The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle

Anti-immigration cartoon

January 5, 2011 NOGALES, Arizona — A Mexican teenager who threw rocks at Border Patrol agents in the Arizona city of Nogales died early Wednesday, but the manner of death is now in dispute. A Mexican official said 17-year-old Ramses Barron Torres died after he fell from the border fence and hit his head on a rock. But state police in Sonora, across the border from Arizona, said companions of Barron Torres claim he was shot in the head by a U.S. Border Patrol agent.

Hispanics in the USA Hispanic-American population: ~ 35 million (14%) (Afro-American population: ~ 12%) Hispanic-Americans: Mexican: ~ 75% Puerto Rican: ~ 11% Cuban: ~ 5% Other Central & South American: ~ 7%

Hispanic-Americans Largest-growing ethnic group in the USA 1 in 5 babies born in the USA is Hispanic 58% increase between 1990 and 2000 Estimate: Hispanic population will be 25% by 2050 “The USA is the fourth largest Spanish speaking country in the world and is predicted to be the second largest by 2012.”

Illegal Immigration Nearly 75% of the illegal immigrants in the USA come from Mexico or Central America.

Illegal Immigration There are millions of Mexican illegal immigrants in the USA – possibly close to 10 million Estimate: 400,000 – 600,000 per year California hosts about 40% of the illegal immigrants 2005 proposal: offer legal status to illegal immigrants who have education job skills US Agricultural Bureau: crackdown on illegal immigration could cost US farmers and agricultural producers over $4 billion per year Source: http://www.illegalimmigrationfacts.com/

The Border Red lines: proposed 1,000 miles of new fence

The Border: Fence, Wall, River

Protests

The Tortilla Curtain (1995) T.C. Boyle: “ I'm not presenting any answers, and I think that's why the book was very controversial. People want a polemic. They want to raise their fist in the air and say, "Yes, you're on our side." Well, I'm not on your side. I am presenting a fable, a fiction, so that you can judge for yourself. A lot of people simply read the book and flew off the handle because it either accords with what they want it to or it doesn't. People want things to be very clear-cut. Here's the issue and here's how I stand on it. But I think it's much more complex. I think it has to do with biology. You may notice that Delaney is a nature writer. Well, nature writers are generally very liberal, even radically liberal on all issues except one—the issue of immigration, on which they are more reactionary than anyone. The reason for this is they argue that there are six billion people on the planet now, and who is the enemy of the environment? Who is the enemy of clean air, clean water, all the dwindling animal species? Well, it's us. Us, human beings. Our species.”

Discussion Questions 1. What are some of the themes in the novel? Give an example for each one. 2. What does the coyote symbolize? 3. Who are the round and flat characters? 4. How are Cándido and América similar to Delaney and Kyra? How are they different? 5. There are many detailed descriptions of food in the novel. Give some examples and explain why the author has used them. 6. How is The Tortilla Curtain similar to The Grapes of Wrath? Think of at least 5 ways. 7. What different aspects of The American Dream are shown in the novel? Are any of them positive?