In TC Boyle's novel The Tortilla Curtain, the author offers a distorted lens to highlight the differences between two couples from distinct cultures brought together through a series of unfortunate events. Candido and America Rincon are illegal immigrants from Tepoztlan, Mexico, and come into contact with Delaney and Kyra Mossbacher, an upper-middle class couple from Southern California. Social and physical boundaries play an important role in this novel as Boyle uncovers the clashes between a typical white "American" family and their lower-class Mexican neighbors. Thus, through irony and visible and invisible borders, Boyle mocks the American dream and thus reveals the true identity of these characters. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Boyle creates visible boundaries in the novel by describing Arryoo Blanco, the vibrant community where the Mossbachers live. Although the residents of Arroyo Blanco, which means "white stream" in Spanish, are mostly non-Hispanic Americans, they appropriate Mexican culture by building homes in the "Spanish Mission style", painted in one of three prescribed shades of white, with touches of orange. tiled roofs. At the lower edge of Arroyo Blanco is public housing where many illegal immigrants from Mexico live, including the Rincons. The residents of Arroyo Blanco are on a different social level than their Mexican neighbors. However, Kyra, despite being slightly racist, never pays attention to immigrants. However, when a coyote kills Kyra's dog, she now has an excuse to build a giant wall around Arroyo Blanco, which would physically block any communication or contact between the residents of Arroyo Blanco and people living in public housing . Meanwhile, Delaney disagrees with his wife and defends the Mexicans, shouting, "They're not coyotes, don't get your hopes up." It’s about Mexicans, it’s about black people. It is a question of exclusion, of division, of hatred. Through the conflict over the wall, Boyle mocks American suburban culture. The Mossbachers are willing to romanticize Mexican culture with their Spanish mission, but they want a gated community in order to keep real Mexicans out. Kyra attempts to isolate herself from the reality of life outside the Wall, but ends up creating a physical embodiment of the conflict between the two cultures. In the irony of this situation, Boyle reveals the racism inherent in upper-middle-class families like the Mossbachers. Boyle creates an additional physical boundary in the title of the novel itself, which shows the contrast between these two social norms. The “tortilla curtain” refers to the border that divides Mexico and Southern California and represents the wealthier upper-middle class. On one side of this border are families like the Mossbachers, and on the other side, the Mexicans who crossed illegally, the Rincons. Both couples pursue the American dream, but from opposite sides of the curtain. One family lives an easy and comfortable life while the other struggles every day to survive. However, at the end of the novel, life and death become the great equalizer between human beings. Both Delaney and Candido are in danger. Delaney is about to drown in a flood: “But when [Candido sees] the white face emerging from the black swirl of the current and the white hand gripping the tiles, he bends down and [takes] the hand. " At this moment, Candido breaks the tortilla curtain to save the life of his enemy...