Caramelo

Inocencio is Lala’s father, and the much-adored son of Soledad, the Awful Grandmother. His family gives him the childhood nickname "el Tarzán," after he attempts swinging from a tree and breaks his arms. Soledad makes no secret of the fact that Inocencio is her favorite son, and she enjoys spoiling him with special treatment (including his favorite mole dish) whenever he visits her in Mexico City. Likewise, Lala is Inocencio’s favorite child, and he showers her with special affection.

Inocencio co-manages an upholstering business with his brothers, but they disagree about which direction their business should take. Opposed to his brothers—who want to maximize production and create cheap, accessible furniture—Inocencio sees furniture-making as an art form and can’t bear to devalue his craft. This romantic streak carries into other aspects of his life and is a constant source of frustration for his highly practical wife, Zoila.

Near the end of the novel, it is revealed that Inocencio is the illegitimate father of Candelaria, a Native Mexican girl (and the daughter of a washerwoman who does Soledad’s laundry). He is deeply ashamed of this secret and begs Lala never to tell anyone.

Zoila is Lala’s mother and Inocencio's wife. In contrast to her romantic (and often impractical) husband, Zoila is resourceful, frugal, pragmatic, and determined to keep her family together through difficult circumstances. As a child, Lala believes that her mother is cruel-natured simply because she is the more practical, boundary-setting parent. Her sons, on the other hand, hold their mother in the highest regard (in the manner that Inocencio deifies his own mother).

When Soledad first appears in the novel, she is an overbearing, often ungenerous old woman who harbors a mysterious grudge against Lala’s mother. She also dotes on Inocencio, elevating him above all her other sons.

Part 2 of Caramelo, however, reveals elements of Soledad’s backstory that explain some of her behaviors and perceptions. She grew up in an unstable environment, orphaned by her mother at the age of 11, then sent to a distant aunt known for harboring cast-off children. Living in the chaotic home of this aunt, Soledad feels so lonely that one day, she promises herself she will marry the next man she sees. After making this internal promise, Soledad sees Narciso Reyes and perceives that he is the man she is destined to be with.

Soledad then joins the Reyes household as a live-in servant. Though Narciso embarks on a romance with her and marries her when she becomes pregnant, he cruelly neglects her for much of her pregnancy, pursuing extramarital affairs. Soledad is thus fiercely protective of Inocencio when he is born, perceiving him as her only source of happiness.

In Part 3, Soledad moves in with Inocencio and Zoila's family after her husband’s death. Though she is short-tempered and too difficult for many family members to deal with—especially Zoila, who refers to Soledad as “my cross”—she appears to become closer with Lala. After Soledad passes away, she has reoccurring “conversations” with Lala , and her prized caramelo rebozo passes down to Lala.

When Soledad first appears in the novel, she is an overbearing, often ungenerous old woman who harbors a mysterious grudge against Lala’s mother. She also dotes on Inocencio, elevating him above all her other sons.

Part 2 of Caramelo, however, reveals elements of Soledad’s backstory that explain some of her behaviors and perceptions. She grew up in an unstable environment, orphaned by her mother at the age of 11, then sent to a distant aunt known for harboring cast-off children. Living in the chaotic home of this aunt, Soledad feels so lonely that one day, she promises herself she will marry the next man she sees. After making this internal promise, Soledad sees Narciso Reyes and perceives that he is the man she is destined to be with.

Soledad then joins the Reyes household as a live-in servant. Though Narciso embarks on a romance with her and marries her when she becomes pregnant, he cruelly neglects her for much of her pregnancy, pursuing extramarital affairs. Soledad is thus fiercely protective of Inocencio when he is born, perceiving him as her only source of happiness.

In Part 3, Soledad moves in with Inocencio and Zoila's family after her husband’s death. Though she is short-tempered and too difficult for many family members to deal with—especially Zoila, who refers to Soledad as “my cross”—she appears to become closer with Lala. After Soledad passes away, she has reoccurring “conversations” with Lala , and her prized caramelo rebozo passes down to Lala.

Rafa, Ito, Tikis, Toto, Lolo, and Memo are Lala’s six older brothers. They are all strong men who adhere to machismo archetypes. Lala finds them amusing, though she often feels overwhelmed by them as the only girl in the Reyes family.

Federico and Armando are Inocencio’s brothers. Their childish nicknames—given by their mother and carried long into adulthood—are characteristic of Soledad’s odd, overbearing parenting style. The brothers work in an upholstering business in Chicago, making group trips down to Mexico City every summer.

Norma is Inocencio's sister. Much like Lala, she is often overlooked in the Reyes family as the only female child of her generation. Norma also has a tense relationship with her mother because she had a daughter out of wedlock with a man the family refers to as “He whose name shouldn’t be mentioned.” Her daughter is named Antonieta Araceli.

Eleuterio is the father of Narciso and the husband of Regina. He is from Seville, Spain, and he deserted another family in his home country to move to Mexico. After Eleuterio has a stroke, he becomes very close with Soledad, who—at the time—acts as the household’s servant. After Soledad becomes pregnant, he convinces his son to marry her.

Regina is Narciso’s mother. An intelligent and passionate woman, she makes most of the family income by selling odds and ends, capitalizing greatly when war breaks out in Mexico.

Candelaria is the daughter of a washerwoman who does Soledad’s laundry. She is Lala’s childhood playmate, and Lala associates her sweet personality with the caramelo color of her skin. Later in life (and near the end of the novel), Lala learns that her father had an affair with Candelaria’s mother and Candelaria is her sister.

Exaltacion is a mysterious and beautiful medicine woman whom Narciso falls in love with even though he is married to Soledad. She is not especially enamored with Narciso, but she uses him to pass the time (and is easy to charm with chuchulocos, or candy). After hearing the marvelous voice of the singer Panfila Pal at a circus, Exaltacion runs away with her, deserting Narciso.

Viva becomes Lala’s best friend at her Catholic high school in San Antonio. The two girls bond in their shared experiences of poverty and familial struggle. Viva has a strong, vivacious personality which in turn emboldens the more introverted and shy Lala.