Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Circuit, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Change and Instability
Immigrants, Discrimination, and Injustice
Childhood vs. Adulthood
Family and Community
Summary
Analysis
Just before Christmas, Papá decides to move away from Corcoran to look for work. Most of the other laborers have left already, since there’s more work on other farms—but Papá has stayed on at Corcoran, since he feels that he owes the farmer as much for giving his family free accommodation.
While the farmers treat undocumented workers like Papá rather poorly by paying them very little and not allowing them to work when it rains, Papá nevertheless does his part to treat the cotton farmer fairly, which shows that he is a man of honor .
Themes
Although the family will be moving for the third time this year, Francisco is happy to leave. It’s been very rainy at Corcoran, and the family has often had to look for other work, since they can’t pick cotton in the rain. They’re short on money, so they drive into town to look in the dumpsters behind grocery stores for spoiling fruits and vegetables that they can bring home to eat. Mamá asks a butcher for free scraps, saying they’re for the dog. But Francisco suspects that the butcher knows the truth, because he starts leaving more and more meat on the bones.
Francisco usually dislikes moving, since it means he’ll have to get used to a new place all over again. However, he’s looking forward to moving away from Corcoran, which shows how hard things are for the family here. They seem to be on the verge of starvation. Luckily, they encounter some kindness from a butcher in the community, which helps Mamá put food on the table.
Themes
While Francisco’s family is packing to leave Corcoran, a young Mexican couple knocks on their door, and Papá invites them inside. The young man apologetically asks Papá for help, saying that he hasn’t been able to get any work because of the rain, and that his wife is pregnant. He tries to sell Papá a leather wallet, but Papá refuses, explaining that he doesn’t have money either. Francisco is worried when he hears Papá say this. Francisco wants a ball for Christmas, and he doesn’t think he’ll get one if his family is broke.
While Francisco’s family is struggling, there are others who are even worse off than them. Even though Papá does not buy anything from the young man, he nevertheless treats the couple kindly by inviting them inside his home. The adults are preoccupied with their financial worries, but Francisco worries that he might not get the red ball he wants for Christmas. While his worry is not as serious as the adults’ worries about food for their families, it is still heartbreaking since it seems like such a small wish to fulfill.
Themes
However, the young man is desperate for money and tries to sell the wallet for just 25 cents. When Papá still refuses, the man tries to sell an embroidered white handkerchief for 10 cents, saying that his wife embroidered it herself. Papá apologizes but refuses to buy anything. Mamá says that the handkerchief is beautiful, and she reaches out to touch the young pregnant woman on her shoulder and says, “May God bless you.”
Papá and Mamá are clearly in a bad financial position since they are unable to spare even a few cents. The young couple, too, seem to be in a desperate position as they are trying to sell all the treasures they have, which are not really very valuable at all. Still, even though Papá and Mamá can’t help the young couple, they are very kind to them.
Themes
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Just after this, Francisco and his family leave, heading north. As they’re driving out, Francisco spots some of his fourth-grade classmates on the school playground. He dreams of playing with them with the red ball that he hopes he’ll get for Christmas. Francisco waves to the kids, but they do not see him.
Even though Francisco was eager to leave Corcoran, it seems like he will miss his classmates. However, they do not see him when he waves at them, which suggests that people like Francisco and his family—undocumented immigrants, the poor—are overlooked by most people.
Themes
When the family arrives in their new town, they ask around at several places and finally find work at another cotton farm. The farmer gives them a tent to live in, so they spread some cardboard on the floor and then place their mattress on the cardboard. Mamá, Papá, Roberto, Francisco, Trampita, Torito, and Rubén (Mamá and Papá’s newborn baby) all sleep on the mattress together, huddled against the cold.
The family leaves Corcoran hoping to find a better situation, but they struggle to find work and end up living in a tent. In Corcoran, they at least had a cabin to live in. This change turns out to be a disappointing one, just like the family’s initial move from Mexico ended up being disappointing.
Themes
As Christmas approaches, Francisco becomes increasingly anxious. On Christmas Eve, he can barely contain his nervous excitement. After dinner, the children listen to Mamá tell them the story of Jesus’s birth, but Francisco can hardly pay attention because he’s thinking of the ball that he’s hoping to get the next day.
While the family is struggling with their living conditions and the lack of money, Francisco focuses on the red ball he wants for Christmas. He doesn’t seem as concerned with the larger issues, which shows that, as a child, he is focused on his own happiness and desires.
Themes
Late at night, after Mamá thinks the children are asleep, she gets up from bed to wrap their presents. Francisco secretly watches her through a hole in his blanket, and although he can’t see the presents, he notices her tired face and sees that she’s crying as she works.
Despite the serious worries that Mamá is facing, she also seems heartbroken because she is unable to give the children better presents. This is evidence of her deep love for them, since she understands their desires and would like to make them happy.
Themes
Early the next morning, Francisco and his siblings rush to the presents that Mamá left by their shoes. They are disappointed to see that each of them only got a bag of candy. Francisco sees that Mamá’s eyes are full of tears. Just then, Papá produces the white embroidered handkerchief that Mamá admired in Corcoran and gives it to Mamá, wishing her a Merry Christmas.
Francisco does not get the ball he was dreaming of. This is very disappointing, but although he seems too young to recognize this, Mamá’s love for her children is evident in her tears—she is heartbroken that she cannot give them better gifts. Papá’s gift to Mamá (the embroidered handkerchief) seems to signify that he would like to dry her eyes and keep her happy. With this, Jiménez suggests that the love the family shares is a true gift.
Themes
