Isaura was born in 1835 on the farm of Commander Almeida. She is the daughter of the slave Juliana and the tenant of the farm, Miguel. Juliana dies shortly after giving birth because she refused to sleep with the Commander. He whips her to death in revenge. Thus, Isaura is raised and educated by Gertrudes, the Commander's wife, who always wanted to have a daughter. Despite her excellent education and fair skin, Isaura, as the daughter of a slave, will always be treated as a slave.