How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Dedé was scared, and angry at herself for being so. She was growing more and more confused about what she wanted. (2.5.127)
Dedé is angry with herself for being frightened, but do you think that fear and courage are really opposed to one another? We think her sisters probably felt scared, too, but are able to act even in spite of their fears. Dedé's problem is that her fear wins the day, choosing her path for her.
Quote #8
He yanks me by the wrist, thrusting his pelvis at me in a vulgar way, and I can see my hand in an endless slow motion rise—a mind all its own—and come down on the astonished, made-up face. (2.6.147)
Okay, now we're really not sure if this is courage or insanity. Slapping the president? When he's a known killer? Minerva seems to just have a natural courage—when something is wrong (like Trujillo's nasty boy act) her body takes over and reacts before she thinks.
Quote #9
Like I said, it must have been the Lord's tongue in my mouth because back then, I was running scared. Not for myself but for those I loved. My sisters—Minerva, Mate—I was sick sometimes with fear for them, but they lived at a distance now, so I hid the sun with a finger and chose not to see the light all around me. (2.8.35)
While Minerva's hand has a mind of its own, slapping Trujillo, Patria's tongue is where she keeps her courage. She contributes her bravery to the Lord, and confesses that she chose not to look directly at what made her frightened (check out the nice image of the sun) when it was too much for her.