How does Patria change by the end of Chapter 4 what has she regained?

Here as the narrator, Patria describes herself with similes both of life and of entrapment. She describes the way that she believes in God and loves "everything that lives" as automatic or natural, "like a shoot inching its way towards the light." However, during the moment of her birth, instead of being born hands first as it looked like she might be, at the last minute she "lowered my arms the way you fold in a captive bird's wings so it doesn't hurt itself trying to fly."

In addition, the theme of the role of women emerges for Patria in this chapter, as she worries about Minerva getting worked up about the government. She says to her little sister, "It's a dirty business, you're right. That's why we women shouldn't get involved." But Minerva argues, "women had to come out of the dark ages."

Also, Trujillo is again compared to God; here, specifically the comparison is to Jesus. In this chapter, while Patria lies beside Minerva in the hammock, they look at the pictures of Jesus and El Jefe, hung side by side. Minerva notes, "They're a pair, aren't they?" This inspires Patria to question why God would allow their country to suffer so much at the hands of Trujillo. When she looks up to challenge the picture of Jesus, "the two faces had merged!" This experience points out the God-like role that Trujillo plays in the minds of the people. He is omniscient because of his "disciples" or spies, learning what everyone in the country is doing, and to a large degree he controls what is said and done and what the country provides its people.