Chencha
The maid for the De la Garza family. Chencha is best known for her tendency to embellish stories.
The 'Chinaman'
Helps the family obtain French silk during the revolution for Rosaura’s nuptial sheets.
Don Pascual
Pedro Muzquiz’s father.
Father Ignacio
The parish priest. Father Ignacio tells Mama Elena that Gertrudis is employed in a brothel.
Gertrudis
Tita’s sister. She runs away from home one day with one of Pancho Villa’s soldiers. She later becomes a General in the army.
Dr. John Brown
The De la Garza family’s doctor. Dr. Brown is a widow and father of Alex. He proposes to Tita and rescues her from Mama Elena’s confining household.
Jovita
Gertrudis’ and Tita’s teacher.
Juan Alejandrez
Juan is one of Pancho Villa’s soldiers. He comes to the ranch and carries Gertrudis away in a fit of passion. He later marries Gertrudis.
Lupita
Roberto’s wet nurse and relative of Nacha. She is killed by a stray bullet.
Mama Elena
Mother of Tita, Rosaura, and Gertrudis De la Garza and widow of Juan De la Garza. Ranch owner. An incredibly strict and rigid woman, her gaze strikes many with fear.
Nacha
The De la Garza’s partially deaf cook. Nacha raises Tita after Tita’s father dies and becomes like a mother to her. Nacha dies the day of Rosaura’s wedding with a picture of her fiancé in her hands but her ghost later appears to help comfort Tita.
Nicholas
Manager of the ranch, Tita sends him to bring clothes to Gertrudis at the brothel.
Paquita Lobo
One of the De la Garza family’s neighbors.
Pedro Muzquiz
Tita’s lover. When he asks for Tita’s hand in marriage Mam Elena denies him so he agrees to marry Rosaura instead. Fathers Roberto and Esperanza.
Pulque
The ranch dog on the De la Garza ranch.
Roberto
Tita’s Nephew and Pedro and Rosaura’s first child. He dies in infancy.
Rosalio and Guadalupe
Farmhands on the De la Garza ranch.
Rosaura De la Garza
Tita’s sister. She marries Pedro, Tita’s lover, and gives birth to two children, Roberto and Esperanza.
Tequila
Another of the De la Garza’s dogs. Father of Pulque.
Tita De la Garza
Great aunt of the narrator. She is the youngest of the De la Garza women and, according to tradition, she cannot marry until after her mother’s death. She is the main character of the work.
Felipe
Nicholas’ son and helper on the ranch.
Katy
A 70 year old woman from North America who manages Dr. Brown’s kitchen and cares for his son.
Alex
Dr. Brown’s son. He marries Rosaura and Pedro’s daughter Esperanza.
Esperanza
Rosaura and Pedro’s second child. The narrator’s mother. She marries Dr. Brown’s son, Alex.
José Treviño
Mama Elena’s half-black lover whom she is forbidden to marry. He is the Gertrudis’ genetic father.