Boyle compares what would be the hardships of the American dream, and of an immigrant family. Delaney feels violated when his car gets stolen, and is now lead to buy a completely new car, “Delaney sat there for a long while, getting used to the seats and the new car smell and the subtle differences between this model and the one he was familiar with. Little things, but they annoyed him out of all proportion.” Delaney struggles with finding comfort within his new car, because little things are out of the norm. “‘They got everything. Every penny.’ …They knew just where to look - every dumb hick must have sewed his bankroll into his cuffs.” (235)." Candido and America were left with nothing besides a child and a makeshift room. There life savings consisted of $500 and in an instant was completely gone. Yet, with the little that they had, they made do. Although there were times where they wished there struggles were completely gone, and that everything would be over, they wake up and keep trying to find a new job, because they know that just having each other is better then having nothing.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Sebastian CCQC #2
In the Tortilla Curtain, Boyle represents venerability through the attack of Delaney's second dog by the coyote. Kyra convinces Delaney that if they built a fence, it would keep out all of the coyotes from ever attacking there family again. Although Delaney acknowledges she also means it would also keep out the mexicans, Delaney gives in and builds a eight foot tall fence. "The coyote scaled the fence, rung by rung, as if it was a ladder, and flew from the eight foot bar at the top like a big dun wingless bird (194)." Just as easily as the coyote entered, it exited as well, representing Candido and other Mexicans crossing the border and hoping over the fences to Arryo Blanco. The Fence no only represents the physical aspect of keeping out the "animals", but it also represents how mentally afraid they are of the Mexicans because no matter how hight they build the wall, they will always get through, just as they would the Mexican American border.
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I agree with your claim that Boyle showed vulnerability of Delaney and his family by representing it through the coyote attack of their second dog. Another piece of evidence to show how vulnerable Delaney feels being around the immigrants is what Jack Jardine says, "The ones coming in through the Tortilla Curtain down there, those are the ones that are killing us. They're peasants, my friend. No education, no resources, no skills - all they've got to offer is a strong back, and the irony is we need fewer and fewer strong backs every day because we've got robotics and computers and farm machinery that can do the labor of a hundred men at a fraction of the cost” (101). This quote shows that the residents of Arroyo Blanco, including Delaney and his family, feel as if the Mexicans pose a threat to the purity and wealth of their community. Since they feel this way, when something happens to them that is related to the Mexicans, they feel directly vulnerable.
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