The Hacienda

Isabel Cañas

50 pages 1-hour read

Isabel Cañas

The Hacienda

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Beatriz is a Mestiza woman who recently lost her father in the political upheaval following the Mexican War of Independence. Facing poverty and discrimination, she marries a wealthy widower to secure safety for herself and her mother. As she settles into her isolated new home, she begins experiencing unsettling supernatural phenomena that force her to question her surroundings.

Key Relationships

Confidant of Padre Andrés

Sister-in-law of Juana

Niece of Tía Fernanda

Successor to Doña María Catalina

Padre Andrés is a Mestizo priest serving the community near Hacienda San Isidro. He hides his identity as a practitioner of Indigenous magic out of fear of the Inquisition and the Catholic Church. He understands the spiritual needs of the local villagers better than his Criollo peers. He becomes Beatriz's primary ally when she seeks help from the church.

Key Relationships

Grandson of Titi

Cousin of Paloma

Nephew of Ana Luisa

Colleague of Padre Vicente

Juana is Rodolfo's sister who resides on the Hacienda San Isidro property. She oversees the harvesting of the agave fields, possessing an independence rare for an unmarried Criolla woman. She displays an icy attitude toward Beatriz and aggressively mocks her claims about supernatural occurrences in the main house.

Key Relationships

Hostile Acquaintance of Padre Andrés

Rodolfo is a wealthy Criollo landowner and the patrón of Hacienda San Isidro. He aligned with the insurgents during the war to maintain his political standing. He spends much of his time away in the capital, leaving his new bride isolated at the rural estate.

Key Relationships

Brother of Juana

Widower of Doña María Catalina

Employer of José Mendoza

Supporting Characters

Paloma is a young maid working at San Isidro. She helps manage the domestic operations alongside her mother. She shares a familial connection with Padre Andrés and holds deep, closely guarded knowledge regarding the hacienda's dark history.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Ana Luisa

Cousin of Padre Andrés

Friend of Mariana

Ana Luisa is the head housekeeper at Hacienda San Isidro. She manages the domestic staff and lives in the servant's quarters. She maintains a quiet presence around her employers while tending to the daily maintenance of the large, unsettling house.

Key Relationships

Mother of Paloma

Employee of Rodolfo Solórzano

José acts as the foreman of Hacienda San Isidro. He manages the agricultural operations and laborers on the land, ensuring the estate remains productive while the patrón is away in the capital.

Key Relationships

Doña María Catalina is Rodolfo's deceased first wife. As a Criolla woman of high social standing, she was known for her delicate nature and pale skin. Her legacy looms heavily over San Isidro, and local aristocrats frequently compare Beatriz to her.

Key Relationships

Doña María José is the wife of a neighboring estate owner. She represents the lingering colonial caste system, casually delivering colorist remarks that alienate Beatriz within the local high society.

Key Relationships

Social Acquaintance of Beatriz Hernández Valenzuela

Tía Fernanda is Beatriz's aunt who reluctantly took in Beatriz and her mother after they lost their home. She heavily favored her light-skinned daughters and subjected Beatriz to constant discrimination based on her Mestiza heritage.

Key Relationships

Titi is Andrés's late grandmother. She taught him the old ways of tending to the sick, passing down ancestral Indigenous magic and instilling in him a deep sense of duty to their community.

Key Relationships

Grandmother of Padre Andrés

Padre Vicente is a Criollo priest in the town of Apan. He holds conservative views and refuses to perform an exorcism for Beatriz, dismissing her fears and offering only a standard blessing for the house.

Key Relationships

Mariana was a maid at San Isidro during Doña María Catalina's time as patrona. Her tragic circumstances at the estate serve as a grim warning about the dangers faced by the vulnerable staff.

Key Relationships

Friend of Paloma