Ulises Encarnación

Ulises is the son of Soledad and Uxbal and twin brother of Isabel. He has a penchant for the classic languages and stories, impressing the priests at his school and, later, his professors in college with his talent. Ulises works for his mother's lover, Henri Willems, in his tobacco fields. He excels at this work, as well, and builds his muscle mass. That in tandem with his linguistic talent earns him the nickname "The Titan" from his professors and classmates.

Ulises follows a path similar to Willems, in contrast to his sister who mimics their biological father in her pursuit of her faith. He feels a distance from his mother and his sister, who both have clearer memories of Uxbal and Cuba. An agnostic, he also foils his sister's motivation of faith.

He copes with his sense of homelessness through escapism, throwing himself into his work...