Literature Analysis Notes.

The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle
• Delaney Mossbacher-lives in Attoyo Blanco Estates. Shows he’s wealthy (California)
-He hits a Mexican with his car
• Mexicans name-Candido Rincon
-Has a car with bottles and newspapers he was taking to the recycling center
• Use of imagery: “red-flecked eyes, the rictos of the mouth, rotten teeth ad incongruous shock of gray in the heavy black brush of the mustache.”
• Delaney’s thoughts when he hit the Mexican were of his car and insurance.
-Shows how careless he was of hitting a Mexican
• Told his wife no to worry because “it was just a Mexican.”
• Shows how less of feelings he has for Mexicans. Thought of him less of a person and frowns upon him.
• The Mexican did not want to be taken to the hospital-why?
• Candido explains how much pain he is in and explains the details and his point of view of the accident.
• The man just gave him $20
• His wife uses that money to buy supplies to help her husband.
• She tries to sneak away to the labor exchange, but Candido will not let her go.
• He explains his experience of working there: Imagery and time
• From this it shows how they are struggling with their living situations and with money
• Delaney goes to ta meeting to bring up the issue of the coyotes
• Shows how careless and selfish he is also
• Candido ends up working at the labor exchange
• Shows their struggle
• Candido describes his past
• He was successful
• Married “Resurrection” and 20 years old and was old sister to  of his wife now
• She cheats on him and he becomes a drunk: falling point in his life
• America is surprised to see an American woman trying to find work
• This shows much of what the society may be like
• The state of Candidos and America’s struggle was trying to go to the U.S.
• They paid a “coyote” to pass them and once they did a group of Mexicans attacked them and took everything and were sent back to Mexico
• Teenagers destroy the camp they live in
• Delaney and his wife view shows how they are very worried of the smallest things
• Candido and his wife move under an overpass where they are hidden
• He is not able to find a job and they cannot get food: shows how the society is in the struggle for a Mexican
• Candidos wife is pregnant and begins to work as a maid
• Candido also finds himself a job and they begin to do good: Can relate to someone who is struggling
• Delaney’s wife is concerned with how the neighborhood looks with the homeless living under the overpass: shows how looks are important to them
• They move again and live in a cardboard: imagery
• They are not able to find themselves a steady job: Their experience is like a rollercoaster
• There is a flood when Candido goes to look for a job and his wife dies in the flood
• Delaney saves his baby
Literary elements:
• Imagery
• Indirect and Direct characterization
• Hyperboles
• Similes
• Metaphors