Literary analysis of the book Tortilla Curtain - Essay Example

Their pressures revolve around expanding and maintaining their luxury and comfort. On the other hand, the immigrant couple’s daily worries revolve around obtaining food, safe shelter, security and employment. These two families have two different cultures, thus; it is assumed that their difference is an illumination of the disparity that the two cultures face. The characters in the novel, The Tortilla Curtain expose the hypocrisy of the American Dream for both the Rincons and Mossbachers. Therefore, this essay shall focus on explaining how the main characters in the novel reveal the wastefulness and hypocrisy of the American Dream as they go about in the day-to-day activities.

From the onset of the novel, Delaney is revealed as an individual who hates immigrants, especially the Mexicans. According to him, the Mexicans in pursuit of the American Dream are flooding their country and are a threat to the country’s resources and employment opportunities. He has a low opinion of them and considers them to be lesser human beings. For instance, while writing the Pilgrim at Topanga Creek column, Delaney asserts, “The coyotes keep coming …They are versatile, cunning, hungry, and unstoppable” (Boyle 215). . Candido is the Mexican who has immigrated to the United States in order to pursue the American dream of a better life.

It is unfortunate that his dreams are facing challenges since there are no prospects of employment or good life. He is struggling to face the harsh realities of life as he encounters unfortunate events. First, he is ran over by a vehicle, and instead of seeking medication and filing a suit to be compensated, the person responsible for the accident does not care at all. Boyle (4) asserts, “Delaney’s first thought was his car. . . then, for the rates of insurance. . . and lastly, belatedly, for the victim.

” This shows that Candido receives the exact opposite of the better life he hoped to find. It even gets worse when he is given $20 to go home by Delaney, the person responsible for the accident. Candido is troubled by thoughts that he had brought taken his wife away from her father in order to give her a superior life, yet he could not even feed her. He says, “I could not even put food in her mouth…To make it worse, she was earning for her upkeep” (Boyle 26). This assertion demonstrates that Candido is failing to achieve his American dream.

America, Candido’s wife is also pursuing the American dream. She is forced to live in squalid conditions with her husband since they cannot afford a better housing. In as much as they are living in poverty, she struggles to take care of her man, especially after the accident. She takes it as her initiative to do menial jobs in order to get money to buy enough food for both of them. Her worst nightmare is when she wants to deliver her baby. It is unfortunate that Candido cannot do much to help her; he cannot even call an ambulance to take America to hospital.

Boyle (249) describes her thoughts,