María · Character

Braulio

A young Antioqueño laborer newly arrived to work under his uncle José, gentle, tireless, and quietly courting his cousin Tránsito toward a December wedding.

supporting

First appearance: ii

See Braulio in ii Book page

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Braulio has come from Antioquia to live with his uncle's family and has already fallen hopelessly in love with his cousin Tránsito. He is a steady worker and a favorite of José, and his betrothal becomes a small, warm counterpoint to the novel's central romance — a love that can actually be spoken aloud and celebrated. He matters because he shows what ordinary happiness looks like in this valley, and how Efraín's own future might have looked if it were simpler.

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See Braulio in ii

Character Web

21 connections

A slice of how Braulio sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Core family and household
Background and episodic figures
Mother and child figure
Secondary household and workers
Estate workers and local figures

+16 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

María’s hesitation and her whispered “Don’t go” mark the emotional peak: her fear of being left alone with Jor…

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Relationships

Efraín
professional · positive
Efraín
professional · positive
Efraín
professional · positive

Relationship notes

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See Braulio in ii

In the story

Braulio appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

XVI
Reported to Efraín's mother that Efraín had not visited for five days.
XX
Betrothed to Tránsito; nearly killed by the jaguar but saved by Efraín.
XXI
Accompanies Efraín home and cleverly sends the jaguar's head as a trophy.
XIV
Brings hunting dogs and is treated with respect by Efraín, surprising Carlos and Don Jerónimo.
XXV
Deliberately loads Carlos's rifle without a bullet to avenge ridicule of his dogs.
XXXIX
Mentioned for his actions during the hunt, removing the ball from Carlos's rifle.
XLV
Receives Efraín's rifle as a keepsake and is deeply moved by the gesture.
LVII
Present with Tránsito, embraces Efraín.
LIX
Accompanies Efraín to the cemetery and gives him the crown of flowers.

Chapter companion notes

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See Braulio in ii