Introduction
This essay dives into the story of Flor de Oro, the daughter of the President of the Dominican Republic, Rafael Trujillo. Unlike what one might expect, there were little to no caring relations between the mighty father and his offspring. This relationship was very unusual in the matters of typical parent-to-child bonds. As de Oro describes, in the outburst of rage, Trujillo had even put her under house arrest, not caring about her well-being for years. Such cold relations with the President were implied by the independent and strong character of Flor combined with a strict and demanding attitude of the President toward the girls.
Trujillo’s Treatment of His Daughter and Women in General
As mentioned above, the daughter of Rafael Trujillo was confined at the family premises in prison for years due to her determination to assert her independence – at least by marrying the person she truly loved. Despite the looming presence of Trujillo, de Oro refused to conform to the constraints he imposed. At the same time, little could she do against the will of her, as she says, ‘omnipotent parent.’ This personal characteristic of Trujillo depicts Oro’s admiration of him, even despite all the atrocities she faced in the past.
Interestingly, this harsh conflict with Trujillo did not affect Oro’s desire to save him from the assassination attempt. Namely, when informed by the US ambassador of the danger of the assassination of the President, Flor prudently ventured to reach the parent, who had nearly devastated her personal life, to warn about the impingement. In this moment, personal conflicts took a backseat to a daughter’s concern for her father’s safety, highlighting the intricate warmth that exists within even conflictual relationships. I was also impressed how Trujillo decided to meet and talk with the daughter, whom he ignored for long months. The other thing that surprised me was the caring and warm relations between the President and his mother.
Conclusion
To conclude, Flor de Oro’s story with her dictator dad, Trujillo, is a mix of family conflicts and surprising loyalty. Even though she wanted freedom and got stuck at home for years, she still cared about her dad’s safety. One may even be sorry for Oro, with her being oppressed by her father, whose life she saved afterward. It shows that family love can stick around, even when things get tough.