Bodega Dreams

by

Ernesto Quiñones

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Roberto Vega Character Analysis

Roberto Vega is a 17-year-old boy who’s being anointed at the church Blanca attends. He gives a sermon depicting women as inherently promiscuous people who need to be saved by men. Quiñonez uses Roberto’s sermon to argue that religious values promote misogyny in the Latinx community. Roberto surprises everybody by eloping with Claudia, who’s much older than he is.

Roberto Vega Quotes in Bodega Dreams

The Bodega Dreams quotes below are all either spoken by Roberto Vega or refer to Roberto Vega . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Latinx Immigrants and Broken Dreams Theme Icon
).
Book 2, Round 5 Quotes

“And he loved her. And she, and she—don’t tell me you don’t know what she did. Don't tell me you don’t know that she later left to fornicate with other kings. Don’t tell me you don’t know that she left her king and went with others, and don't tell me you don’t know this princess was called Israel. And she went with other gods and slept with many idols. You still don't know what she did? […] I’ll tell you what she became. You all know what she became, don't tell me you all don't know what she became. She became a harlot! […] A whore! […] A prostitute!”

Related Characters: Roberto Vega (speaker), Julio Mercado, Nancy “Blanca” Saldivia, Claudia , Pastor Velasquez
Page Number: 136
Explanation and Analysis:

They had seen the coming of the Lord. He was coming soon, maybe even that very night. Roberto Vega had told them so. The kingdom of God would arrive, and they would all go to heaven, to the penthouse in the sky. Until then, they would go back home to the rats and roaches.

Related Characters: Julio Mercado (speaker), Nancy “Blanca” Saldivia, Roberto Vega
Page Number: 137
Explanation and Analysis:

He was the Lord’s stud, wanted by sisters in Christ who all hoped to be his chosen.

Related Characters: Julio Mercado (speaker), Nancy “Blanca” Saldivia, Claudia , Roberto Vega
Page Number: 140
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Bodega Dreams LitChart as a printable PDF.
Bodega Dreams PDF

Roberto Vega Quotes in Bodega Dreams

The Bodega Dreams quotes below are all either spoken by Roberto Vega or refer to Roberto Vega . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Latinx Immigrants and Broken Dreams Theme Icon
).
Book 2, Round 5 Quotes

“And he loved her. And she, and she—don’t tell me you don’t know what she did. Don't tell me you don’t know that she later left to fornicate with other kings. Don’t tell me you don’t know that she left her king and went with others, and don't tell me you don’t know this princess was called Israel. And she went with other gods and slept with many idols. You still don't know what she did? […] I’ll tell you what she became. You all know what she became, don't tell me you all don't know what she became. She became a harlot! […] A whore! […] A prostitute!”

Related Characters: Roberto Vega (speaker), Julio Mercado, Nancy “Blanca” Saldivia, Claudia , Pastor Velasquez
Page Number: 136
Explanation and Analysis:

They had seen the coming of the Lord. He was coming soon, maybe even that very night. Roberto Vega had told them so. The kingdom of God would arrive, and they would all go to heaven, to the penthouse in the sky. Until then, they would go back home to the rats and roaches.

Related Characters: Julio Mercado (speaker), Nancy “Blanca” Saldivia, Roberto Vega
Page Number: 137
Explanation and Analysis:

He was the Lord’s stud, wanted by sisters in Christ who all hoped to be his chosen.

Related Characters: Julio Mercado (speaker), Nancy “Blanca” Saldivia, Claudia , Roberto Vega
Page Number: 140
Explanation and Analysis: