The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love: Analysis of Major Characters" explores the lives and complexities of prominent figures in the narrative, primarily focusing on brothers Cesar and Nestor Castillo. Cesar, the protagonist, emerges from a troubled childhood in Cuba, grappling with personal trauma and a tumultuous marriage before seeking a better life in New York. There, he achieves fame as part of the Mambo Kings orchestra but faces profound loss and existential struggles following Nestor’s tragic death. Nestor, while often overshadowed by his brother, deeply mourns a lost love, yet finds moments of joy through music and family. His composition of the iconic song "Beautiful María of My Soul" highlights his artistic contributions despite his melancholic disposition. The characters also include Delores, Nestor’s wife, who challenges traditional roles by pursuing her education and passions, and Eugenio, their son, who provides a narrative link across the generations. Together, these characters reflect themes of loss, aspiration, and the search for identity within the context of Cuban-American experiences.
The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Oscar Hijuelos
First published: 1989
Genre: Novel
Locale: New York City
Plot: Historical realism
Time: The 1950's to the 1980's
Cesar Castillo (SEH-sahr kahs-TEE-yoh), the novel's protagonist, born and reared in a poor family in Oriente, the eastern section of Cuba. During his childhood, Cesar suffers the violence of his abusive father. In Oriente, Cesar marries Luisa, with whom he has a daughter, Mariela. Their marriage is rather unstable, and after several separations, Cesar finally leaves Luisa permanently and goes to Havana. In 1949, Cesar decides to immigrate to New York City with his brother, Nestor, in the hope of succeeding as a musician. Once in the United States, Cesar and Nestor form the Mambo Kings, an orchestra that enjoys moderate success in dance halls and theaters. Cesar's greatest accomplishment in show business is his appearance on an episode of I Love Lucy in 1955. Soon after, however, Nestor is killed in a car accident. This event changes Cesar's personality; he is transformed from an apparently happy fellow into a sad, alcoholic man who tries to become more like his late brother. As Cesar becomes older and less attractive, his already low self-esteem (only temporarily bolstered by his extreme good looks) begins to worsen, and his life sinks into a series of escapes that finally ends in a melancholic remembrance of his past experiences.
Nestor Castillo, the younger of the two Castillo brothers. He spends most of his life mourning for a lost love named María back in Cuba. Although he is mainly a follower of his brother, Cesar, it is Nestor who composes “Beautiful María of My Soul,” the most popular song of the Mambo Kings' repertoire. In spite of his melancholia, Nestor manages to marry a girl named Delores in New York, and they have two children, Eugenio and Leticia. Nestor tries to overcome his sadness and be a good husband and father, but he is unable to overcome his basically unhappy disposition.
Eugenio Castillo (eh-ew-HEHN-ee-oh), Nestor and Delores' son. Eugenio appears in the novel as a sort of alter ego of the author; his role in the story itself is secondary. Eugenio becomes important to the plot only after his father's death, when he becomes closer to his uncle Cesar. Nevertheless, Eugenio is an important element in the book, because he narrates the prologue and epilogue. In the epilogue, moreover, Eugenio becomes the main character of a brief narrative sequence set in Los Angeles, in which he goes to meet Desi Arnaz after Cesar's death.
Delores Castillo, Nestor's wife. Delores is an interesting woman who, unlike Nestor and Cesar, is eager to study and attend school. She firmly believes that her role as a mother and wife is not in conflict with her impulse to learn from books. This interest in studying is one of the main causes of her marital problems, but she manages most of the time to do what she wants without provoking a major break with Nestor. After Nestor's death, she remarries, to a quiet man who is tolerant of her aspirations.
Desi Arnaz (DEH-seeh ahr-NAHS), a real-life musician from Oriente who became the best-known Cuban entertainer in the United States. In The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love, the fictional Desi invites Cesar and Nestor to appear on his television show. Years later, both Desi and Eugenio recall the past and express sorrow for a life that does not give any meaning to the act of dying.