Questions and Answers on The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle

The Tortilla Curtain

1) Tell some themes in the novel, what things does the author want to make the reader aware of? In other words, why do you think he wrote this novel?

The first theme the novel is trying to convey is the act of racism and how illegal immigrants were being treated. At the beginning of the novel the author let us know what happened after Delaney knew the race of the person had hit with his car. Had it been the victim was a white American like him he wouldn’t have given him 20 dollars and leave him to die instead of taking him to the hospital. He was only concerned about the property the immigrant must have dirt while he was camping. Throughout the novel, the novel showed us various ways the immigrants are being treated. Jack Jardine Jr destroyed the camp of Candido and his wife and how Delaney blamed the immigrant for stealing his car and all his misfortune he encounter thereby hunting them down with guns.

Another thing the author want the reader to be aware of is how people go a long way to have the American dream. Which means living comfortable in their own house, having a well-paid and stable job. Candido brought her wife to the United States to have the American dream even though it didn’t turn out has they thought. The Mossbacher were living the American dream but they still want to have more.

2) How does America’s view of the US change as the story progresses?

Before she and her husband came to the United State they thought of America as a place where all their dreams will come true. Candidido promised her wife a life of comfort, living in their house and having so many possessions. America’s view of US however changed as the story progresses, they were faced with hatred and sadness. She never ...

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...getarian or go on a diet. This reflect on their lifestyle of having so many options.

9) How do the two woman look at their individual housing situations? What is significant about how the two women view their own housing situation?

Kyra is a realtor and knows a lot about housing. She is a perfectionist and she takes pride in her house but always looking for a better situation. She is very superficial and she is always looking for a bigger and better house. America on the other hand doesn’t even have a stable housing. Although she always want to have her own house but as luck will have it, she had to live from one camp to another. The significance of this has to do with greediness and dissatisfaction. Kyra who had a fancy house is showing greediness for more and better house while America is dissatisfied with her situation and blame it on his husband bad luck.