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.

Mr. Diaz Character Analysis

Mr. Diaz is a labor contractor in Santa Maria, California, who arranges for braceros to work in the farms there. He treats one of the braceros named Gabriel very poorly. Francisco first hears Diaz ordering Gabriel around, and he then hears from Gabriel that Diaz is a cheat who charges him too much for room and board. One day, Diaz asks Gabriel to tie a plow around his waist and till the field. Gabriel refuses to do this since in Mexico, only farm animals do this kind of work. Diaz is furious and throws Gabriel to the ground and kicks him. When Gabriel angrily jumps to his feet and charges at him, Diaz is frightened and drives away. Francisco sees that Diaz is a bully, and inspired by seeing Gabriel fight back, Francisco, too, finds the courage to fight back against Carlos, an older boy who bullies Francisco. After this incident, Diaz fires Gabriel and Gabriel has to return to Mexico. Through the character of Diaz, Jiménez shows that many braceros struggled in the United States with unfair working conditions and labor contractors who mistreated and cheated them.

Mr. Diaz Quotes in The Circuit

The The Circuit quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Diaz or refer to Mr. Diaz. 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

Mr. Diaz Quotes in The Circuit

The The Circuit quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Diaz or refer to Mr. Diaz. 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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