Zelia Character Analysis in The Round House

Zelia is a Mexican-American girl and devout Catholic whom Cappy meets while she is on a summer mission trip to the reservation. Zelia is extremely beautiful and she and Cappy fall in love after Cappy courts her by attending the church’s youth group. Zelia and Cappy have sex in the graveyard and in the church basement before Zelia returns to Montana. She helps open Cappy up to religion, teaching him about the rapture and encouraging him to go to confession. Zelia corresponds with Cappy via letters until her parents find out and send Cappy a threatening letter, instructing him to stop speaking to their daughter. It is this letter that compels Cappy, Angus, Zack, and Joe to drive to Montana, where they get in a car accident that kills Cappy.

Zelia Character Timeline in The Round House

The timeline below shows where the character Zelia appears in The Round House. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Chippewa Tradition vs. Catholicism Theme Icon

Parenthood, Foster Families, and Coming of Age Theme Icon

...found God when Father Travis returns with Angus. Joe looks over at the beautiful girl, Zelia, who is looking at Cappy. Joe thinks that she has fallen in love with Cappy. (full context)

Later that afternoon, the boys join the youth group in order to hang out with Zelia. Joe, Angus, and Zack watch Cappy and Zelia flirt, knowing that they have no chance... (full context)

Land, the Judicial System, and Justice Theme Icon

...them. Near the church, Joe finds Zack and Angus, who tell him that Cappy and Zelia have a date in the graveyard that night. Joe, Zack, and Angus all ride back... (full context)

Women, Bigotry, and Sexual Violence Theme Icon

...finds Cappy slumped in a lawn chair. When Joe greets Cappy, Cappy tells Joe that Zelia returned to her hometown. Cappy then divulges that they did “everything” in the graveyard the... (full context)

...both trying to blow off steam. Cappy tells Joe about a letter he received from Zelia and says that he needs to get a stamp for the letter he wrote in... (full context)

...Cappy and lifts him up. The boys assume that Cappy confessed to having sex with Zelia in the church basement. Joe implores Father Travis to let Cappy down, telling him Cappy... (full context)

...and beer and take valium. Cappy swallows a pill and takes out a photo of Zelia and holds it to his forehead, then tells the photo “I miss you too, baby.”... (full context)

...reminisce about how Father Travis chased Cappy around after his confession about having sex with Zelia. Joe brings up the possibly of Zelia having gotten pregnant, and Cappy says that he... (full context)

...tell Joe that Cappy has gone into the post office to get a letter from Zelia. Joe goes inside and finds Cappy sitting in the back, looking downtrodden and smoking. Cappy... (full context)