Belisa is a resilient, self-taught young woman who grew up in extreme poverty in an inhospitable, remote region. Having survived a treacherous journey that claimed the lives of her siblings, she discovers the concept of written language and pays a priest to teach her to read. She uses her intellect, vast vocabulary, and storytelling ability to achieve financial independence, shaping her own identity to the point of choosing her own romantic-sounding name.

The Colonel is a formidable, battle-scarred revolutionary leader with dark skin, a surprisingly soft voice, and the intense eyes of a puma. Though notorious throughout the country for his violent and destructive conquests, he is deeply lonely and illiterate. He longs to end the civil unrest and become a legitimately elected president, seeking to win the people's affection and gifts rather than their terror.

El Mulato is a giant of a man and a high-ranking commander in the Colonel's rebel army. He operates as a man of action and aggressive passion, preferring traditional military force over the peaceful political transition his leader now desires. He carries out the Colonel's orders with absolute dedication, though he highly suspects intellectual pursuits and views words as dangerous magic.

A local religious figure who provides Belisa with her foundational education. By teaching her to read in exchange for a small fee, he gives her the essential tool she needs to build her itinerant business and alter her destiny.

An unnamed traveler who crosses paths with Belisa during her initial journey away from her impoverished home. He reads a sports page headline aloud to her, explaining what the text means and unintentionally sparking her lifelong career as a seller of words.