Conquistadora - Esmeralda Santiago [207]
9. On this page, Ana considers a phrase: “We are all a bit of a poet, a bit of a musician, a bit mad, she agreed. But she thought that Severo Fuentes, who could quote Cervantes with uncanny precision, was perhaps the maddest of them all.” Do you agree with Ana about Severo? Why or why not? How are “madness” and a sense of mission linked for Severo, and for Ana?
10. Why does Los Gemelos become so important to Ana? Why won’t she leave—and why would she be willing to go so far as to trade her son for the plantation? Did you understand her motivation for this? Why or why not?
11. Why does Ana refer to her slaves as “nuestra gente” (“our people”)?
12. Discuss the characters of Conciencia and Meri and their relationships with Ana. How does Conciencia function as a conscience for Ana? Why does Ana feel that she must save Meri from her burns? And why do you think Ana is able to act maternally toward her slaves in some ways, but is unable to be a mother to her own son?
13. Why does Severo want Ana as his wife, although it is Consuelo who makes him happy? Do you think he can love these two women at once?
14. What is the significance of the house Severo builds for Ana? Why does he name it El Destino?
15. On this page, Santiago tells us that, three generations later, Miguel’s paintings would wind up stored in a warehouse and forgotten. How do you think this connects to the larger story of Puerto Rican history, and Ana’s endeavors at Hacienda los Gemelos?
16. Discuss Miguel’s fate. What do you think he would have said to Ana, had he had the chance?
17. As the novel ends, the American Civil War has already begun to change life in Puerto Rico—perhaps especially for the hacienda’s slaves, who are inspired by “el libertador Abrámlincon.” How is the history of slavery in Puerto Rico similar to, or different from, the history of slavery in America? What surprised you most about Santiago’s depiction of the slaves’ daily lives?
18. How does Conquistadora compare to other postcolonial literature you’ve read—stories that take place in Africa, Asia, and the Americas?
19. Does Ana earn the designation conquistadora? If she were alive today, what do you think she would do for a living?
20. What do you think lies ahead for Ana and Severo? What about Segundo, who will inherit their land and the hacienda? And the slaves at the hacienda?
SUGGESTED READING
Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros; The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love by Oscar Hijuelos; Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat; Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys; The Color Purple by Alice Walker; Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese; Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell; All Souls’ Rising by Madison Smartt Bell; The Known World by Edward P. Jones.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you.
Frank Cantor, my husband, has kept me safe and loved over the three decades plus of our marriage and has designed and built spaces for me and my work.
Lucas and Ila, our children, have filled my life with love, music, conversation, interesting friends, and hope for the future.
Pablo and Ramona Santiago, my parents, grew up in and near sugar haciendas and shared their memories, which helped me envision Hacienda los Gemelos and El Destino.
Molly Friedrich, my agent and friend, has encouraged, supported, protected, and nourished me over two decades and has built my confidence at the same time as she’s spoken the hard truths few dare to utter.
Robin Desser, my editor, has asked pointed questions, sent incisive comments and enthusiastic messages, made time for long meetings, made encouraging phone calls, and exchanged many conversations that always left me excited and eager about the work ahead.
Her assistant Sarah Rothbard has been calm, helpful, and professional.
The diligent librarians at the Katonah Public Library have secured every book, essay, catalogue, academic paper, journal, and diary that I requested and needed during the research phase.
Joie Davidow, my good friend, gave me pep talks when the work wasn’t going well, read and critiqued several drafts, and gave me a place and time during the final