The Farming Of Bones

Sebastien Onius is a handsome, strong, sugarcane worker who is dating Amabelle Désir. His father was killed in a hurricane when he was a child and the memories of his dead father’s body haunt him constantly. He does not trust the ruling class in the Dominican Republic. His love for Amabelle is palpable. He remains a loyal friend, lover, brother, and son throughout the novel. 

Señora Valencia is a well-to-do woman who can be both compassionate and curt. When Amabelle and Valencia were children, she often balked societal norms and shared everything with her lower-class friend. Later in life, she talks down to Amabelle and expects her to be superhuman, but then dedicates years to trying to reconcile with Amabelle after the massacre. She does not approve of many of things Señor Pico, her husband, does, but she constantly glosses over his evil tendencies by stating he is a “good man” (138). She is a doting and loving mother who prefers to spend most of her time with her child instead of her husband. 

Señor Pico Duarte is Señora Valencia’s inhumane husband who has “honey-almond skin” and a short stature (35). Throughout the novel, Pico proves that he is evil and selfish. He rarely treats his wife or daughter with respect. When he kills Joël by driving too fast on the way home to meet his children, he does not care enough to help the man he hit and does not appear to feel guilty about the incident at any point. The way he talks to the sugarcane workers, as well as the way he smashes the cups that the workers have used, demonstrates his xenophobia. His main mission in life appears to be to spread military-sanctioned violence. 

Señora Rosalinda is Señora Valencia’s highly-revered mother who dies attempting to give birth to Valencia’s sibling. She is remembered as a kind and loving mother who treated everyone as equals.

Rafael is Señora Valencia and Señor Pico’s son, as well as Rosalinda Theresa’s twin. He is born more robust and lighter skinned than Rosalinda; this, along with Rafi being male, aligns with him with both his father and Dominican nationalism. He dies shortly after birth; the act of his death is one of the novel’s last major plot points prior to the massacre.

Rosalinda Theresa is Señora Valencia and Señor Pico’s daughter. She is named after Señora Valencia’s mother. She is born darker and smaller than her twin. Despite others’ anxiety about her ability to survive, she goes on to thrive.

Most often referred to as Papi, Don Ignacio is Señora Valencia’s father. He is an exiled Spanish ex-pat who is obsessed with the Spanish Civil War. He is described as old, phlegmatic, and kind. He feels guilty about his role in Joël’s death and is disgusted by his son-in-law, Pico, and the military state present in the Dominican Republic. 

Irelle Pradelle is Amabelle’s mother. She’s known for being somber and conservative with her love. She drowned trying to cross the river with Amabelle’s father when Amabelle was quite young. She often makes out-of-character appearances in Amabelle’s dreams. 

Antoine Désir is Amabelle’s father. Amabelle remembers him as being jovial, sometimes to the point of excess. Amabelle cites his foolishness as the reason her parents drowned. She often expresses resentment towards him for being too gratuitous with his love.

The Generalissimo is the head of the Dominican Republic during the 1930s, He is a hero to Señor Pico. He has a shrill voice and genocidal tendencies, having ordered the mass murder of thousands of Haitians. He ruled the Dominican Republic from 1930 until his assassination in 1961. 

Kongo is Joël’s father, tasked with preparing and paying for his son’s funeral after he is killed. He is referred to as “the most respected elder,” and his advice consistently proves wise (62).

Yves is Sebastien’s childhood friend and roommate who is present when Joël is killed and helps Sebastien and Kongo deal with the dead body. He has a huge Adam’s apple and a shaved head. He is supportive of Sebastien and Amabelle’s relationship and tries to help Amabelle find her lover and his best friend. He and Amabelle have a distant and awkward relationship though do remain together. 

Unèl is a stonemason. He is one of the middle-class Haitians living in the Dominican Republic at the time of the massacre. He is the initiator of the night-time brigade and unwilling to bend when Señor Pico threatens him. He ends up being killed by Señor Pico.

Father Romain is a young priest who is from the same place, Cap Haitien, as Amabelle. He starts out full of zest, but after his imprisonment, he temporarily loses his mind. By the end of the book, he has given up his priesthood and become a husband and dad.

Odette escapes from a large mill with her lover, Wilner. She is part of the large group of Haitians traveling to the border that Amabelle and Yves end up joining. Odette ends up helping save their lives and dies while attempting to cross a river. Wilner’s prudence makes him the leader of the group. He ends up getting shot and killed when they attempt to cross the river.

Tibon is part of a large group of Haitians who are attempting to travel to the border. He has survived several attempts on his life by the time Amabelle meets him. He has one shriveled arm and one strong one. Amabelle grows close to him quickly. He is killed in Dajabon.

Man Rapadou is Yves’s mother. She is a large, hairy, loving woman. She is very kind to Amabelle. She eventually reveals to Amabelle that she killed Yves’s father because his role as an informant was going to get several others killed.