Santiago is the owner of a cigar factory in Ybor City who struggles with a weakness for illegal drinking and gambling. His careless betting leads him to borrow money and promise shares of his business to his relative, causing immediate friction within his household. Despite his reckless habits, he attempts to maintain his position as the traditional head of the family.

Cheché manages operations at his half-brother's cigar factory and pushes aggressively to replace hand-rollers with modern machines. His wife recently abandoned him for a lector, leaving him deeply resentful of the reading tradition and anyone associated with it. He uses financial leverage to gain authority over the family business and assert his dominance.

Ofelia is the practical head of her household who quietly manages the family finances behind her husband's back. She fiercely defends traditional Cuban cigar-rolling methods against the threat of mechanization. Recognizing the educational value of literature, she secretly pays to bring a highly regarded reader from Cuba to educate her factory workers.

Marela is a twenty-two-year-old cigar roller who lives with her parents and often mediates their disputes. She maintains a deeply idealistic worldview and longs for the passion described in classic novels. Her youth and innocence make her highly susceptible to the romantic words read aloud on the factory floor.

Conchita is a thirty-two-year-old cigar roller struggling with a stagnant marriage. She understands that divorce is impossible but refuses to accept a lifetime of quiet misery. As she listens to tragic romance novels at work, she begins to evaluate her own passive role in life and considers seeking passion outside her marital vows.

Juan Julian is a thirty-eight-year-old professional reader who travels from Havana to work in Florida. He possesses an elegant demeanor, a melodious voice, and a deep respect for classic Russian literature. He views his profession not just as entertainment, but as an essential source of education for the working class.

Palomo is a forty-one-year-old cigar roller whose unfaithfulness creates a heavy strain on his marriage. He worries constantly about the financial stability of his father-in-law's business. He views the factory's reading tradition as a disruptive force that gives women dangerous ideas about independence.

Eliades operates the illicit cockfights in Ybor City. He facilitates the reckless gambling habits of the local businessmen by collecting bets and managing the chaotic environment.