Chacho Character Analysis in The House of the Scorpion

Chacho is a Lost Boy and friend to both Matt and Fidelito. He acts tough and often swears at and talks back to the Keepers. Like all Lost Boys, he foolishly hopes that his father is living a wealthy life in the United States and will soon send for him. When Chacho is crushed in the boneyard, Matt shows his ability to choose compassion by remaining with him through the night.

Chacho Quotes in The House of the Scorpion

The The House of the Scorpion quotes below are all either spoken by Chacho or refer to Chacho. 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:

Free Will vs. Predetermination Theme Icon

What could he do? Where could he go? He couldn’t stay here until Jorge came back to check up on things. But he couldn’t leave Chacho behind, either. He limped back to the basin and sat on the edge. He talked and talked, sometimes exhorting Chacho to come toward his voice, sometimes only rambling on about his childhood.

Related Characters: Matteo “Matt” Alacrán, Jorge, Chacho

Page Number and Citation: 335

Explanation and Analysis:

Tomorrow he would begin the task of breaking down the empire of Opium. It was a huge and terrifying job, but he wasn’t alone. He had Chacho, Fidelito, and Ton-Ton to cheer him on. He had Celia and Daft Donald to advise him and María to be everyone’s conscience.

Related Characters: Chacho, Celia, Ton-Ton, María Mendoza, Fidelito, Daft Donald, Matteo “Matt” Alacrán

Page Number and Citation: 380

Explanation and Analysis:

Chacho Character Timeline in The House of the Scorpion

The timeline below shows where the character Chacho appears in The House of the Scorpion. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Abuse of Power and Corruption Theme Icon

...work as they make pieces of machinery and weave sandals. He chastises a boy named Chacho for carving a piece of wood, because according to Raúl hobbies do not contribute to... (full context)

...by him. Matt attempts to look aloof and tough, like El Patrón taught him too. Chacho tells him to relax while he can, because tomorrow he will have to work like... (full context)

...around him actually lost their families to Farm Patrol and now live in this orphanage. Chacho says they are all now part of the system for producing resources. (full context)

...they recite their principles of citizenship. After lunch, Matt switches to a new job, but Chacho tells him that later the Keepers will force him to work only one job for... (full context)

Matt asks Chacho what he was carving wood for earlier. Chacho hesitates and then tells him he was... (full context)

...to the Lost Boys about how aristocrats may seem attractive, but they are actually evil. Chacho and Fidelito still call Matt a hero afterward. Raúl assigns Matt a job measuring pills,... (full context)

Language, Law, and Dehumanization Theme Icon

Raúl gathers Chacho, Fidelito, and Matt to go to San Luis. He tells them the work will be... (full context)

The Keepers force Matt and Chacho to clean Fidelito’s vomit out of the aircraft. Then the head Keeper, whose name is... (full context)

Carlos puts Matt, Chacho, and Fidelito to work caring for the plankton tanks. Matt enjoys caring for the plankton,... (full context)

Carlos pulls up in an electric cart and chastises Matt, Chacho, and Fidelito for taking a break. Matt says Fidelito is overheating and Carlos tells him... (full context)

Matt asks Chacho why the Keepers call him an aristocrat, and Chacho says it is because Matt sounds... (full context)

...how minds need to be cleaned just like bodies. All the workers except for Matt, Chacho, and Fidelito repeat the phrase, “It’s good to be clean.” Jorge tells them a person... (full context)

...the day. He tells all the other boys to punish Matt. All the boys, except Chacho and Fidelito, begin insulting Matt for his aristocratic habits. Their rejection hurts Matt deeply, because... (full context)

...He remembers how María said she loved him. All the boys and Jorge leave, but Chacho and Fidelito remain by Matt’s side. Matt knows that as long as he has friends,... (full context)

Chacho spots something large and white off in the distance. He and Matt go to investigate... (full context)

...just sound like turkeys gobbling to him. Matt still refuses to confess himself, even though Chacho and Fidelito have learned to obey Jorge. One night, when Matt is more tired than... (full context)

...the night and then travel the 20 miles to San Luis. He commits to taking Chacho and Fidelito with him but worries about how Fidelito will make the long journey. He... (full context)

Chacho and Matt wait for Ton-Ton to arrive with the shrimp harvester. Chacho hates Ton-Ton for... (full context)

Matt tells Chacho that Celia is his mother, because that’s how he thinks of her. He considers Tam... (full context)

...will not allow him to take Fidelito’s punishment this time, so Matt attacks Jorge himself. Chacho jumps in, punching Jorge as the rest of the boys cheer. Matt stops Chacho before... (full context)

Twenty keepers with stun guns come into the room. They tie Matt and Chacho up as Carlos threatens to punish them tomorrow. Flaco defends Matt and Chacho by saying... (full context)

...of the boys turn away from him and Matt. The Keepers lock up Matt and Chacho. (full context)

In the morning, the Keepers place the still tied-up Matt and Chacho in a cart. Jorge drives the cart out past the plankton factory to the fence.... (full context)

Matt and Chacho discuss ways to escape. Matt finds a jagged bone, but when he attempts to cut... (full context)

Matt and Chacho suffer from intense dehydration. They manage to saw themselves free on the bones. Chacho asks... (full context)

Chacho hears a breeze and fears it is the monster, La Llorona. A storm brews overhead.... (full context)

Matt calls out to Chacho, but he does not respond. Matt tells stories of his childhood so that Chacho may... (full context)

Matt wakes up at dawn freezing. He calls for Chacho to follow his voice out of the pit, but Chacho does not answer. Matt shouts... (full context)

When the sun rises, Matt is able to see a bit of Chacho’s uniform. He hears a machine rumbling toward him and turns to see Ton-Ton’s shrimp harvester—Ton-Ton... (full context)

...carefully moves the rest of the bones away and uses the harvester to gently lift Chacho from the pit. He says Chacho is in shock and gives him some of the... (full context)

...rough terrain. Ton-Ton orders them to exit the harvester when they arrive at the fence. Chacho still cannot stand, so Matt and Fidelito help him out. Matt worries about the Keepers... (full context)

Matt asks if Chacho is alright, and Chacho says he cannot breathe properly because the bones crushed his chest.... (full context)

Matt worries Chacho will not survive until morning. Ton-Ton reminisces about how, after Jorge saved him from Farm... (full context)

...an inhaler. They tell him Fidelito found them, and they have sent an ambulance for Chacho. (full context)

Guapo offers to drop Matt and Fidelito off at the convent hospital where Chacho is staying. Consuela says the Keepers should be avoiding the festival, but just in case... (full context)

...Francis and enter a hospital corridor. They tell a nearby nurse they are looking for Chacho and María. (full context)

...them to be careful, because there are Keepers in the hospital. She leads them to Chacho’s room, telling them she was once an orphan who lived under the oppression of the... (full context)

...for the first time not stuttering, tells her the entire story about how Matt and Chacho were thrown in the boneyard after saving Fidelito, before the Lost Boys revolted and Ton-Ton... (full context)

Sister Inéz treats Matt’s injuries at the hospital along with Chacho, who struggles to recover from being crushed in the boneyard. María visits Matt every day... (full context)

...into eejits, and then he will reunite them with their lost children. He will invite Chacho, Fidelito, and Ton-Ton to come live with him on the estate. María could come, too,... (full context)

...He takes comfort in the knowledge he will not be alone, because he will have Chacho, Fidelito, and Ton-Ton to support him. Celia and Daft Donald will guide him. María will... (full context)

The House of the Scorpion

Chacho Character Analysis

Chacho Quotes in The House of the Scorpion

Chapter 34 Quotes

Chapter 38 Quotes

Chacho Character Timeline in The House of the Scorpion