Ausencia Santander Character Analysis in Love in the Time of Cholera

Florentino meets Ausencia Santander through Captain Rosendo de la Rosa. Ausencia, who is almost fifty years old and is separated from her husband, subverts all of Florentino’s theories about love. She inspires both frustration and pleasure in him by focusing exclusively on her own pleasure during the sexual act, thus giving Florentino the feeling that she uses him. However, they become long-term lovers. Once, during their love-making, her beautiful apartment (which Florentino admires) is robbed. It is only once Florentino discovers that he can meet potential partners on the trolley that, after seven years, he puts an end to their relationship.

Ausencia Santander Character Timeline in Love in the Time of Cholera

The timeline below shows where the character Ausencia Santander appears in Love in the Time of Cholera. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Social Norms vs. Personal Fulfillment Theme Icon

...passionate and energetic during sexual relations. Although Florentino had planned on writing about these theories, Ausencia Santander soon proves that theories about love are completely futile, since they can so easily... (full context)

After 20 years of marriage, Ausencia Santander and her husband have separated. She now has a regular lover, Rosendo de la... (full context)

At 50 years old, Ausencia is an expert in love-making. She always welcomes Florentino naked, even though he never announces... (full context)

After two weeks, when Ausencia lets him kiss her before undressing him, Florentino knows that she has developed feelings for... (full context)

Florentino beings to see Ausencia less, not because of the desolation of her house but because he has discovered that... (full context)