Summarizer

In T.C Boyle's first chapters of his novel, The Tortilla Curtain, the protagonists exhibit very different life styles, and with alternating point of views, the reader discovers the differences between each of their lives. Told in third person point-of-view, Boyle provides the reader with the struggles that Candido suffers as a Mexican immigrant with his now pregnant wife, ironically named America, Dalaney Mossbacher was the exact opposite, he was rich and owned property at the top of the where Candido and his wife sheltered themselves. In these first five chapters we are allowed to see their true characters. Candido is a man with good intentions, looking for work in order to be able to support his family finacially, just minding his business. Delaney on the other hand is stuck-up he doesnt consider others feelings or situations and when he does ita for a quick second. In the beginning chapter, the scene opens with Delaney crashes, and later diacovers he ran over Candido. Throught the entire ordeal all Delaney could thing about was his damaged car and if he would get sued, he selfishly gave Candido $20 and drove off. As the story progresses we again see their true characters. Whenever Candido seems to accomplish something, a terrible inccident has to happen, and it outweighs the good. Both men show contrasting characeristics and both have different lives. Boyle uses alternating point of views in order to portray a better understanding in the differences of life, even if they are just feet away.