Introduction:

The Tortilla Curtain was written in 1995 by T.C Boyle. It is a novel about illegal immigration, hatred and fear for foreigners, environmental destruction, poverty and values of middle class people. The tortilla Curtains has turned out to be the most famous novel among all the other novels written by Boyle.

It talks about two Mexicans named Cándido Rincón (33) and América, who illegally enter United States, carrying a dream of having a beautiful life in their small house somewhere near California. While they are camping and roaming, they come across another couple. Both the couples have to face problem when one of the person meets an accidents and they are afraid to call the police for their individual respective reasons. The novel talks about how the lives of both the couples influence each other throughout the novel. Both the couples have to face problems as they move on with their lives.

Time and again, Boyle has addressed a number of issues in the novel related to illegal immigrants, superciliousness, racism, the American Dream and American Lifestyle, etc.

Racism:

The theme which is analysed in this essay is “Racism.” It is one of the most obvious and undoubtedly vital themes in the novel that are addressed by Boyle. Racism against immigrants and Mexicans is easily visible since the beginning of the novel. Jack Cherrystone, Jin Shirley and Jack Jardine talk about the risks of having immigrants in Unites States, irrespective of the fact of being legal or not. They do not hide their views and opinions, stating that if the borders are not going to be strictly regulated then personal safety will become a major issue. These three people are seen as the voice of all the middle-class people and the way these people behave with the immigrants. For example, shutting down t he exchange of labour, building up a wall around the Arroyo Blanco, etc are constant throughout. The hatred and racism is highly observed through the actions of the character of Jack Jardine Jr. who besides speaking offensively about Mexican women also seeks to destroy and act against the camp of Rincon and all the possessions existing on earth. He also tries to sabotage and destroy people's property by using Spanish symbols and words, pointing the people he truly hates. This exaggeration of racism shows us how racism has amplified from generation to generation and Delaney always feared that Jordan will be ending up having the same perception, behaviour and attitude same as Jack Jardine Jr.

The most interesting part is to see the development and evolution of racism in Delaney's attitude during the entire novel. Delaney always claimed to have strong values, liberal views of accepting people from all the races but then gradually he shows his true colour by giving only 20 US Dollars to Candido, who was severely injured by Delaney's car. It was not a big deal for Delaney as Candido was Mexican.

Quote:

"I told you - he was Mexican." (Boyle, 368)

Explanation:

Delaney tells this to his wife, ...