Isaura was born in 1835, in the farm of Commender Almeida. She is the daughter of the slave Juliana and the tenant of the farm, Miguel. Juliana dies right after the birth, because she denied going to bed with the Commender. He whips her to death in revenge. So, Isaura is raised and educated by Gertrudes, wife of the Commender, who always wanted to have a daughter. In spite of her excellent education and the white skin, Isaura, as a daughter of a slave,will always be treated as a slave.