Noyce Tortilla Curtain Part 1

     All four characters in The Tortilla Curtain represent the American dream, in that they always want more for themselves and their family and believe they can achieve those goals. América’s feelings about what she wants in the United States are made clear, “A house, a yard, maybe a TV and a car too—nothing fancy, no palaces like the gringos built—just four walls and a roof. Was that so much to ask?”(29). She, who comes from a fairly poor family from a small village, wants only the bare necessities plus a little extra. She believes this will make her happy and that it can be easily accomplished once she and Cándido are in the United States. In contrast, Kyra, who seemingly has everything she could need or want, sets her sights on the grand Da Ros property, a twenty bedroom estate that as a real estate agent she is in charge of selling. Kyra feels a sense of solidarity and contentment with the place and wants it for herself and her family, “She was just checking to see that everything was in order, that was all, but in a way, a growing way, a way that almost overwhelmed her, she didn’t want to leave, not ever again” (75-76). Kyra even goes so far as to sabotage herself when she has buyers interested in the home, “’What would you do with all this space?’ Kyra heard herself asking, and even before the question passed her lips she knew it was wrong…somehow she’d put a negative spin on it”(106). Even though she has a wonderful house, Kyra, like América, wants more, specifically this home. Unlike Kyra however, América states, “I want one of those houses…A clean white one made out of lumber that smells like the mountains”(28). The young immigrant is not picky about the type of home she wants, just that she could have one. The American dream, of equal opportunity to achieve success through hard work and determination, is very prevalent throughout the story, but manifests itself in different ways for each character.

     While Delaney constantly reassures himself and the reader that he is a liberal humanist; one who believes in a system of thought that centers on humans and their values and worth, his actions prove he slowly changes his ideas. In the opening scene, Delaney hits a man with his car, “To his shame, Delaney’s first thought was for the car…and then for his insurance…and finally, belatedly, for the victim” (4). The man, who is later explained to be an illegal immigrant from Mexico, was thought of after both Delaney's car and insurance. Unfortunately, Delaney's ideas do not seem to match up with his actions, as even his thought process goes first to an inanimate object rather than the victim, a human being. He become worried about the man, but when he realizes who the victim of the car crash must have been, an illegal immigrant camping in the state park he loves so much, Delaney becomes very upset. “It was people like this Mexican or whatever he was who were responsible, thoughtless people, stupid people, people who wanted to turn the whole world into a garbage dump, a little Tijuana… Delaney was seething, ready to write his congressman, call the sheriff, anything—but then he checked himself” (11). His views and ideas of giving everyone a chance at a successful life are fighting with his views on nature and the degradation of the preserved space. Delaney, while he claims to believe in humans, seems to believe in nature more than people. The irony in this is not lost when it becomes apparent that he lives in a highly developed housing community which many want to fence in. This early in the story however, Delaney is still able to catch himself when he feels this way. Later in the story, he also begins to form an argument on the issue of immigration to Jack, “Delaney was trying to organize his thoughts. He wanted to tell Jack that he was wrong, that everyone deserved a chance in life and that the Mexicans would assimilate just like the Poles, Italians, Germans, Irish, and Chinese and that besides we had stolen California from them in the first place”(102). Though he wants to believe in the good of all people, Delaney is a product of his status and location. He is surrounded by people who choose to live in a fenced off community, far from the poorer people and their opinions begin to rub off on him. Delaney, though he wants to be a humanist, proves that he is somewhere in between through his actions.