The American Dream in Boyle’s The Tortilla Curtain

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Table of Contents

Introduction
The American Dream: Representation in the Novel
Single Stories about the American Dream
Access to the American Dream
What it Takes to Achieve the American Dream
Obstacles to Achieving the American Dream
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

The American Dream is a complex term, implying the possibility of attaining wealth while living in a country that is granted to everyone. Even though it is not always clear how it can be done due to the difference in people’s life situations, the way they use opportunities emerging on the way matters. To confirm this stance, one can refer to the novel “The Tortilla Curtain,” written by Thomas Coraghessan Boyle, based on the pursuit of the prosperity of the main characters. In this work, the author discusses the actions of individuals affecting the outcomes of managing their resources, thereby showing that one’s responsibility is more significant for positive results than the overall environment. In this way, the American dream can be achieved by anyone who can carefully plan how they will adjust to external circumstances and make their decisions accordingly.

The American Dream: Representation in the Novel

In the novel, the American Dream is represented through the lens of its attainability for various population groups. Thus, the main conflict is caused by the growing suspicion of white citizens and Mexican immigrants starting from the first encounter between Delaney and Cándido. The former hit the latter with his car and does not help him in other ways but by giving money, and this neglect seems to be connected to the man’s origin (Boyle 11). This event triggers a series of other problems between the populations they belong to, including the stolen car of Delaney and the construction of the wall for protection (Boyle 119; 179). In both cases, the racist context is apparent; therefore, this circumstance demonstrates that the American Dream is hard to achieve until the challenge is adequately addressed. Since the relationships between different categories of people, depending on their background, is an existing issue in the United States, the portrayal of this goal can be viewed as accurate (Corea). In other words, one’s desire to become wealthy attributed to all people in the country is complicated by this factor.

Single Stories about the American Dream

The single stories told about the American Dream in the novel are realistic because they show the perceptions of the same conditions by different characters. For instance, the conflicts mentioned above are viewed by them as critical while the men, more specifically, Delaney and Cándido, do not agree regarding their source. For the former, the danger comes from the Mexican community, even though he originally claims that this standpoint is racist (Boyle 85). His opinion changes when the difficulties continue to emerge, and he sees no other alternative but to state that the immigrant workers are linked to them (Boyle 217). In contrast to Delaney’s attitudes, Cándido and América begin to hate each other and blame the place for their hardships (Boyle 219). The personal experience of the characters can be explained by their varying life conditions and, hence, are linked to the notion of the American Dream, which can be achieved by everyone while the efforts differ.

Access to the American Dream

At present, only wealthy citizens seem to have access to the American Dream, and those struggling with finances are in a disadvantaged position. According to Goodman and Mayer, this condition is determined by the fact that homeownership is important for this purpose (54). It correlates with “financial gains and a chance to build wealth,” and the lack of thereof, consequently, can be viewed as the reason why some people cannot implement this vision (Goodman and Mayer 54). In addition, the researchers claim that the American Dream is not achieved easily by those from poor backgrounds (Is the American Dream Dead or Alive? Depends on Where You Look”). However, despite the fact that these circumstances are critical, there are many other factors, and one of the most important among them is economic flexibility (Is the American Dream Dead or Alive? Depends on Where You Look”). It means that not only the citizens who possess sufficient resources but also those who can adjust to the environment during financial crises can reach this objective.

What it Takes to Achieve the American Dream

Achieving the American Dream in the present-day country takes much effort since individuals have to learn to live in a fractured society, which means that belonging to certain class matters. As follows from the conclusions provided by Richard Reeves, the main aspects which should be addressed include education and wages (Corea). In this situation, the mentioned terms are interconnected because academic successes determine people’s ability to earn money. Moreover, they should be capable of cooperating under the conditions of injustice (Grant). This task requires perseverance, and only those who manage to develop this quality have a chance to live the American Dream. In the case of immigrants, this factor is especially crucial as they face more problems in this area (Lopez et al.). Their living standards are not equal to those of the people born in the United States, and the struggles are more numerous. Nevertheless, one’s character appears to be more important than the background, and it implies that the American Dream is a reality despite the challenges on the way to it.

Obstacles to Achieving the American Dream

The mentioned issues correspond to the typical obstacles that are currently faced by the people throughout the country in their pursuit of material wealth. First, one needs to work hard to get promoted, while it is not possible for everyone due to their personal circumstances, including language mastery for immigrants (Lopez et al.). Second, the lack of motivation to do so can be caused by the fact that, generally, only the children of individuals living in poverty have opportunities for a better life due to their parents’ efforts (Lopez et al.). Third, the absence of sufficient resources for making a change might be viewed as a problem that not everyone can solve (Lopez et al.). Fourth, the seeming hopelessness of situations is usually conveyed to the offspring, who, in turn, become unwilling to work more for their benefit (Lopez et al.). In this way, the complexity of this challenge is defined by living conditions, willingness to improve, scarce finances, and improper attitudes of new generations.

Conclusion

To summarize, the American Dream is a reality that can be achieved by everyone regardless of the existing limitations. The experience of characters from “The Tortilla Curtain” by Thomas Coraghessan Boyle proves that the main reasons why people fail to do so are interpersonal conflicts rather than other factors. The single stories of these individuals serve as evidence of inequality promoted by citizens and not the environment because they are all concerned about their safety and see changes as a threat. Meanwhile, wealth can be accessed by all citizens despite their initial privileged position. In this case, flexibility in economic decisions and hard work can substitute for the benefits of specific population groups. The obstacles related to the financial aspect and generations’ perceptions can also be overcome when looking on the bright side and making an effort.

Works Cited

Boyle, Thomas Coraghessan. The Tortilla Curtain. Bloomsbury Publishing, 1995.

Corea, Nicole. “Who Can Access the American Dream?”Aspen Institute, 2017, Web.

Grant, Nick. “What is the American Dream Today & How It’s Changed.” Real Wealth, 2021, Web.

Goodman, Laurie S., and Christopher Mayer. “Homeownership and the American Dream.” Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 32, no.1, 2018, pp. 31-58. Web.

“Is the American Dream Dead or Alive? Depends on Where You Look.” Economic Innovation Group, 2017, Web.

Lopez, Mark Hugo, et al. “Latinos are More Likely to Believe in the American dream, but Most Say it is Hard to Achieve.”Pew Research Center, 2018, Web.

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