Character Analysis
There aren't many major characters in this novel other than Connie and maybe Luciente. But the book makes up for that by dumping scads and scads of minor characters on you until you are buried up to your nostrils and have to sneeze.
Connie's Husbands and Boyfriends
- Professor Everett Silvester—A teacher at the community college; Connie worked for him as a secretary and slept with him.
- Chuck—Connie's Anglo boyfriend in college, who got her pregnant (she had an abortion).
- Martín Alvarez—Connie's first love; killed young in a knife fight.
- Eddie Ramos—Connie's second husband, the father of Angelina. They split up.
- Claud—Connie's third husband (though they were never formally married). A blind saxophone player and pickpocket. Arrested and then killed during an experiment. His death sends Connie into a depression, prompting her to hit her daughter.
Connie's Family
- Angelina Ramos—Connie's daughter by Eddie; taken away to foster care after Connie hit her and broke her wrist.
- Jésus Comacho—Connie's father.
- Connie's mother (never named)
- Theresa—Connie's sister.
- Inez—Connie's younger sister.
- Luis Comacho—Connie's brother, who committed her to the asylum.
- Dolly—Connie's niece.
- Geraldo—Dolly's pimp and boyfriend; he put Connie in the asylum after she attacked him.
- Vic—A former baseball player; Dolly's pimp and boyfriend after she leaves Geraldo.
- Nita Comacho—Dolly's daughter, Connie's great-niece.
- Carmel Comacho—Luis's first wife; Dolly's mother. She watched Nita while Dolly was working as a prostitute.
- Shirley Comacho—Luis's second wife.
- Bob and Mark Comacho—Luis and Shirley's sons.
- Adele Comacho—Luis's third wife.
- Mike and Susan Comacho—Adele and Luis's children.
- Celeste—Adele's daughter by her husband before Luis.
Connie's Caseworkers
- Miss Ferguson—The caseworker who interviews Connie after she is committed the second time.
- Mrs. Polcari—A former caseworker; she was the same age as Connie.
Doctors and Medical Personnel
- Dr. Redding—In charge of the brain implant program; he appeared in Time magazine.
- Francis Morgan—Doctor who feared the patients and liked to bully them.
- Dr. Acker—A psychologist who tried to convince Connie that the brain transplant was good for her.
- Dr. Argent
- Dr. Hodges
- Ms. Fargo—A nurse Connie got along with.
- Miss Moynihan—An attendant.
- Mrs. Valente—An attendant with a speech impediment who treated the inmates as human beings.
- Fats—A friendly attendant.
- Tony—An attendant.
- Valerie—An attendant.
- Mrs. Richard—Administrator on G Ward; she was afraid of the patients.
- Nurse Wright
- Nurse Roditis
- Mary Ellen—A college student who assisted the nurses and was interested in witchcraft.
Patients and Inmates
- Sybil—Connie's closest friend among the inmates; she was a large woman and a witch.
- Skip—A patient; he was gay and tried to kill himself numerous times. He had a brain implant, was released, and then finally succeeded in killing himself.
- Alice Blue Bottom—A happy, confident woman in the asylum. The doctors put a device in her head to control her brain and it made her actually depressed and insane.
- Tina Ortiz—One of Connie's friends.
- Orville—A patient who stabbed his girlfriend.
- Mrs. Martinez
- Glenda
- Captain Cream—A West Indian patient who believed he had super-powers.
- Miss Green
- Alvin
- Sharma—An inmate who was not in the brain implant group.
Mattapoisett
- Jackrabbit—Luciente's lover and a great artist; he died in battle at the front.
- Bolivar—Jackrabbit's sweetie, he didn't get along with Luciente.
- Bee—Luciente's lover; eventually Connie's lover.
- Diana—A healer who had a passionate affair with Luciente.
- Dawn—Luciente's child who reminded Connie of Angelina.
- Innocente—A child who Connie saw go for her naming. She took the name Hawk.
- Arthur of Ribble—Jackrabbit's mother.
- Barbarossa—An older man.
- Crazy Horse—Also Jackrabbit's mother.
- Erzulia—A healer.
- Magdalena—Permanent head of the children's house.
- Luxembourg—One of Innocente's mothers.
- Neruda—Luciente's child.
- Otter—One of Luciente's family.
- Parra—Originally from Mexico, in a region close to where Connie's family comes from.
- Sappho—Older woman; writer of tales. Connie met her and later attended her death.
- Selma—Sojourner's baby in Connie's dream.
- White Oak—A woman whose daughter named herself Thunderbolt; she was an anti-Shaper.
Alternate Evil Future
- Gildina—See "Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory."
- Cash—Gildina's boyfriend.