Into the Beautiful North

by

Luis Alberto Urrea

Chuy Character Analysis

Chuy is the kindly, fat bus driver who drives Nayeli and her group most of the way to Tijuana. He endears himself to his passengers when he pulls off the road and spends an hour with his girlfriend, and during the drive, he offers Nayeli as much advice as he can regarding how to deal with the customs officers. He disappears after the bus breaks down outside of Mexicali, though he supposedly left to find help in the town.
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Chuy Character Timeline in Into the Beautiful North

The timeline below shows where the character Chuy appears in Into the Beautiful North. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 8
Borders and Ownership Theme Icon
Disillusionment and Idealization Theme Icon
...water and soda and accompanies them to the bus. The driver, a large man named Chuy, loads their bags under the bus and promises Irma that he will take care of... (full context)
Borders and Ownership Theme Icon
Racism Theme Icon
In the middle of the night, Nayeli jerks awake as the bus stops. She meets Chuy's eyes in the rearview, and he makes a calming motion at Nayeli before opening the... (full context)
Disillusionment and Idealization Theme Icon
...Tacho wake suddenly to the sound of gunshots. Nayeli creeps up the aisle and asks Chuy what's going on, but he doesn't know. Chuy puts the bus in gear and speeds... (full context)
Chapter 9
Borders and Ownership Theme Icon
Racism Theme Icon
Male vs. Female Heroism Theme Icon
Female Friendship vs. Romance Theme Icon
When the bus reaches a customs station, Chuy tells Nayeli to not say anything to the officers and if she has marijuana, to... (full context)
Borders and Ownership Theme Icon
Racism Theme Icon
Male vs. Female Heroism Theme Icon
...building, and the officers laugh. The bus breaks down twenty miles outside of Mexicali, and Chuy gets out to walk towards the city. Tacho cries silently with his head in Nayeli's... (full context)