The Hacienda

What is the significance of Andrés and Beatriz’s love being considered forbidden and sinful in the eyes of the church? Does their love highlight other themes in the novel?

Why does Cañas choose to use so many different flashbacks throughout the narrative? As a literary device, how does this aid in the novel’s narrative structure?

Discuss Andrés’s family dynamics. What are the ways that Titi guides him even after she is gone? How do Andrés’s memories of Inés and his father encourage or dissuade him from accepting his cultural heritage? How does Andrés make sense of the violent nature of his parent’s marriage?

Discuss Juana’s role as an antagonist in the narrative. How is Juana similar to or different from the other Criollo characters? Is Juana a sympathetic character? Why or why not?

How does Cañas characterize religion? Are the main characters receptive to Catholicism or skeptical of it? Can Catholicism and Indigenous religions coexist? Provide examples for your reasoning.

At the beginning of the novel, Beatriz thinks her mother’s decision to marry for love is privileged and unrealistic. Is this an accurate understanding of her parents’ marriage? In what ways do the difficulties that Beatriz’s parents faced provide context for their marriage?

How does Cañas represent the intersectionality of racism, colorism, and misogyny in the text? How does the patriarchy intersect with the casta system in Beatriz’s life experiences? Provide textual examples.

What is the significance of the novel changing narrators? What insight is provided from Andrés’s perspective that is not provided in Beatriz’s chapters? Do you think this narrative device is helpful to the novel’s plot and narrative structure?