Fermina Daza’s aunt serves as a mother figure in Fermina’s life. She raises the young girl as a child. A quiet, reserved woman who has taken religious vows, Escolástica nevertheless proves supportive of Fermina’s youthful adventure with Florentino Ariza, since Escolástica regrets having lost a youthful love of her own. Despite Escolástica’s important role in Fermina’s life, Lorenzo Daza cruelly sends her back to Spain as soon as he realizes that she was aware of Fermina’s exchange of letters with Florentino. This causes Fermina intense grief. Escolástica ultimately ends up in a leprosarium in Spain.