Ramona
Raised by Gonzaga Moreno, Ramona is an orphan with mixed Scottish and Native American ancestry. Her original foster mother told Moreno that she wanted Ramona to have everything she wanted, and Moreno followed that wish. Ramona, however, realizes that Moreno does not truly love her because of her Native American heritage. Ramona falls in love with the full-blood Native American Alessandro and elopes with him in California.
Gonzaga Moreno
Ramona's foster mother, Moreno has the utmost respect for her. Because of the initial request by Ramona's foster mother, Moreno gives Ramona practically everything that she wants. However, she does not truly love her foster daughter because she is part Native American.
Gonzaga is a Mexican and a survivor of the Mexican-American War. She doesn't like Native Americans because they took her land, which, in truth, should be theirs.
Alessandro
Alessandro is a full-blood Native American, and the son of a Native American chief. He is the lover of Romana and the two eventually elope to get married. The two have a child together and their struggles are chronicled throughout the novel. Alessandro's land is taken away by white men on numerous occasions and he is threatened to be shot. By the end of the novel, Alessandro is shot by an American and Romana is left alone.
