Before We Were Free

by

Julia Alvarez

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Before We Were Free makes teaching easy.

Chucha Character Analysis

Chucha is Anita’s family’s housekeeper, who is originally from Haiti. She’s been with the family since Papi was a baby and the family trusts her with everything. Chucha sleeps in a coffin to prepare for the next life, and she made a promise to some unknown person or entity that she’d wear nothing but purple. She also has dreams that tell her the future. All of this gives her a mystical and sometimes frightening air. Chucha is fond of proverbs and sayings, many of which Anita adopts as her own as she comes to understand their value. She also relies heavily on Chucha for comfort—and for information as the situation in the Dominican Republic gets increasingly dire and Chucha proves to be one of the only adults who will tell her things, albeit by speaking in riddles. Chucha prepares Anita cryptically for the possibility that she will have to leave the country and that Papi might die. And when Anita gets her period, Chucha is the person she immediately tells. Following Trujillo’s assassination, when Papi is arrested and Mami and Anita go into hiding at the Mancinis’ house, Chucha takes a job at a local grocery store. From there, though she isn’t supposed to know where Anita is, she manages to pass messages to Anita to prepare her for the next stage of her journey. Though it’s unclear by the end of the novel if Anita is going to see Chucha again, Anita thinks often of Chucha’s sayings and spirituality. As she does, Anita is able to vow to try to be happy again.

Chucha Quotes in Before We Were Free

The Before We Were Free quotes below are all either spoken by Chucha or refer to Chucha. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Coming of Age and Political Consciousness Theme Icon
).
Chapter Two Quotes

“Are they really policemen?” I keep asking Mami. It doesn’t make any sense. If the SIM are policemen, secret or not, shouldn’t we trust them instead of being afraid of them? But all Mami will say is “Shhh!” Meanwhile, we can’t go to school because something might happen to us. “Like what?” I ask. Like what Chucha said about people disappearing? Is that what Mami worries will happen to us? “Didn’t Papi say we should carry on with normal life?”

Related Characters: Anita (speaker), Mami, Papi, Chucha
Page Number: 17
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Six Quotes

I admit I feel mean participating in this scheme—but I also understand that our lives are in danger. A tip from Lorena could wipe us out. It’s so unfair to have to live in a country where you have to do stuff you feel bad about in order to save your life. It’s like Papi and Tío Toni planning to assassinate Mr. Smith when they know that murder is wrong. But what if your leader is evil and rapes young girls and kills loads of innocent people and makes your country a place where not even butterflies are safe?

Related Characters: Anita (speaker), Papi, Chucha, Trujillo/El Jefe/Mr. Smith, Tío Toni, Lorena
Related Symbols: Butterflies and Flight
Page Number: 75
Explanation and Analysis:
Anita’s Diary Quotes

Today’s note was just to me. I guess from his hiding place, Mundín caught a glimpse of María de los Santos sitting in the gallery with some young fellow, and he wants to know what I know.

I couldn’t believe that Mundín was thinking about a girlfriend at a time like this!

But then... I’m thinking a lot about Oscar! As Chucha would say, the hunchback laughing at the camel’s hump!

Related Characters: Anita (speaker), Chucha, Mundín, María de los Santos
Page Number: 117
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Eleven Quotes

I guess I finally understand what [Chucha] and Papi meant by wanting me to fly. It was like the metaphors Mrs. Brown was always talking about. To be free inside, like an uncaged bird. Then nothing, not even a dictatorship, can take away your liberty.

Related Characters: Anita (speaker), Papi, Chucha, Oscar Mancini, Mrs. Brown
Related Symbols: Butterflies and Flight
Page Number: 160
Explanation and Analysis:

But now that Papi is dead, it doesn’t seem so scary to die. Sometimes, I think it’s scarier to be alive, especially when you feel that you’ll never be as happy and carefree as when you were a little kid. But I keep remembering Chucha’s dream. She saw us sprouting wings, flying up and away. It has to mean more than our coming to the United States. After all, as Chucha herself would say, what good is it to escape captivity only to be imprisoned in your own misery?

Related Characters: Anita (speaker), Papi, Chucha
Related Symbols: Butterflies and Flight
Page Number: 162
Explanation and Analysis:

What I see as I look down aren’t angels but butterflies, the arm swings connecting to the leg swings like a pair of wings, our heads poking out in between! I’m sure if Chucha were here, she would say they are a sign. Four butterflies from Papi, reminding me to fly.

I close my eyes, but instead of making a wish, I think about Papi and Tío Toni and their friends who died to make us all free. The emptiness inside starts filling with a strong love and a brave pride.

Okay, Papi, I say, I promise I’ll try.

Related Characters: Anita (speaker), Papi, Chucha
Related Symbols: Butterflies and Flight
Page Number: 163
Explanation and Analysis:
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Before We Were Free PDF

Chucha Quotes in Before We Were Free

The Before We Were Free quotes below are all either spoken by Chucha or refer to Chucha. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Coming of Age and Political Consciousness Theme Icon
).
Chapter Two Quotes

“Are they really policemen?” I keep asking Mami. It doesn’t make any sense. If the SIM are policemen, secret or not, shouldn’t we trust them instead of being afraid of them? But all Mami will say is “Shhh!” Meanwhile, we can’t go to school because something might happen to us. “Like what?” I ask. Like what Chucha said about people disappearing? Is that what Mami worries will happen to us? “Didn’t Papi say we should carry on with normal life?”

Related Characters: Anita (speaker), Mami, Papi, Chucha
Page Number: 17
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Six Quotes

I admit I feel mean participating in this scheme—but I also understand that our lives are in danger. A tip from Lorena could wipe us out. It’s so unfair to have to live in a country where you have to do stuff you feel bad about in order to save your life. It’s like Papi and Tío Toni planning to assassinate Mr. Smith when they know that murder is wrong. But what if your leader is evil and rapes young girls and kills loads of innocent people and makes your country a place where not even butterflies are safe?

Related Characters: Anita (speaker), Papi, Chucha, Trujillo/El Jefe/Mr. Smith, Tío Toni, Lorena
Related Symbols: Butterflies and Flight
Page Number: 75
Explanation and Analysis:
Anita’s Diary Quotes

Today’s note was just to me. I guess from his hiding place, Mundín caught a glimpse of María de los Santos sitting in the gallery with some young fellow, and he wants to know what I know.

I couldn’t believe that Mundín was thinking about a girlfriend at a time like this!

But then... I’m thinking a lot about Oscar! As Chucha would say, the hunchback laughing at the camel’s hump!

Related Characters: Anita (speaker), Chucha, Mundín, María de los Santos
Page Number: 117
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter Eleven Quotes

I guess I finally understand what [Chucha] and Papi meant by wanting me to fly. It was like the metaphors Mrs. Brown was always talking about. To be free inside, like an uncaged bird. Then nothing, not even a dictatorship, can take away your liberty.

Related Characters: Anita (speaker), Papi, Chucha, Oscar Mancini, Mrs. Brown
Related Symbols: Butterflies and Flight
Page Number: 160
Explanation and Analysis:

But now that Papi is dead, it doesn’t seem so scary to die. Sometimes, I think it’s scarier to be alive, especially when you feel that you’ll never be as happy and carefree as when you were a little kid. But I keep remembering Chucha’s dream. She saw us sprouting wings, flying up and away. It has to mean more than our coming to the United States. After all, as Chucha herself would say, what good is it to escape captivity only to be imprisoned in your own misery?

Related Characters: Anita (speaker), Papi, Chucha
Related Symbols: Butterflies and Flight
Page Number: 162
Explanation and Analysis:

What I see as I look down aren’t angels but butterflies, the arm swings connecting to the leg swings like a pair of wings, our heads poking out in between! I’m sure if Chucha were here, she would say they are a sign. Four butterflies from Papi, reminding me to fly.

I close my eyes, but instead of making a wish, I think about Papi and Tío Toni and their friends who died to make us all free. The emptiness inside starts filling with a strong love and a brave pride.

Okay, Papi, I say, I promise I’ll try.

Related Characters: Anita (speaker), Papi, Chucha
Related Symbols: Butterflies and Flight
Page Number: 163
Explanation and Analysis: