The book The Tortilla Curtain, written by Thomas Coraghessan Boyle, is a story of two couples with massively different origins and challenges. The story intricately reveals how each couple views others, which enriches the overall perspectives offered by the author. The given collision analysis will primarily focus on familial and racial collisions and provide explanations for why they took place.
The first category of collision observed in the book is a familial one, which takes place between Candido Rincon and America. The issue is focused on gender roles, where Candido wants America to avoid working since she is his wife. Such a collision is not the most apparent and visible one among all other collisions, but it defines the relationship between two immigrants. For example, despite the fact that Candido was badly injured after the car accident, he still was against America going to work in the city (Boyle 27). There were major reasons why Candido was fearful and concerned for her, but his situation was much drier than hers.
The second collision is a racial one, which is present throughout the entirety of the story. The most defining moment takes place when Delaney argues with Jack, claiming that he is a racist to promote the gate idea. However, later, he wants “to see this dark alien little man crushed and obliterated, out of his life forever” (Boyle 98). In other words, it reveals that racism and hatred of outsiders are present even among the most tolerant and inclusive individuals. The main reason is the fact that he hit him with his car, which made him ashamed and angry towards both himself and the outsider.
Work Cited
Boyle, Thomas C. The Tortilla Curtain. Viking Press, 1995.
