The Tortilla Curtain (T. Coraghessan Boyle)

Delaney Mossbacher is a nature writer whose life changes dramatically after he hits the car of Candido Rincon, an illegal Mexican immigrant. MossbacherÆs character is significant to the story in a number of ways, but Boyle uses his character primarily to demonstrate that nature will ultimately withstand no artificially constructed categories of race and ethnicity.

Delaney Mossbacher is a white male living in the comfort of upper-middle-class Arroyo Blanco Estates. That Arroyo Blanco translates as white creek is no coincidence, because with its walls, chain-link fence, and 24-hour security service the development is meant to keep out invaders, i.e. those who are not white. Living in California with his wife Kyra and son Jordan, Delaney is a white, upper-middle-class American who becomes increasingly prejudiced against Mexicans. MossbacherÆs personality equates to the ultimate level of political correctness. As we are told of him and Kyra, ôThey were both perfectionistsàThey abhorred clutter. They were joggers, nonsmokers, social drinkers, and if not full-blown vegetarians, people who were conscious of their intake of animal fats,ö (Boyle, p. 34).

Despite being a naturalist writer, Delaney is married to a real-estate developer. His character becomes increasingly predatory towards the illegal immigrants that represent a threat to his whiteness. When he hits CandidoÆs car, he shoves him a $20 bill and sudden

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Some common words found in the essay are:
Candido America, Arroyo Blanco, Mexicans MossbacherÆs, Blanco Signs, Candido Rincon, Delaney Mossbacher, Blanco Mexicans, arroyo blanco, Jordan Delaney, Living California, race ethnicity, Eventually Delaney, prejudice racism, candido america, walls chain-link fence, constructions race, walls chain-link, artificial constructions, american society, coraghessan boyle, tortilla curtain, artificial constructions race,
Approximate Word count = 957
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page)