In the beginning of the book we get to know that he is a loner, the person who lived “for so long far removed from civilization”. His father was an alcoholic who made Esteban suffer terribly, and this was the reason for him to become a teetotaler. His mother was overtaken by chronic sicknesses and their house had been always encompassed by the smell of medicine. Those were the times when his life was occupied by the deterioration of his family, and, accordingly, there was absolutely no understanding between the members of his kin. When Esteban bought a luxury, an elaborate coffee with his money, his sister, Ferula scolded him for “spending Mama’s medicine money on [his] private little whims”. After all, Esteban tires from the pressuring environment in the house which gives him a push in becoming even more violent and aggressive in the future. He leaves to search for a “destiny that was bright, free, and full of promise”.
Esteban Trueba devotes his life to the business, aiming to become rich and powerful. His success builds up thankfully to the labor of the peasants he has at Tres Marias, however he never repays them back and treats them with disrespect or inequality. The most brutal display of Trueba’s power are the many rapes he performs in Las Tres Marias: “…not a girl passed from puberty to adulthood that he did not subject to the woods, the riverbank, or the wrought-iron bed…he began to chase after those from the neighbouring haciendas, take them in the wink of an eye, anywhere he could find a place in the fields.”
However, there was a time when Esteban helped the peasant. He really liked Transito and lent her money to start a new life away from brothels.
Esteban’s attitude toward his sister or mother cannot be described as one of love and care. He sends them money for living, however never attempts to visit them due to unpleasant memories that are still kept in his consciousness. He receives a letter from Ferula which results in inflicting guilt on Esteban, for his lack of morals and complete selfishness. The letter says that their mother wants to see her son the last time before she dies. “Esteban had never really loved his mother or felt at ease in her presence,” however realized that not going to see his mother, to pay his last respects would be awkward and unethical. Esteban understood that visiting “this woman who was always present in his nightmares,” was something he was responsible of doing because sometime in the future regret would overcome the temporary feelings for neither caring nor writing while the person who gave him birth was still alive.
As the family man, Esteban tries to present himself as caring and loving husband, but it doesn’t always work. Esteban’s insensitivity is reflected when he places Barrabas, “transformed into a rug” in Clara’s room, thinking that she might like it, which is inappropriate thing to do. Esteban builds a house which is somewhat ostentatious; he fills it in with all of the expensive furniture to emphasize his prosperity.
Even though he has to go to Tres Marias quiet often, Ferula is always in the house to do all of Clara’s work. Esteban falls in love with Clara, and is possessed by the feeling of obsession. He wants Clara for himself only; his violent temper causes deep tensions in the Trueba family. “He [realizes] that Clara [does] not belong to him,” but still doesn’t know that she will never do.