In the Time of the Butterflies Women and Femininity Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #10

"I know the clouds have already rained," I said, "but, Papá, why did you do it?"

[…] "Cosas de los hombres," he said. Things a man does. So that was supposed to excuse him, macho that he was!

[…] "Why'd you do what you just did?"

[…] I remembered his own words. "Things a woman does." (2.6.74-76)

"The clouds have already rained" is the English translation of the Spanish expression "Ya llovió mucho desde entonces," which basically means that it's water under the bridge, time has passed, the past can't be changed. Minerva matches her father's essentialist answer explaining his motives, indicating that women are compassionate and forgiving.