Chapter 3
One of MaTe’s core traits seen in the first chapter was innocence. She doesn’t have
anything major going on as she states that she “can’t come up with anything” as
she was trying to write in her dairy given to her by Minerva (Alveraz 30). She used
to follow her sisters and would “always cry when people” laughed at her (Alveras
31). MaTe’s emotions off happiness and excitement remain throughout the whole
chapter as she longed “to be called MaTe again,” and see her “rabbits, Nieve and
Coco,”(Alveraz 32). While MaTe did not really have any true motivations at the time,
she feared that something would happen to Minerva because of her recklessness.
She “held on tight to” her sister’s hand and was “no longer afraid of anything but
that” Minerva would let go (Alveraz 39).
Chapter 7
The chaper begins with MaTe stating that she “feels like dying” herself (Alveraz
118). MaTe is then trying to move on, writing down how hurt she is and how she’s
coping. Her main traits in this chapter seemed to be innocence and being love
struck as she is pressured into finding a new love. After Minerva is married
“everyone starts in on her” asking who will be her husband and if she has in her
mind until she “could cry” (Alveraz 134). MaTe then sees a guy who was in the same
resistance as Minerva and her main motivation to join the resistance was to be
closer to the new guy she fell in love with. She stated how she “didn’t know what””
he was talking about but” she “wanted to be a part off whatever he was in.”
(Alveraz 142). Her love for this new guy that she had met was her main motivation
for her actions and love was the main emotion.
Chapter 11
MaTe struggles with her potential dead child and the stress of being in her
cell.
o “I’ve either bled a baby or had my period” -240
MaTe constantly cries and wants to get out of jail. At this point, the only thing
stopping her is the fact that she doesn’t want Minerva to be alone in jail.
o “I’d have taken the pardon. But what was I supposed to do? Leave
Minerva behind to be a matyr all by herself?”-236
MaTe’s main priorities at this point are to stay with Minerva due to the guilt
she may feel if she doesn’t.
As MaTe begins to grow a close relationship with the people in the cell and
such. The golden opportunity to tattle tale on Trujillo arises. Yet MaTe displays
conflicting sides of the story, claiming how she didn’t want the guard who she
now considered a friend to get killed. When Minerva claims that it isn’t
anything personal, it’s principle. MaTe shows confusion and sadness, stating
how she didn’t want blood on her hands.-250
MaTe then grows and defies Minerva, stating that she will only do what she
thinks is right. Showing her bravery and courage to grow up.
The main traits for MaTe are the
1. Faith was everything to Patria. Even when she was in Inmaculada
Concepcion, she was praying to God and Mary for guidance. She wanted to
devote her life to Catholicism until she met Jaimito, but she still pledged to be
a Christian woman. Even when she joins the revolution, her faith is a huge
reason why she joins. Everything has God’s mark on it in her eyes, and her
reasons are no different.
2. Patria felt faithfully unsure about her future. She knew that what she was to
do was in God’s making, but she wasn’t sure what he wanted her to do. That
led her to feeling very lost until she was given surefire signs. We see this
when she goes to the Church to pray for guidance.
3. She feels very intense uncertainty and loss. If anything, those are her most
prominent feelings throughout the book. She cannot take care of herself
when she loses her child, so she moves back in with Mama temporarily. Lots
of her actions are motivated by loss as well, and in the attempt to prevent it
further. She join the revolution to prevent loss due to a loss she perceived as
her own. Patria also feels lots of uncertainty in her life, about what her
purpose is or why Trujillo is allowed to carry on with his ways. She tries to
cope with those feelings with both action and praying for divine intervention.
4. While she does maintain a faithful attitude her whole life, her demeanor
changes from “everything is up to God!” to “God would want me to act!”.
5. Intense worry. The entire time, she’s worried for Mate and Minerva and
everyone else in the prison, ESPECIALLY her son. She pleads to government
figures, offering intense acts of service in order to get them back. She
(minorly) sucks up to Captain Pena to hear news and get them home.