The Circuit
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Under the Wire Soledad Inside Out Miracle in Tent City El Angel de Oro Christmas Gift Death Forgiven Cotton Sack The Circuit Learning the Game To Have and to Hold Moving Still
Themes
All Themes Change and Instability Immigrants, Discrimination, and Injustice Childhood vs. Adulthood Family and Community
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Francisco Roberto Papá Mamá Mr. Sims Mr. Lema Miss Scalapino Carlos Mr. Diaz Gabriel Trampita Torito Rorra Carl Arthur Curtis Miguelito Manuelito Fito Ito Chico Sullivan Mr. Patrini Mrs. Martin Miss Ehlis El Perico
Terms
All Terms Bracero
Symbols
All Symbols Caterpillars and Butterflies The Goldfish
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The Circuit

by

Francisco Jiménez
Download this LitChart! (PDF)
Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Circuit makes teaching easy.

Gabriel Character Analysis

Gabriel is a bracero from Mexico who works on the strawberry farm with Francisco and his family one spring. Gabriel is young and hardworking, and Francisco comes to like him a lot. Gabriel’s labor contractor, Mr. Diaz, charges him too much for his room and board and also treats him poorly. One day, Diaz insists that Gabriel must tie a plow around his waist to till a field. Gabriel refuses to do this, saying that only farm animals do this kind of work in Mexico. Diaz is furious when Gabriel doesn’t obey him and pushes him to the ground and begins to kick him. Gabriel jumps up and charges at Diaz, but he doesn’t hit him—he says that Diaz can’t take away his dignity. Diaz looks frightened and drives away, and later, Francisco hears that Diaz fired Gabriel and sent him back to Mexico. Gabriel is poor, but he refuses to be pushed around, and Francisco finds this inspiring. He finds the courage to stand up against Carlos, an older boy who bullies him, after he witnesses Gabriel’s bravery. Gabriel’s character also shows readers that braceros in the United States had to deal with many problems like difficult working conditions and unfair employers.

Gabriel Quotes in The Circuit

The The Circuit quotes below are all either spoken by Gabriel or refer to Gabriel. 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:
Change and Instability Theme Icon
).
Learning the Game Quotes

The contratista walked up to Gabriel and yelled in his face, “Well this isn’t your country, idiot! You either do what I say or I’ll have you fired!”

“Don’t do that, please,” Gabriel said. “I have a family to feed.”

“I don’t give a damn about your family!” the contratista replied, grabbing Gabriel by the shirt collar and pushing him. […] As he hit the ground, the contratista kicked him in the side with the tip of his boot. Gabriel sprung up and, with both hands clenched, lunged at the contratista. White as a ghost, Diaz quickly jumped back. [...]

I felt scared. I had not seen men fight before. My mouth felt dry and my hands and legs began to shake.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Mr. Diaz (speaker), Gabriel (speaker)
Immigrants, Discrimination, and Injustice Theme Icon
Childhood vs. Adulthood Theme Icon
Page Number: 91-92
Explanation and Analysis:
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The Circuit PDF

Gabriel Quotes in The Circuit

The The Circuit quotes below are all either spoken by Gabriel or refer to Gabriel. 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:
Change and Instability Theme Icon
).
Learning the Game Quotes

The contratista walked up to Gabriel and yelled in his face, “Well this isn’t your country, idiot! You either do what I say or I’ll have you fired!”

“Don’t do that, please,” Gabriel said. “I have a family to feed.”

“I don’t give a damn about your family!” the contratista replied, grabbing Gabriel by the shirt collar and pushing him. […] As he hit the ground, the contratista kicked him in the side with the tip of his boot. Gabriel sprung up and, with both hands clenched, lunged at the contratista. White as a ghost, Diaz quickly jumped back. [...]

I felt scared. I had not seen men fight before. My mouth felt dry and my hands and legs began to shake.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Mr. Diaz (speaker), Gabriel (speaker)
Immigrants, Discrimination, and Injustice Theme Icon
Childhood vs. Adulthood Theme Icon
Page Number: 91-92
Explanation and Analysis:
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