Chapter summaries Olga Dies Dreaming Xóchitl González

Chapter 23 Summary: Bilingual

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Chapter 23 opens with Olga reflecting on how easy it was to secure her brother Prieto an invitation to the Blumenthal fundraising party. The new Mrs. Blumenthal is a self-declared fan of Prieto, having met him at the Women’s March and posted a selfie with him. Olga’s boyfriend, Dick, a Libertarian, refuses to pay the $10,000 entry fee, which suits Olga’s plan: she wants to arrive separately from Dick so she can be seen as Prieto’s sister, not as Dick’s arm candy.

Olga spends Friday night at Dick’s Hamptons house, a lavish bachelor pad he bought after his divorce. The house feels empty and performative to her, and sex on the kitchen counter leaves her feeling melancholy and then guilty. She realizes that sex with Matteo, her other partner, felt pleasant and free of mutual condescension, while sex with Dick feels hollow. She decides she needs to end things with Dick, ideally nicely.

On Saturday, Prieto picks her up and they drive to Southampton for the benefit. The party is centered around a pool decorated with red and white peonies, with denim tablecloths and a casual Americana vibe—though the backdrop is a $20 million estate. Olga observes Prieto working the room with remarkable skill. He code-switches effortlessly, using hip-hop slang, academic language, and policy talk, and he knows exactly how to connect with each donor—fist-bumping an older white supporter, calling the hostess “Ma,” and respectfully asking after the children of older Black supporters. Olga marvels at his ability to be all facets of himself at once, something she has never mastered.

Prieto gives a speech covering criminal justice reform, EPA funding, marijuana legalization, and his work supporting midterm candidates. During Q&A, a familiar baritone voice interrupts: Reggie King, a hip-hop mogul and former lover of Olga’s. Reggie confronts Prieto about canceling oversight hearings for the PROMESA board, which implements austerity measures in Puerto Rico. He accuses Prieto of ignoring the neocolonial state and the suffering of Puerto Ricans. Prieto defends himself, but Reggie presses, and the crowd grows tense. Olga steps in, cheerfully defusing the situation by praising both men’s passion for Puerto Rico and redirecting guests to speak with them individually.

After the confrontation, Olga and Reggie reconnect. A flashback reveals their two-year relationship from years earlier, when Olga was a recent college graduate and Reggie was a successful music producer. They were more than friends but never fully committed. Olga’s grandmother approved, but her mother was horrified, seeing Reggie as a man who hid his culture. Olga ended the relationship, saying she wasn’t ready. They parted amicably, and Reggie later attended Abuelita’s funeral. Reggie, whose real name is Reggie Reyes, changed his name early in his music career and has since become a vocal advocate for Puerto Rican decolonization, often explaining Afro-Latino identity to the public.

At the party, Reggie tells Olga he came to warn her brother that activists are watching him. He credits Olga with awakening his political consciousness, explaining that her deep knowledge of their culture embarrassed him and led him to read and learn more. He also reveals that his son Carlos grew up disconnected from Puerto Rican identity, which motivated his activism. Reggie warns Olga directly: “I know you love him, but watch your brother.” Olga dismisses the warning, saying they’re all good, but the words linger as she walks away.

Key Events

  • Olga secures Prieto’s invitation to the Blumenthal party; Dick refuses to pay the entry fee.
  • Olga spends Friday night at Dick’s Hamptons house; sex leaves her feeling guilty and convinced she must end the relationship.
  • At the Southampton benefit, Prieto charms donors and delivers a speech on criminal justice, EPA funding, marijuana legalization, and midterm candidates.
  • Reggie King confronts Prieto about canceling PROMESA oversight hearings; Olga defuses the tension.
  • A flashback reveals Olga’s two-year relationship with Reggie and his later advocacy for Puerto Rican decolonization.
  • Reggie warns Olga to watch her brother, implying Prieto may be compromising his principles.

Character Development

Olga undergoes a significant emotional shift in this chapter. Her guilt after sleeping with Dick is not about infidelity but about the stark contrast between sex with Dick and sex with Matteo. She realizes that intimacy without disdain is possible, and this crystallizes her decision to end things with Dick. Her role as mediator at the party shows her ability to navigate social and political tensions, but it also highlights her tendency to smooth over conflicts rather than confront them. Her reflection on Prieto’s code-switching reveals her own struggle with identity—she always has to choose which version of herself to present, while Prieto seems to embody all facets at once.

Prieto is portrayed as a masterful political operator. His ability to code-switch and connect with diverse donors is both impressive and unsettling. The chapter hints that his charm may mask a willingness to compromise on issues like Puerto Rico, as evidenced by his cancellation of the PROMESA hearings. His wink at Olga after she defuses the confrontation suggests he expected her to handle the situation, reinforcing their codependent dynamic.

Reggie King emerges as a foil to Prieto. He has evolved from a man who hid his Puerto Rican heritage to a vocal advocate for decolonization. His confrontation with Prieto is not just political but personal—he sees Prieto’s actions as a betrayal of their shared culture. His warning to Olga indicates that he cares about her and is concerned about her brother’s integrity.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Code-switching and identity are central. Prieto’s linguistic “mezcla” allows him to be all things to all people, but Olga notes she can never do this. This contrast highlights the tension between assimilation and authenticity, and the cost of navigating multiple worlds.

Colonialism and Puerto Rico are explored through the PROMESA confrontation. Reggie’s accusation that Prieto is ignoring the neocolonial state and the suffering of Puerto Ricans underscores the novel’s critique of political compromise and the erasure of colonial violence.

Family loyalty vs. political integrity is a recurring motif. Olga’s instinct to protect her brother, even when he may be wrong, mirrors her broader loyalty to her family. Reggie’s warning suggests that this loyalty may be misplaced.

Guilt and intimacy are examined through Olga’s reaction to sex with Dick. The guilt she feels is not about cheating but about the emptiness of the encounter, which forces her to confront what she actually wants from relationships.

Wealth and class are symbolized by Dick’s Hamptons house, which Olga finds both funny and sad. The house is a lure for his sons, but they rarely visit, highlighting the emptiness of material wealth without genuine connection.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 23 deepens Olga’s internal conflict and sets up future tensions. Her decision to end things with Dick marks a turning point in her personal life, while her encounter with Reggie reintroduces a character who will likely play a larger role in the narrative. The chapter also exposes Prieto’s political compromises, planting seeds for potential conflict between the siblings. The themes of code-switching, colonialism, and family loyalty are woven together, showing how personal and political identities are inseparable. The chapter’s title, “Bilingual,” refers not just to language but to the multiple selves Olga and Prieto must navigate, and it questions whether true authenticity is possible in a world that demands constant performance.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Olga’s reaction to Dick’s Hamptons house and their sexual encounter reflect her emotional state?

Olga finds the house “sexy” in a way that is superficial and ignorant of female pleasure, and she feels a “vacuousness” that sex cannot shake. The encounter leaves her feeling pity for Dick, which she finds unarousing, and then guilt. This guilt is not about infidelity but about the contrast with her relationship with Matteo, where sex felt pleasant and free of condescension. Her reaction reveals that she is emotionally disconnected from Dick and that she is beginning to recognize what she actually wants in intimacy, prompting her decision to end the relationship.

2. What does Prieto’s code-switching reveal about his political strategy and his character?

Prieto’s ability to speak “several languages simultaneously” allows him to connect with diverse donors—fist-bumping a white supporter, calling the hostess “Ma,” and respectfully addressing older Black supporters. This skill is a political asset, but it also suggests a willingness to adapt his identity to fit the audience. Olga notes that he remains “very much himself,” yet the chapter implies that this flexibility may come at a cost, as evidenced by his cancellation of the PROMESA hearings. His strategy is effective but raises questions about whether he is compromising his principles for political gain.

3. Why does Reggie warn Olga to watch her brother, and what does this suggest about Prieto’s integrity?

Reggie warns Olga because he believes Prieto is failing to use his position to address the crisis in Puerto Rico. He accuses Prieto of a “dereliction of duty” and implies that activists are watching him. The warning suggests that Prieto may be prioritizing donor relationships and political advancement over the needs of his constituents. Reggie’s own evolution—from hiding his heritage to advocating for decolonization—positions him as a moral counterpoint to Prieto, and his warning hints that Prieto’s charm may mask a lack of genuine commitment to the causes he claims to support.

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