Refugee

Refugee

by

Alan Gratz

Iván Castillo Character Analysis

Isabel’s best friend. Iván is the son of Señor Castillo and Señora Castillo, and is Luis’s younger brother. Iván and his father are the ones who build the boat to go to Miami, but it is only with Isabel’s help that they are able to get the gasoline for the Fernandezes and Castillos to go. Iván is excited by the opportunity that the United States brings, but his dreams are never fulfilled, as he is attacked by sharks while swimming alongside the boat and dies a day before the reach Miami. Iván’s fate demonstrates the dangers of being a refugee, and how the government’s failure to help those like the Castillos and the Fernandezes can have dire consequences. His death also serves as another grief and trauma that Isabel undergoes, and which prompts her to have to grow up early.
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Iván Castillo Character Timeline in Refugee

The timeline below shows where the character Iván Castillo appears in Refugee. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Isabel: Just Outside Havana, Cuba – 1994 (1)
Hope vs. Despair Theme Icon
Isabel’s next door neighbor Iván greets her, bringing over a dead fish he had found for the cat. He says... (full context)
Isabel: Havana, Cuba – 1994
Family, Displacement, and Culture Theme Icon
Just as the policeman rears back to hit Isabel, another policeman—Luis Castillo, Iván’s older brother—stops him. The policemen are then called away by a whistle, but the first... (full context)
Isabel: Just Outside Havana, Cuba – 1994 (2)
Trauma and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Isabel runs next door to Iván and Señor Castillo. She sees the boat that they have been building out of metal... (full context)
Isabel: Just Outside Havana, Cuba – 1994 (3)
Hope vs. Despair Theme Icon
Isabel, Iván, Señor Castillo, Señora Castillo, Geraldo, and Lito are carrying the boat to the beach, packed... (full context)
Family, Displacement, and Culture Theme Icon
...tells them to start the engine as Isabel is lifted into the boat. But then, Iván and Señora Castillo help lift the two policemen into the boat, and Isabel realizes that... (full context)
Isabel: The Straits of Florida, Somewhere North of Cuba – 1994, 1 day from home (2)
Trauma and Coming of Age Theme Icon
...Castillo, Luis, and Amara try to figure out why the boat’s motor won’t start, while Iván and Isabel scoop water out of the bottom of the boat because the sock with... (full context)
Hope vs. Despair Theme Icon
Family, Displacement, and Culture Theme Icon
Lito talks to Isabel and Iván as they work, telling Isabel that he has a brother, Guillermo, who lives in the... (full context)
Isabel: The Straits of Florida, Somewhere North of Cuba – 1994, 1 day from home (4)
Trauma and Coming of Age Theme Icon
...the surface. Isabel kicks hard, doing as much as she can to keep them afloat. Iván dives in after her, guiding the boat toward them. They then pull Isabel and Señor... (full context)
Isabel: Somewhere on the Straits of Florida – 1994, 2 days from home
Hope vs. Despair Theme Icon
Isabel continues to bail water out of the boat, alongside Teresa, Geraldo, Lito, Luis, Iván, and Señora Castillo. They work feverishly, but the boat fills as quickly as they can... (full context)
Isabel: Somewhere on the Caribbean Sea – 1994, 3 days from home
Hope vs. Despair Theme Icon
Suddenly, Iván spots land at the side of the boat. Luis is confused, because it’s on the... (full context)
Isabel: Somewhere between the Bahamas and Florida – 1994, 4 days from home
Hope vs. Despair Theme Icon
...is almost to Isabel’s knees. They continue to scoop as much water as they can. Iván whines, asking when they’re going to get there. “Mañana,” Lito says. Lito then becomes lost... (full context)
Trauma and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Hope vs. Despair Theme Icon
...Amara suggests that they drink some water, and the adults quickly apologize to each other. Iván agrees that they’re taking on too much water, and Geraldo suggests that a few of... (full context)
Isabel: Somewhere between the Bahamas and Florida – 1994, 5 days from home (1)
Trauma and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Hope vs. Despair Theme Icon
Family, Displacement, and Culture Theme Icon
...the west, and Luis turns the engine off because they can’t navigate without the sun. Iván, who is also floating in the water, asks when they will get to Miami. Señor... (full context)
Trauma and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Hope vs. Despair Theme Icon
...But Teresa assures her that it could be a while before the baby is born. Iván asks what they’ll name the baby, but Teresa and Geraldo haven’t decided yet. (full context)
Trauma and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Suddenly, Iván jumps while floating in the water, and Lito yells that there is a shark in... (full context)
Isabel: Somewhere between the Bahamas and Florida – 1994, 5 days from home (2)
Invisibility and the Refugee Experience Theme Icon
Isabel and Señora Castillo have been crying since Iván died of his shark bite hours earlier. Isabel doesn’t know how to grasp it. He... (full context)
Trauma and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Lito says that they should do something with Iván’s body, and moves to set him in the water. Señora Castillo asks to say a... (full context)
Isabel: Off the Coast of Florida – 1994, 5 days from home (1)
Hope vs. Despair Theme Icon
Isabel starts to cry upon seeing Miami, because Iván was so close to making it to the U.S. Suddenly, however, the boat starts to... (full context)
Isabel: Miami, Florida – 1994, Home
Family, Displacement, and Culture Theme Icon
...anthem. But instead of playing traditionally, she plays it offbeat like salsa. She plays for Iván, lost at sea, and for Lito, who was is in Cuba. She plays for her... (full context)