Regina, dark skinned mother of Narciso (her only son)

Narciso, husband to Soledad (gets her pregnant and ignored the problem, only to make her respectable through marriage)
Soledad: remains in Regina's service while Narciso goes to Chicago to be with Uncle Old

This section of the text centers on Soledad and Narciso's life in Tehuantepec.  This section of the novel is typically Latin American
insofar as Cisneros describes customs,  indiscretions, and the tropical landscape.

Setting: 1920s-1940s (WWII)
Eleuterio: married into a good family in Sevilla; left his wife
"I'll  be right back" and headed for Latin America. Eventually married Regina (two wives, two "worlds")

Soledad: pregnant with Narciso's child and now his wife
Narciso: moves to Tehuantepec to work for National Road Commission
 
Exaltacion: object of Narciso's affection and enduring desire, like a "fish goddess"
Maria Sabina: wise woman, a seer who lives in the mountains and gives Narciso advice about his unrequited love for Exaltacion
 
Birth of Inocencio--soul of a poet
Uncle Snake: takes over Uncle Old's business in Chicago
Birth of Celaya. She's the last one to be born in the family and "only" daughter
(NOTE: the plot develops later in the text.  Candelaria is Inocencio's daughter too and NOT his mistress)