Nagual Character Analysis in Summer of the Mariposas

The nagual is a crafty warlock sent by Cecilia to punish the Garza sisters for insulting her. He appears to the girls disguised as a donkey, manipulating Pita’s childlike trust and leading them to his cave. There, he transforms into a man in a black robe, intending to sacrifice the sisters in order to free himself from the curse that keeps him bound to the cave. He is very afraid of Tonantzin, whose appearance sends him, panicking, to his death. The character of the nagual parallels the whirlpool Charybdis in Homer’s Odyssey.

Nagual Character Timeline in Summer of the Mariposas

The timeline below shows where the character Nagual appears in Summer of the Mariposas. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

According to Teresita, the girls will have to face the nagual (a warlock in disguise who can be defeated by a song from their childhood), lechuzas... (full context)

...stop her sisters, questioning where the donkey came from and suggesting he might be the nagual in disguise, like Teresita said. Juanita dismisses the old woman’s warnings, but Odilia protests, saying... (full context)

...suddenly bolting across a field, dragging the wagon behind him. Fearing that this is the nagual Teresita mentioned, Odilia races after them, trying to remember what kind of song will defeat... (full context)

...a deep voice, exhorting them to listen to Pita. Odilia shouts that he is the nagual and tries to rally her sisters to run away. The donkey begins to chant a... (full context)

Ancestral and Cultural Appreciation Theme Icon

Odilia wakes in the nagual’s cave to see that she and her sisters are tied up, lying on a dirt... (full context)

...the cave and the rain that Teresita mentioned, but nothing comes to her. While the nagual is distracted, she frees her right hand from the ropes and spins the ear pendant.... (full context)

...a teenager at once; Juanita calls her La Virgen de la Cueva and bows. The nagual addresses her as Tonantzin, begging her forgiveness. Tonantzin tells the nagual he was warned that... (full context)

...again in the dark. While they walk, they discuss what happened with Tonantzin in the nagual’s cave. Odilia is grateful that her sisters finally believe her story about La Llorona and... (full context)