Maria Dolz

Maria Dolz is the narrator of the “The Infatuations.” As the entire novel is told from the perspective of Maria, the events represented take on somewhat of a biased tone. As Maria describes her interactions with other characters in the novel, she attempts to represent and analyze their thoughts and feelings. In this way, the reader is not presented with the true thoughts of other characters but, rather, with Maria’s interpretation of their words and actions.

In the opening of the novel, Maria is characterized as being a quiet observer with little satisfaction to gain from her own isolated existence. She was not satisfied with her job and appeared to have few close personal relationships. Rather, she gained her satisfaction in her infatuations with others. For years, she reveled in the perfection she saw embodied by Luisa and Miguel Desvern. Rather than approach the couple or...