Xenophobia In Tortilla Curtain

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Recommended: Anti - semitism in the modern world

Xenophobia is discrimination against and hatred of foreigners, targeting outsiders and strangers or more often those who are in effect part of one’s own society but are perceived as incommensurably different from the majority population (encyclopedia). Xenophobia is not a new subject to the world, in fact it is a recent issue concerning not only America but several parts of the world. While discussing xenophobia, perhaps the most pointed, long-term, and widely documented case of xenophobia is that of anti-Semitism, which culminated in the mass murder of six million European Jews and countless others during World War II (encyclopedia). However, there are new forms of xenophobia that have grown in places such as North America one of the most …show more content…

One important theme in the novel is racism which can alternatively be connected to the idea of xenophobia. Although xenophobia and racism are not the same thing they can be interconnected because both display hatred towards others; one deals with hatred towards individuals of a particular race while the other deals with hatred towards those who do not belong. Tortilla Curtain targets specifically Mexican immigrants in the United States and describes a xenophobic ambiance that is presented during the interaction of certain characters towards Candido and his wife America for instance. One example from the novel that supports the xenophobic behavior is when both Jacks and Jim often express how having immigrants whether they are legal or not can be a danger for the United States. These three character in particular seem to be experiencing xenophobia because they cannot seem to accept that the only thing immigrants are looking for is the opportunity to better their situation. Jack Jardine in particular shows a strong anti-immigrant attitude that results in violence. He purposely destroys possessions of those who live in Arroyo Blanco and escapes the blame for his actions by unjustly blaming the Mexicans. Of course the accusations are not questioned because after all he is white and when it comes down to it the intruders will be the ones to blame for causing

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