The Circuit

by

Francisco Jiménez

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Caterpillars and Butterflies Symbol Analysis

Caterpillars and Butterflies Symbol Icon

The caterpillar, which turns into a butterfly, symbolizes Francisco’s potential as a newcomer in the U.S. In the story “Inside Out,” Francisco attends school for the first time, and he struggles because he doesn’t understand any English. This makes Francisco feel ashamed and alienated from his English-speaking peers. He finds comfort in staring at a caterpillar that his teacher, Miss Scalapino, keeps in a glass jar in their classroom—Francisco seems to feel a connection with the caterpillar because they both have great potential that they haven’t yet reached.

Later in the school year, Miss Scalapino gives Francisco a prize for a drawing he makes, and he is delighted. That same afternoon, he sees the butterfly emerging out of its cocoon in the glass jar: the caterpillar has undergone metamorphosis. This parallel suggests that the positive experience of winning a prize for his art helps Francisco break out of his symbolic cocoon and undergo a kind of metamorphosis himself. Much like the caterpillar in the jar, Francisco needed care and attention to fulfill his potential—without it, he would have continued feeling alienated and inferior at school. Miss Scalapino gives him the honor of releasing the butterfly into the world, and the butterfly’s flight symbolizes that Francisco, too, now feels capable of success. His positive experience at school helps him to transform into a more confident student, just like the caterpillar transformed into the butterfly.

Caterpillars and Butterflies Quotes in The Circuit

The The Circuit quotes below all refer to the symbol of Caterpillars and Butterflies. 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
).
Inside Out Quotes

I did not understand what she said, but I heard her say my name as she held up a blue ribbon. She then picked up my drawing of the butterfly […] and held it up for everyone to see. She walked up to me and handed me the drawing and the silk blue ribbon that had a number one printed on it in gold. I knew then I had received first prize for my drawing. I was so proud I felt like bursting out of my skin. […]

That afternoon, during our free period, I went over to check on the caterpillar. I turned the jar around, trying to see the cocoon. It was beginning to crack open.

Related Characters: Francisco (speaker), Miss Scalapino
Related Symbols: Caterpillars and Butterflies
Page Number: 24-25
Explanation and Analysis:
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Caterpillars and Butterflies Symbol Timeline in The Circuit

The timeline below shows where the symbol Caterpillars and Butterflies appears in The Circuit. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Inside Out
Immigrants, Discrimination, and Injustice  Theme Icon
Childhood vs. Adulthood Theme Icon
...that he has a book, a pencil, and crayons in his desk. Francisco notices a caterpillar in a jar on a shelf right next to his desk, and he thinks that... (full context)
Change and Instability Theme Icon
Immigrants, Discrimination, and Injustice  Theme Icon
...of them giggle when they spot Francisco. This embarrasses him, and he stares at the caterpillar to feel better. All day, Francisco doesn’t understand a word that Miss Scalapino says. He... (full context)
Change and Instability Theme Icon
At recess, Francisco often stays in the classroom with the caterpillar. He looks through a picture book about caterpillars and butterflies, and although he enjoys the... (full context)
Immigrants, Discrimination, and Injustice  Theme Icon
...of the school day. When the kids go out for recess, Francisco checks on the caterpillar and discovers that it has spun a cocoon around itself. Francisco strokes it gently and... (full context)
Immigrants, Discrimination, and Injustice  Theme Icon
Family and Community Theme Icon
...class and says Francisco’s name. In one hand, she holds up a drawing of a butterfly that Francisco made, and in the other, a blue ribbon that has the number one... (full context)
Family and Community Theme Icon
...and he calls his classmates over to look. The children are excited to watch the butterfly emerging. Later, Miss Scalapino takes the jar to the playground. Francisco’s classmates crowd around her... (full context)
Family and Community Theme Icon
...something that Francisco doesn’t understand. Arthur translates that Curtis really likes Francisco’s drawing of the butterfly. Francisco says, “It’s yours,” and gives it to Curtis. (full context)
Miracle in Tent City
Family and Community Theme Icon
...the card. In his dream, Jesus comes to him carrying a basket. Lots of white butterflies fly out of the basket and carry Francisco to a green field. There, he finds... (full context)