- The Madrigal family consists of Abuela and Abuelo, the Triplets, and their children.
- Colombian families are very close, generally more conservative, and tend to be very protective of their children, regardless of age.
- Encanto portrays Colombian culture, history, and struggles of Colombian families.
- Madrigal Family characters break boundaries and encourage diversity in mainstream media.
In Disney’s latest animated musical, Encanto, the Madrigal family is at the center of the story. The whimsy characters, their magic family history, and their unique gifts and challenges reflect their family history and Colombian culture. In this blog post, we’ll explore the Madrigal family tree in the context of Colombian culture and history.
An Overview of the Madrigal Family Tree
The Madrigal family tree presented in the movie gives an overview of the generations and their position in the family tree.
Alma and Pedro Madrigal
Alma and Pedro are the oldest members of the Encanto Madrigal family tree. Alma Madrigal, or Abuela, is married to the love of her life, Pedro Madrigal. He sacrificed himself to save his family when their village was under attack.
Alma escaped with their triplets – Julieta, Pepa, and Bruno (each receiving a magical gift), and the miracle candle that gave them a magical house – Casita. Abuela is the head of the family who keeps the enchanted candle burning and keeps the family safe.
The Triplets
The second generation in the Family Madrigal Tree is the triplets. Julieta Madrigal, the oldest, is married to Agustín, and they have three daughters – Isabela, Luisa, and Mirabel. Her magical power is to use her food to heal.
Pepa Madrigal is the second triplet with weather controlling power. Clouds and rain often surround her as a manifestation of her typically emotional mood changes. She is married to Felix, who is positive and warm, and they have three children – Dolores, Camilo, and Antonio.
The youngest triplet, Bruno Madrigal, is a misunderstood character who spends many years hiding in the house’s walls. His power is to have predictions of the future, which are deeply feared as they are perceived as always dark. That is why he escapes the family but is brought back with the help of his niece Maribel, the youngest daughter of Julieta.
The Third Madrigal Family Tree Branch – Isabela, Luisa, and Mirabel Madrigal
Isabela, Luisa, and Mirabel are the daughters of Julieta and Agustín, each with a distinct personality and strong individuality.
The oldest one, Isabela Madrigal, is portrayed as the golden child, going through big personality development and managing to become her true self. Isalbela Encanto has the power to create the most beautiful flowers with just a flick of her hand and is the personification of beauty and grace.
The second-oldest daughter carrying the power of super strength is Luisa. She always helps out her family and the whole village.
And the youngest daughter is Mirabel, the only Madrigal family member with no magical gift. She is the “black sheep” of this family generation, like her uncle Bruno. By the end of the movie, she is the one that saves the day and her family, so we discover that she is the glue keeping the family together, and that is her gift.
Dolores, Camilo, and Antonio Madrigal
Dolores, Camilo, and Antonio have different ages, powers, and personalities. Dolores is the oldest and has a superhuman hearing gift. He can hear whispers from across the village. Camilo is a shape-shifter, and we see a few comic moments of him changing into another person. Antonio is the youngest in the family and has a magical gift for communicating with animals. He is also very close to Mirabel.
Colombian Family Structures and Traditions
Understanding Colombian culture is the key to understanding the importance of the Madrigal family tree. Columbians perceive the family as the core element of society. This is the reason even extended families are super close and remain close throughout their lives. Colombian families lean toward the conservative side and tend to be very protective of their children, regardless of their age.
For example, how old is Isabela in Encanto does not mean that she can ignore her family’s wishes. She was about to get engaged to a person selected and approved by her family, which we later discover is not her desire. In addition, Colombian families are very proud of their family name and house proud as well. This is seen from the way Casita and the Madrigal family tree are presented in the movie.
Historical and Political Context
Columbia’s invasion and conquest started in 1499 and lasted until 1550. Those long years of Colonization of Colombia were then prolonged with more negative events, such as the 16th and 17th-century slavery when Columbian enslaved people were exchanged for 200 to 400 silver pesos.
Columbia has a rich history, including negative events that traumatized and shaped the culture in a way to respect family values and traditions even more. In Columbia, there is a very expressed social inequality which can be seen in the background of Encanto’s Abuela character. She is always worried about losing everything again and also being overly protective of the family Madrigal tree.
Diversity and Representation in Encanto
The portrayal of the Madrigal family tree in Encanto is a very significant representation of the Latinx community more inclusively and openly in the mainstream media.
The diversity and boldness of the characters are seen in Isabela from Encanto, who breaks boundaries, and Luisa, who shatters stereotypes of a female’s appearance.
Family Values and Dynamics
Encanto deals with strong family values and the closeness of all family members. In addition, in the Madrigal family tree dynamics, there are moments where the closeness goes in another direction, and family members tend to one’s decisions, such as choosing a suitor for Isabella Encanto.
She plans to go through with it out of respect for her family. Ultimately, once she finds her identity and breaks from the pressure of being perfect, everyone seems to support her, especially her younger sister Maribel. With the help of Encanto Isabela and Maribel’s relationship, which starts negatively and ends in mutual understanding and unquestionable support, we can see how deep the family Madrigal tree connections are.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Madrigal family tree in Encanto is a rich and complex representation of Colombian culture and history. By exploring the family’s gifts, challenges, and roots, we gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and historical context of the movie. Encanto’s representation of Colombian family structures and traditions and its emphasis on diversity and representation set an example for future mainstream media to follow.
