Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao Flashcards

Oscar de León: A fat, nerdy outcast searching for love, representing a departure from traditional Dominican masculinity.
Lola de León: Oscar’s sister and narrator of one chapter, she provides a personal perspective on their family's struggles.
Hypatía Belicia Cabral-de León (Beli): Tough mother of Oscar and Lola, raised by La Inca after being orphaned; her harsh parenting leads to complex family dynamics.
Yunior: Introduced later in the story, he is Oscar's college roommate and unreliable narrator who complicates relationships with different women.
La Inca: Belicia's adoptive mother living in the Dominican Republic, representing familial roots and support.
Tío Rudolfo: Drug-addicted uncle living with the family in New Jersey, highlighting the family’s struggles with addiction.
Tía Rubelka: Aunt who assists Belicia with household duties, representing family solidarity during hard times.

Maritza Chacón: Oscar's childhood girlfriend, known for her beauty and troubled adult life.
Ana Obregón: Oscar's first serious love, whose relationship is complicated by her older boyfriend, Manny.
Aldo: Lola's first love when she runs away; represents her rebellious phase.
Max Sánchez: Lola's boyfriend in Santo Domingo whose tragic death affects her deeply.
Ybón Pimentel: Semiretired prostitute who becomes a romantic interest for Oscar, illustrating his unfulfilled desires.

Trujillo's Regime: Characters like Abelard, a doctor, face persecution from the dictatorship, reflecting the oppressive political environment of the Dominican Republic.
Familial Legacy: The struggles of the de León family are intertwined with historical trauma and individual aspirations, as seen through multiple generations.
Cultural Identity: Characters frequently grapple with their Dominican heritage against the backdrop of American life, highlighting a sense of dislocation and conflict.

Violence and Abuse: Central to Belicia's story are themes of domestic violence and systemic abuse, particularly highlighted by her relationships with men connected to political power.
Fukú: The concept of a curse that haunts the family, symbolizing both personal and historical misfortune.

Unreliable Narration: Yunior’s embellishments shape the reader’s understanding of events and characters, inviting skepticism about his perspective.
Multiple Viewpoints: The shifting narratives from different characters enrich the story, allowing for a multifaceted view of trauma and resilience.

Literary Quotes: Selections from Baudrillard and Lyotard introduce philosophical musings on representation and knowledge in contemporary society, paralleling the characters’ search for identity in a fractured world.

Life in Diaspora: The immigrant experience is central, alongside interactions with the cultural landscape of New Jersey versus the Dominican Republic.
Generational Trauma: The impact of past hurts and the quest for understanding in a family marked by history shapes individual paths and relationships throughout the narrative.