Breaking Down Barriers in Francisco Jiménez’s “The Circuit”

In Francisco Jiménez’s The Circuit Panchito has a hard life. He does not a live in a home, or sleep in a bed, nor does his family own furniture. In addition, Panchito does not have access to a full year of education and because both he and his family do not speak fluent English he has limited learning in an English teaching school. his ability to learn. Despite the fact that Panchito has many things going against him like the absence of a sound home atmosphere and of a proper education he has many gifts that help to defy his circumstances. He has the aptitude to work tenaciously and cordially and enough humility to ask for help. In spite of his rough living conditions, Panchito broke down the barriers put in his way.
The lack of a safe home environment, one of the obstacles Panchito faces. When they lived in Fresno, he and his family lived in an old garage, separate from the large main house of their employer. The windowless walls strained “to support the roof full of holes”(Jiminéz 58). In addition, Roberto, Panchito, and their father “sle[pt] outside under the trees” (58). Because of the lack of any plumbing or furniture, they took showers underneath a waterhose and they “[ate] dinner around some wooden crates,”(59). The absence of a proper home environment also speaks for his family’s financial situation. If they cannot afford a home, one could wonder how they can properly support their children. Their severe economic status could also explain their children’s lack of an education.
Panchito faces the absence of a full education, he and his brother do not go to school for the entire year, limiting their abilities. “It was Monday, the first week of November. The grape season was over and I could now go to school”(60). Not only...

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...that his status have put him in.
The ending of the short story The Circuit did not tell how Panchito ended up in the future, but one could admire Panchito’s given characteristics, given his surroundings. Panchito’s modesty to acknowledge when he needs help, and ability to ask for help represent two of many ways he has leapt the hurdles of a poor education and the deficiency of a safe family atmosphere. The barriers he faced and the ones he will soon face can give a small insight as to how he will turn out. One could not precisely predict how Panchito’s upbringing will affect his future, however, if his current state represents any model of how he will turn out, he will undeniably overcome his circumstances.

Works Cited
Jiménez, Francisco. “The Circuit.” Leaving Home eds. Hazel Rochman and Darlene z. McCampbell, eds. New York: Harper Collins, 1997 53-62. Print