s world is spinning out of control and she can’t stop it. We can only imagine how shocked she must have been to see her own eyes in another person. Minerva asked them “do you have a father?” Even though no one answered her, she already knew the answer. She was trying to digest the fact hers was not the only Mirabal family. But still she had to ask that one nagging question “do you have a brother?”(p. 86) One of the children responded, “mommy says daddy not going to get the son he always wanted.” (p. 86)
Soon after, the mother came out and scolded the children to get inside the house. She looked at Minerva and lowered her head giving Minerva the sense that she was ashamed for any actions or rumors that may have hurt the family name because of her. All Minerva could do was to extend her hand as a sign of friendship.
After some time had passed, Minerva, angry and confused, confronted her father about his “other” family. His response was, “Things a man does.” (p. 92) I believe that because it’s a masculine culture, the father wanted desperately to have a son. As it was mentioned before, women had two purposes in this culture. Minerva’s father knew this and he took full advantage of it. Clearly his current wife could not give him what truly desired, so he went out looking for it. Apparently, he did not succeed there either.
It is clear to me that he was looking at his own personal interests only. Little did he know that his past and his future would collide, exposing him as the man he truly is. All this happened in front of Minerva because she was his little princess. This eye-awakening moment was just what Minerva needed to convince herself that she needed to take charge of her own life. Minerva became very independent by standing up to her father for what she believed in. She also stood up for all women, especially her mother who truly was the strong one in the family.
This also provided her with the understanding that she needed to do more for her other family rather than thinking about herself. She is willing to put her dreams and goals aside. She has grown from a young lady into a woman. She will carry the dark secrets; she will be the peacemaker; and, she will be the one who will make the greatest sacrifices for the greater good. Now she understands fairy tales are nothing but fairy tales.
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