The Fourteen Sisters of Emilio Montez O'Brien: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Fourteen Sisters of Emilio Montez O'Brien" examines the intricate lives and relationships of the O'Brien family, particularly focusing on their prominent characters. Emilio, the youngest child, navigates a tumultuous life as a World War II veteran and a Hollywood actor who experiences both success and scandal, ultimately finding personal redemption through his work as a photographer. The analysis also delves into the life of Margarita, the eldest sibling, whose journey from a troubled marriage to discovering real love in her later years reflects themes of resilience and hope.
Key figures include the family patriarch, Nelson, an Irish immigrant whose struggles with depression contrast with his outward cheerfulness, and Mariela, the matriarch, who grapples with her identity as a Cuban woman in America and leaves behind a hidden emotional legacy. Other characters, like the younger sisters Gloria and Isabel, contribute to the narrative, highlighting the complexities of familial bonds and personal dreams. The text presents a rich tapestry of experiences, showcasing how love, loss, and the quest for fulfillment shape the lives of each character within the O'Brien family.
The Fourteen Sisters of Emilio Montez O'Brien: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Oscar Hijuelos
First published: 1993
Genre: Novel
Locale: Cuba and the states of Pennsylvania, New York, California, and Alaska
Plot: Family
Time: The twentieth century
Emilio Montez O'Brien, the youngest child and only son of Nelson O'Brien and Mariela Montez O'Brien. Reared and coddled in a household dominated by fifteen women, he serves in Italy during World War II. Following some success on the New York stage, he moves to Hollywood, where he makes forty-two B-films in five years. A vain philanderer, he is seduced by a Montana fan who marries him and soon ends his career in scandal. He flees to Alaska, where he finds true love with Jessica Brooks. Their joyous marriage ends in a fire that kills Jessica and their baby, Mary. Emilio overcomes drinking and depression to take up his father's old profession, becoming “photographer to the stars” in Hollywood.
Margarita Montez O'Brien, the eldest of the fifteen O'Brien children, born in 1902 on the ship taking her parents away from Cuba. Margarita's erotic fantasies are first aroused when a barnstorming aviator is forced to stay at the O'Brien house. Her marriage to the wealthy but abusive Lester Thompson ends in divorce after sixteen years. One of the few siblings to maintain their mother's language, she becomes a Spanish teacher. Still spry at the age of ninety, Margarita does volunteer work for the library, where she meets a gentle pilot named Leslie Howard and marries him, finally fulfilling her adolescent dream of love with a handsome flier.
Nelson O'Brien, patriarch of the clan. Nelson emigrates from Ireland with his sister Kate in 1896. When she dies shortly thereafter, Nelson goes off to Cuba to photograph the Spanish-American War. When the fighting concludes, he sets up a studio in Santiago. When Mariela Montez sits for a portrait, Nelson begins wooing her. Shortly after their marriage, Nelson and Mariela move to Pennsylvania. Nelson continues to work as a photographer and, with the help of his many children, operates the Jewel Box Movie Theater. Outwardly cheerful, Nelson, a secret tippler, suffers from deep depressions.
Mariela Montez O'Brien, the matriarch of the clan. Soon after their marriage, Nelson takes her back to Cobbleton, a town that mystifies and terrifies the young Cuban woman. Mariela never masters English, becoming even more monolingual with age. After Mariela's death, her daughter Margarita discovers a cache of notebooks in which her mother reveals a complex emotional life unsuspected by the rest of the family.
Katherine Anne (Kate) O'Brien, Nelson's sister. She dies of pneumonia soon after she and her brother settle in Pennsylvania.
Gloria Montez O'Brien, the youngest O'Brien daughter. She suffers from an embarrassing crush on her brother, Emilio.
Isabel Montez O'Brien, the second O'Brien daughter. She marries a Cuban pharmacist and settles in Santiago, Cuba.
Lester Thompson, Margarita's wealthy and abusive first husband. He meets her while she is working in her family's theater. They are divorced after sixteen years of marriage.
Betsy MacFarland, Emilio's first wife. Claiming to be an ardent fan of his films, she seduces him. Their brief marriage ends in scandal, causing Emilio's departure from Hollywood.
Jessica Brooks, Emilio's beloved second wife. He meets her in Alaska, where she is running a restaurant. Their joyful marriage is ended by a fire that kills Jessica and their baby.
Leslie Howard, a courtly octogenarian pilot. Margarita meets him in the local library and marries him when she is ninety.