THE TORTILLA CURTAIN
The “Tortilla Curtain” is the nickname of the border between Mexico and Los
Angeles that immigrants cross illegally to find work as laborers and a better way of
life. It is also the title of a novel which offers a brutal look at immigration in the US
as the story follows six months in the lives of two couples from totally different
economic and cultural backgrounds in L.A : the Mossbachers, upper-class
Americans who live their orderly and comfortable life in a gated community, and
Candido and América Rincon, undocumented Mexican immigrants who, despite
numerous traumas and, still hope they will have their share of the American
Dream.
The lives of the two families collide when Delaney Mossbacher knocks down
Cándido with his car. From then on their lives get out of control. Delaney, who
calls himself a liberal humanist, shows himself to be more and more racist while
Cándido and his pregnant wife have to learn that the American Dream is a myth.
Both Mexicans have to fight to survive and América eventually gives birth to her
baby in a shed. Finally, when Delaney’s racism increases and he threatens them
with a gun, there is a landslide in which the baby dies. Nevertheless, Cándido and
América, who managed to escape, are able to help Delaney.
In this novel, Boyle explores an issue that is at the forefront of the political arena.
He confronts the controversy over illegal immigration head-on, illuminating
through a poignant, gripping story the people on both sides of the issue, the haves
and the have-nots. The latter cling to their vision of the American Dream, which,
no matter how hard they try to achieve it, manages to elude their grasp at every
turn and proves to be an illusion, a mirage
.
laborers
have-nots
both sides
controversy
nickname
achieve
mirage
share
proves to be
explores
upper-class
pregnant
out of control
gated community
grasp
gives birth
humanist
backgrounds
forefront
myth
setbacks
title
cling
cross
knocks down
to escape
undocumented
more and more
offers
threatens
gripping
to survive
follows
comfortable
no matter how