Boyle argues on happening of the American Dream. He argues that American Dream doesn't exist in his book The Tortilla Curtain. The Tortilla Curtain and the American Dream is a novel written by T. C Boyle. The story revolves around four main characters which include two Americans and the other two characters are Mexicans. An American couple is consisted of Delaney and his second wife, Kyra with her son Jordan. Delaney is a writer, displayed his sympathy and courtesy for humanity but in real life he seemed to be harsh and angry towards the Mexican couple, who illegally entered and crossed the American border. The story in the book The Tortilla Curtain revolves around the two couples depicting different living standards and patterns of life existing among them and their difference in living standard proves that the American dream does not exist. In reality as Johnsons discusses in his book Still Separate, Still Unequal, the reality of the happily living life of America is just a fantasy of a person’s mind. It is not a happy-happy place on the universe like a heaven where there is always the win-win situation. The example from school life was explained. The case is also made clear by Boyle's writing where the element of prejudice was present. This means that this paper is developed with an aim to prove that boundaries and name tags play a minimal role. However, goodness can be present in any form at any place.
Delaney and Kyra are living together but had high distance among them as Kyra always remained busy in overlooking her property and did not have any time for her family. On the other hand, Candido, who left Mexico in search of better and comfortable life in America, confronted infinite difficulties in their way. It displayed and expressed the irony of life which both of them had realized throughout the whole novel.
Their American dream did not exist or did not come true because when they moved towards America for a better life instead of enjoying their life they had to face a lot of miseries and troubles that never ended. The novel depicted a difference between the lives of American natives and immigrants.
American people could enjoy all the joys of life without any discrimination while immigrants had to face many hurdles in order to fulfill their American dream. As the Mexican couple shown in the novel clings up to their dream but in reality, they suffered an ample of pains, sorrows and hardships to make their life peaceful.
With reference to the article composed by Jonathan Kozol, the article was upon the school educational system. The title of the article is "still separated still unequal" reflects the difference that lies among the students just on the basis of their color, skin and race. His work is empirically based as he interviewed various students learning in different schools of America. Relating his research to T. C Boyle's novel it was analyzed that how the Mexican couple was humiliated and treated inhumanely by Delaney (Boyle 1-5). Although he came know that he was not responsible for the robberies and other incidents but anger and rage took spot. He put his gun to kill the Mexican man. Throughout the novel, the Mexican couple was treated unequally by the American natives, who were afraid of them and did not want them to live in their country (Hicks 43–64).
According to Nguyen, the main gist of the novel was based on the American dream. As two families story mentioned by the Boyle expressed their aim that was similar in nature. Both of these couples wanted a successful and high standard living. Moosbachers was already living a successful life, but they were eager to become more successful and desired a big house than the present one (Boyle). While Candido anticipated a life like Moosbachers, in which they would have all the facilities of life. However, he knew that he could not be able to achieve his goal (Hicks 43–64).
A review of The Tortilla Curtain by Allan Cogan suggested that T. C Boyle has very well expressed the characteristics and nature of the American and the Mexican people. As Mexican people seemed to be swayed with feelings, sentiments and memories so as, America was remembered by her as good days at Mexico. A lot of fear, anger and dismay occurred during the novel with Mexican characters as they migrate for achieving their American dream (Hicks 43–64).
Indeed, the whole of the novel is about racism, socio-cultural, religious, and ethnic and gender discrimination that still lies among the people. Boyle has bravely pointed out and criticized the civilized American society that was afraid of Mexican people (Boyle). He also figured the aspect of freedom where Mexican's move towards America for having freedom but on the other side American natives seemed to consider themselves being vulnerable due to the presence of Mexican near them. Boyle used symbolism at various places in his book. Like the presence of the wall to prevent the entry of coyote inside the house who ate two Delaney's pet. Similarly, Native American pondered and agreed upon the construction of the wall in order to be safe from the Mexican people.
Overall the combination of stories and readings make us to conclude that ‘all that glitters is not gold”.
Works Cited
Boyle, T. C. (1996). The Tortilla Curtain (p. 355). Penguin.
Hicks, H. J. (2003). On Whiteness in T. Coraghessan Boyle’s The Tortilla Curtain. Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction, 45(1), 43–64. http://doi.org/10.1080/00111610309595326
Kozol, Jonathan. Still separate, still unequal: American’s Educational Apartheid. Harper’s Magzine, 2005. 311(1864).
Nguyen, Eliza. (n.d.). Review of Thomas Boyle ' s " The Tortilla Curtain ."
