Raquel

Raquel is one of the three central characters in the novel, whose journey serves as a bridge between the past and present, linking the stories of Anita de Monte and Jack Martin with her own experiences. Raquel is a young Latina art history student at Brown University navigating the predominantly white and elitist world of art academia. Her initial goal is to write her thesis on Jack Martin, a celebrated artist and the focus of her mentor, John Temple. Raquel's character is defined by her ambition, intelligence, and a deep desire to succeed in a field where she feels both marginalized and overlooked.

At the beginning of the story, Raquel is eager to gain recognition and validation within the art world, which she believes can be achieved by aligning herself with established figures like John Temple. Her dedication to her studies and her initial deference to John Temple's...