Alvarez probably feels compelled to share this story to American readers and the rest of the literary world because of her proximity to the tale. Being a dominican woman as well, she is just as much a part of the cruelty and brutality the Mirabal suffered, as well is the rest of the nation. By telling the story, I believe Alvarez hopes to shed light on the bloodshed that was caused by the desire for the Dominican Republic to become free and to help prevent further tyranny in small nations that may not always be in the limelight, a the United States is.
This is, in fact, Alvarez's story as well. As aforementioned, being a Dominican-American poet, she has proximity and relation to the story, but it goes beyond that, as Alvarez met with and interviewed the only surviving Mirabal sister, Dede. Through Dede's painful recollection of the legend, Alvarez also injects her own voice into the story as she takes history and adds details of fiction to strengthen the story. Historical fiction is not an uncommon way for auteurs to bring tales of yesterday to light. For example, popular and control director, Quentin Tarantino took a very well known event, the Nazi occupancy of France, and added his own twist to the story to remind Americans and the rest of the world of it, so it is never forgotten; so it never happens again. I believe Alvarez formatted the story in such a way that she too could ensure that the death of the Mirabal's is never forgotten and never repeated.
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