January 21, 2018
Dear Beli,
How would you describe the experience and cultural norms growing up as a girl in the 50s and 60s in the Dominican Republic? Were there certain societal expectations that girls and young women had to fulfill or a certain similar outlook they all shared in this era? Based on what I read in the footnotes on page 87, I believe you would say that Dominican girls and young women all dreamed of being saved by a man who would enter their life like a Prince Charming, and they all yearned that he would make her his princess or queen. The footnote describes that Maria Montez "was the original J. Lo" (87), revealing that she was someone society worshipped and whose life they always dreamed to have. It seems that the society of the time instilled this idea in the minds of women: that once a Dominican girl finds her Mrs. Right, she will be truly happy. Maria served as the ideal female figure because she starred in many romantic films that had happy endings because she was saved by a man, and the result of this media was a whole generation of Dominican women dreaming to get in on her experience of happiness.
How did it feel emotionally to grow up in the era of Trujillo's dictatorship? Were you often scared, anxious, fearful or paranoid at random moments that you'd be attacked by some part of his regime? According to the footnotes on page 110, I think you would say that you would always feel like someone was watching you if you were to show anything but loyalty to the authority. The footnote describes Johnny Abbess Garcia, who would essentially assist Trujillo on his attacks, especially as "the killer of many young revolutionaries and students." It must have been especially scary because you were close with Arquimendes, who himself was a student and there "wasn't a day that passed that his life wasn't in danger" (111) because he was living in the era and location of Trujillo's regime. I can't imagine how that must feel, especially when someone you spend a lot of time with and care about always has to watch their back and be prepared for unexpected political visits from the authorities.
How do you think your mother felt in the midst of your danger from being pregnant with The Gangster's child and seeing you grow up during Trujillo's dictatorship? Based on the footnotes on page 157, I believe you would say that she couldn't sleep at night because she was always worried about your safety and well-being. The footnotes describe how the assassins killed the Mirabal Sisters, just as you were left in the canefields to die. Similarly, just as your mother knew how the assassins killed these women, when she looked at you she saw "a dark horrible shadow that gripped her heart" (157), so we can see how scare she must have felt for you.
Sincerely,
Cat
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