“The Tortilla Curtain“ by TC Boyle

Social Criticism: Looking at the book “The Tortilla Curtain“ in detail, it is very obvious that the author T. C. Boyle tries to imply the theme of social criticism. Therefore he uses the technique of shifting between either the American or the Mexican couple. Thus the lives of the two couples are continually juxtaposed and contrasted in a kind of a dual structure which highlights the fundamental differences and makes the contrast visible.

Due to the story of the Mexican couple he makes us look at the bottom of society and the lowest possible level of living.

They have no proper food, no proper shelter, no work, no health care and the characters life is insecure and unprotected. The American couples life stands in stark contrast to them, because the have everything what one can think about. However, the Mexican illegal laborers and maids go about unrecognized and unacknowledged in American society, unless they can be used as cheap labor.

And all this happens day by day in one of the world’s richest countries and in wealthy communities like the Arroyo Blanco.

This huge diversity or as you which contrast between the two human conditions raises questions of social justice, of social responsibility and of society’s moral. T. C. Boyle draws ones attention to a problem, which seems most far-reaching invisible for the most Americana’s. But in fact the illegal immigration has become a big problem which America is facing. But America hasn’t found the right answers to those problems yet.

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Finally, one can see this book as a concession from an American citizen, who T. C. Boyl is, to the current problems.

Cars and Traffic: The richness in detail concerning cars and traffic is one of the striking features of the novel. Not only do cars have a great importance in American society, they also are treasured possessions, status symbols and playthings. For example Delaney is in love with his white Acura Vigor and keeps him clean.

The little damage his car got from the crash with Candido has to be rectifies immediately. And after the theft of his car the fear of being again separated from his brand new one and of losing it paralyzes him. It seems as if the car as the American symbol of freedom and mobility seems to enslave Delaney. Kyra’s Lexus matches her elegance and stand for her personal success and her business job. In stark contrast to those expensive cars stands Senor Willis , who is Mexican, old car which hardly manages to get up the canyon road.

Furthermore, the once idyllic Topanga Canyon Road has to suffer from the onslaught of cars, especially during rush hours. Overpopulation, American restlessness, the Americans chase for money and their wealth are seen as the causes of the traffic congestion. For Candido the constant hurry is just crazy and he cannot understand that.

Finally Candido becomes injured by a car at the very beginning, which can also be seen as the first sign of his fate and that he is not suppose to make it in the U. S. A..