3rd,+Minerva

Minerva, 3rd period

J. Paul, Kay, Maggie, Jon, Ashley

IDENTITY CRISIS - When someone struggles to find themselves and realize who they truly are, usually during adolescence and beginning adulthood, as they are faced with challenges where they are required to choose a side that is consistent with their identity. Usually a struggle is involved.

pg. 86 - "What's more important? Romance or revolution? But a little voice is saying Both! Both! I want Both!"

She finds herself within a moratorium; tornbetween romance and revolution, she finds herself unsure of which to pick. Her lack of commitment, so she is not a whole person yet.

Having to choose between romance or revolution here is important because most girls at this age wouldn't have to choose. This is specific to the Dominican Republic because they are currently in the middle of a revolution. Also, most girls aren't associated with boys like Lio, and wouldn't have trouble deciding between the two because they wouldn't be exposed in the first place. Finally, girls in this time period in the Dominican Republic were not treated the same way men were and weren't expected to participate in the revolution.


 * Moratorium -** The status of a person who is actively involved in exploring different identities, but has not made a commitment.

pg. 84 - "I know the rumor that got got started once I'd been living at a home a few years. That I didn't like men. It's true that I never paid much attention to the ones around here. But it wasn't that I didn't like them. I just didn't know I was looking at what I wanted."

In the Dominican Republic, girls aren't expected to be a part of the revolution or to want to study as much as Minerva does. Most girls focus on getting married, but the above quote shows how that's never what Minerva has wanted. Most girls get married young and when Minerva doesn't, people automatically assume she doesn't like men.

Minerva is indecisive, and can't make up her mind. This sort of thing is a part of adolescence.

As Minerva grows up in Part I, she finds herself within a moratorium; torn between romance and revolution, she finds herself unsure of which to pick.