Speech Sounds

by

Octavia E. Butler

The Bus Driver Character Analysis

The bus driver is the owner and driver of the bus that Rye takes towards Pasadena. He is a touchy and heavily-impaired man who supports his family by driving people around Los Angeles, asking for various practical items as fares. After the bus driver responds to a fight among passengers by pulling over, Obsidian throws a gas bomb onto the bus to try to quiet the fight. Despite the fact that this has saved the inside of his bus from ruin, the bus driver reacts with fury, threatening Obsidian with gestures and shouting nonsense words. It’s Obsidian’s peaceful and rational reaction to this that makes Rye begin to understand that he is safe.
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The Bus Driver Character Timeline in Speech Sounds

The timeline below shows where the character The Bus Driver appears in Speech Sounds. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Speech Sounds
Miscommunication and Violence  Theme Icon
Rye braces for the bus driver to hit the brakes, which he does, throwing the fighting men to the ground. As... (full context)
Miscommunication and Violence  Theme Icon
Language, Communication, and Peace Theme Icon
When the man helps the bus driver out, the driver appears ready to fight, but the man won’t engage. While the driver... (full context)
Miscommunication and Violence  Theme Icon
Language, Communication, and Peace Theme Icon
Seeing the man’s gun, the bus driver returns to his bus. It’s filled with gas, and he cannot continue driving until it... (full context)