The Guilt of a Survivor

In Julia Alvarez's "In the Time of the Butterflies", she begins the text with an interview about her deceased sisters and life after tragic loss. Although, these interviews are quite insensitive as they are bringing back the repressed memories of her sisters that Dede doesn't want to have to keep bringing back into light. "THE SISTER WHO SURVIVED" (Alvarez 5). This is the label that Dede is burdened with, it is unfair to have this type of label as it has limitations to it, almost to say that is what you have amounted to thus far in life, and because her sisters were famous it seems that it would be the label she carries for the rest of her life. In the following paragraph, the interviewer is basically asking "why are you the who survived?" (Alvarez 5). These are the type of insensitive questions that are not fair to Dede, as she likely feels very lucky to have been the one sister who managed to survive as her other three were killed, but probably guilty and sad.The interviewer may not have been purposely trying to invoke those emotions out of Dede, but questions such as that would easily have that type of impact. Dede seems to be used to these type of questions so she doesn't let them break her, but definitely frustrate her. The families of victims should be granted peace and privacy, they are entitled to at least that, no matter what kind of impact the victim had on the world and the people around the world. Survivors guilt is a real phenomenon that has been prove to impact most survivors of tragedy.

What is Survivors Guilt?
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325578.php

Is there a burden or pressure placed on the closest relative or friend of a deceased person of importance or interest that they must carry on the legacy of them, or to be the publics gateway to information about them?

Is the way this novel formatted and structured thus far, Alvarez's way of coping and expressing her true feelings about the loss of the Mirabel sisters, while also honoring them?