The Tortilla Curtain Assignment

The Tortilla Curtain, a novel by T.C. Boyle, chronicles the very different lives of two couples living in California. One couple, white and upper class, struggle with the impact of illegal immigrants on their daily lives. América and Cándido, the other couple who are illegal aliens, try to overcome stereotypes that are preventing them from achieving the American dream. The Tortilla Curtain offers two different perspectives on illegal immigration by telling the story from the two couples’ point of views. Readers feel the frustration when Delaney and Kyra have many disturbances in their lives because of the illegal immigrants. However, the readers also sympathize when América and Cándido constantly face major setbacks because of their race, though in the land of opportunities. Immigration is a hot topic in our country now more than ever, and T.C. Boyle is able to portray two of the views into his book. After careful research, I would like you to take a stance on illegal immigration. Do they have a right to be in this country or should they be deported back to Mexico? Is the relationship between U.S. citizens and immigrants parasitic or symbiotic? When you have made your decision, you will make a 1-2 minute commercial video using iMovie advertising your opinion on immigration and why we do/do not need it in our country. 

To begin your research, you will use two podcasts and movies from iTunes. Search "Immigration Stories" by David Grubin and WETA to understand the background of our country's immigrants and the difficulties they faced. Remember their triumphs when you learn more about the Mexican immigrants. Next search "Condoleeza Rice on Immigration Reform" and listen to her passionately speak about the importance of immigration in our country. When you have finished with iTunes, move onto our "Issues and Controversies in American History" database. There, you will search for two articles, one called "Immigration and Cultural Identity" and the other titled "Public Opinion on Immigration". From these two articles, you will understand some of America's feelings on immigration as well as the impact they have on our country. A peer's blog article "Tortilla Curtain: Problems Hispanic immigrants are facing" details many issues aliens deal with inside our country. Through my delicious page, you can find outside blogs and articles on this topic. Some advocate for immigration rights while others explain why immigration is a problem. Lastly, using quote excerpts from the novel will give both sides on the immigration debate. Once you have formed your opinion, start making your commercial!

The Grass Isn't Always Greener...

A New York Times article from December 7^th, 2005 called “Most Mexican Immigrants in New Study Gave Up Jobs to Take Their Chances in U.S,” outlines the basic reason Mexican immigrants flood America: work. Nina Bernstein, after careful research and a survey that included 5,000 Mexican immigrants, realized that many of those immigrants had came to America because they had greater chances of making money. Though “most of the immigrants had been employed in Mexico” (Bernstein Paragraph 4), they find that they will make more money in America, despite the sacrifices and suffering they will have to endure. A typical earning for the immigrants of $300 a week in America greatly outweighs the average wage for a worker in Mexico. Even without US citizenship, the foreigners still are able to find work. Ever since our last recession, construction has been a major aid to repairing the economic growth of our country. It was reported that the “the most recent to arrive were more likely to have worked in construction or commerce” (Bernstein Paragraph 8) instead of agriculture. Due to the flexibility of these new workers, they are able to fill the missing positions. However, their wages are prone to variation. Fifty-six percent of those situated in Atlanta or Dallas made over $300 a week, while “60 percent reported earning less than $300 a week” (Bernstein Paragraph 13) in Fresno. Until things in Mexico change, many more Mexicans should be expected to flood our country with high hopes of making a considerably larger wage.

            The Tortilla Curtain, a novel by T.C. Boyle, shares the story of two couples living in Los Angeles. The first couple, Delaney and Kyra, are upper class Americans who enjoy the luxuries of life within their gated community. Yearning for a life like theirs are América and Cándido, two illegal immigrants who had just crossed the border and are desperately trying to attain the “American dream.” However, they find that their quest for prosperity will not come easy, proving to be especially difficult for América. The language barrier proved to be restricting for América could never communicate with her boss, even when she needed to ask for a common necessity like gloves. Boyle describes her efforts to converse with the man, “she tried again, in dumb show this time, rubbing her hands together and making the motions of pulling on a pair of imaginary gloves. Then he understood. Or seemed to,” (Boyle 135). Similar to the article, which said that the “lowest wages were reported by women, people who spoke little or no English, and those without identification,” (Bernstein Paragraph 13), all of which categories América falls under. For her full day of work, she was only paid twenty-five dollars.

            América and Cándido, who had only been in the country for two weeks, surrendered much of their luxuries from home to come to America. Their food supply was diminishing, their stomachs “had shrunk” and Cándido’s “pants were down around his hips,” (Boyle 122) from the sharp decrease in his food intake. At their home in Mexico, they were never without food. Every day they “would have had enough to eat,” at home but “to succeed, to make the leap, you had to suffer,” (Boyle 139). The article stated that the majority of the Mexicans coming in to the U.S. were “unlike the stereotype of jobless Mexicans heading north,” (Bernstein Paragraph 4), because they had a life at home that had provided them with food, work, and money. Like the fictional characters of América and Cándido, immigrants had to give up their lives in Mexico and risk survival for a chance at more money.

            Every day, countless lives are being lost and many don’t even know of their existence in our country. This is because they are illegal immigrants who have put everything on the line for a taste of the American dream. These immigrants are hungry, homeless, and longing for any job that can pay. Unfortunately, they can only realize the perils of a life without a stable job or home when it is too late and they are unable to return home. What is it that draws them here? It is the idea of making more money and one day owning their own home. However, there are many of these foreigners who never make it in America, who would have been better off at home where they don’t have to worry about a meal or finding work. These innocent Mexicans, who have nothing but hope, are crushed by the American fantasy. Those dreaming of a life in America should first be warned of the dangers that are entailed when coming here. Perhaps this will refocus their minds and help these men and women re-evaluate their priorities in life. For these immigrants, life in America has become more dangerous than crossing the border.

Bernstein, Nina. "Most Mexican Immigrants in New Study Gave Up Jobs to Take 
     Their Chances in U.S." New York Times 7 Dec. 2005. 11 Mar. 2009 
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