Abstract The paper paints a picture of a white, privileged individual who is compassionate about the environment but is utterly insensitive to the implications of his lifestyle upon the lives of others. The paper highlights the contrast between Delaney Mossbacher's liberal, environmental and humanist ideals and his actions and lifestyle. The paper shows how he is fanatical about recycling, yet essentially treats another human life like a piece of trash.
From the Paper "White, privileged, compassionate about the environment--and utterly insensitive to the implications of his lifestyle upon the lives of others. All of this is embodied in the first actions of Delaney Mossbacher in T. Coraghessan Boyle's 1995 novel Tortilla Curtain. At the beginning of the book, Delaney accidently hits an illegal immigrant and injures him. He offers Candido money in compensation, only 20 dollars, and because Candido cannot go to the hospital for fear of being discovered by the authorities, the man accepts the offering. Candido's wife is pregnant, and now that Candido is injured, he will be unable to earn money to support America."
Abstract Examines the character of Delaney in T. Coraghesson Boyle's novel. Argues that the character is a stereotypical racist who is intolerant of the differences between himself and Mexicans and Mexican Americans who interfere with his Southern California Yuppie lifestyle. Features of his intolerance. Depicts Delaney as a man whose intolerance overrides his conscience.
From the Paper "The character of Delaney, in T. Coraghessan Boyle's novel Tortilla Curtain, is a stereotypical racist intolerant of the differences between himself and the Mexicans or Mexican-Americans who interfere with his wealthy, yuppie lifestyle in Southern California. They interfere, first, by simply existing, because their existence, to Delaney, brings with it many undesirable qualities and habits:
There wasn't a trail in the Santa Monica Mountains that didn't have its crushed beer cans, its carpet of glass, its candy wrappers and cigarette butts, and it was people like this Mexican or whatever he was who were responsible, thoughtless people, stupid people, people who wanted to turn the whole world into a garbage dump, a little Tijuana . . . (Boyle 11)."
Abstract The paper analyzes the character of Delaney Mossbacher, a white, upper-middle-class, naturalist writer who becomes increasingly prejudiced and violent toward Mexicans in T. Coraghessan Boyle's novel, "The Tortilla Curtain."
From the Paper "Delaney Mossbacher is a nature writer whose life changes dramatically after he hits the car of Candido Rincon, an illegal Mexican immigrant. Mossbacher's 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."
This paper looks at the way in which black police officers have been slowly working their way to becoming highly respected and equal members of the police force, the past several decades.
1,480 words (approx. 5.9 pages), 0 sources, 2001, $ 48.95
Abstract The following paper traces the history of discrimination against African-American police officers from the system, their peers and society. The author traces this discrimination according to several aspects: the hurdles after the war, black police groups, police brutality, gains in law enforcement and measures to fight discrimination.
From the paper:
"W. Marvin Delaney portrays the black experience in American police departments from the post-Civil War period until today in his book, Black Police in America. The book follows black police officers from a time when they were treated as inferior officers to the present, where many of the nations? top law enforcers are colored".
Abstract This paper introduces and discusses T.C. Boyle's "The Tortilla Curtain", a novel on the struggles of two couples as they try to achieve the American Dream; one already handed the chance on a silver platter and the other daring the impossible by crossing illegally into America. The paper shows that while Boyle shows off the endless possibilities of the cliched American Dream, his novel impresses on his readers only the futility of attempting to live it, rather than the success that countless of immigrants and Americans have found while fulfilling their dreams and destinies. The paper explores Boyle's use of imagery, including the image of the coyote which is present throughout the book.
From the Paper "There is a lot of emphasis on materialism in the idea of the American Dream, and the Mossbachers seem to be the epitome of both. Contrastingly, the Rincons are desperate to achieve this materialism, which forms the basis of their American Dream. Where there should be a stronger urge for freedom, the Rincons seek fortune in America.
Through materialism, Boyle shows another feature of the American Dream ? greed. Though it is not obvious, the people in Southern California may be driven by their desire for more as a reason to keep illegal immigrants out, knowing that they too are driven by a strong desire."
Abstract This paper analyzes the above book on the sociological ramifications of Chapter 11 bankruptcy and how bankruptcy has become a legitimate business tool that is often used by corporations. It discusses how the book reveals a great deal about the connections between law, economics and sociology and how since corporations have begun to use Chapter 11 filing as a legitimate business strategy, bankruptcy has become an increasingly common means to address social issues like victim compensation and labor issues. It shows how the legal system, in addressing an economic issue, ultimately plays an important role in the social fabric of American society.
From the Paper "Delaney's discussions also reveal a great deal about the connection between law, economics, and sociology. He notes that bankruptcy court is rapidly becoming a way for companies to address a wide variety of social concerns, rather than as a way to address economic problems. As such, it appears that our society is now endorsing, or at the very least allowing, financial and legal solutions for a variety of troubling social problems that commonly arise within the corporate sphere."
Abstract T. Coraghessan Boyle's novel, "The Tortilla Curtain", offers readers a close-up, graphically realistic view of the hardships that confront Mexican immigrants trying to find the American Dream, juxtaposed with the "good life" of an affluent family living behind stylish walls. This review of "The Tortilla Curtain" compares and contrasts the main characters in the novel, Delaney Mossbacker and his wife Kyra and Candido Rincon and his wife America, in order to come to a greater understanding of the social issues facing Mexican immigration. The report also incorporates the views of writers, critics, and scholars to understand the bigger picture of Chicano labor history and the deeper meaning behind Boyle's literary effort.
From the Paper "To Candido (49) that very canyon, with its ?little clearing by the stream,? its "leaves" and "rocks" all seemed ?unchanging, eternal, as dead as a photograph.? And, living there in the canyon, Candido saw it as ?a jail cell and he was a prisoner, incarcerated in his thoughts.? In fact, Boyle continues, at least prisoners had an opportunity to read something, listen to a radio, a place to sit and "take a contemplative crap" ? while for Candido, his prison was unchanging, and all he did was doze, wake up, and sleep again. There were no license plates to make, or rocks to break. Just a sun that was always "in the same place in the sky" (50)."
Abstract The work, "Having Our Say" by Sarah and Elizabeth Delany, is one of the most foundational works expressing black American values through modern oral history techniques. This paper shows that many of those who have said and done extraordinary things in extraordinary times are not artists and writers, but everyday people with a simple set of values passed down to them by their times and the most influential people in their lives, their parents. The paper shows that the thoughts and expressions of value and quiet perseverance of the Delany sisters are a direct reflection of the words, actions, and thoughts of their loving and wise parents, Nanny James Logan Delany and Henry Beard Delany.
From the Paper "Mr. and Mrs. Delany challenged their circumstances daily while still making sure they protected themselves and their children. In one memorable passage in the work the Delany sisters comment of the way in which their parents referred to one another. They called each other Mr. and Mrs. Delany, not because they felt the need to be overly formal or pretentious but because, as the sisters put it, people of color were referred to by their first names almost exclusively in public because, ?It was a way of treating them with less dignity.? (9) "
Abstract This paper debates the continuation of the American Farm Bureau (AFB)and examines the influence of the AFB on the quality of our food. The paper discusses the problems that arose for the AFB, after the passage of the Food Quality Protection Act. The paper also claims that the Regulatory Fairness and Openness Act did not fulfill its purpose of keeping the EPA rulings reasonable.
From the Paper "When the Delaney clause was removed from the books in 1996, the EPA assured the Farm Bureau that it would introduce a sensible approach to measuring and regulating crop protection residues in food supplies using an approach based on scientific data. American farmers were assured that scientific assessment, not perceived risk would be the method used to determine the needed regulations to ensure the safety of our food supply. Unfortunately, the EPA determined by unscientific means that organophosphates and carbamates should no longer be used for crop protection. These chemicals are used to protect many of the fruits and vegetables and have been proven safe by means that are scientific."
This paper explores the concept of "Negro Art" from the Harlem Renaissance period by analyzing the philosophies of two of that movement's central leaders.
Abstract This paper discusses the philosophies of three leading figures of the Harlem Renaissance--Langston Hughes, George Schuyler and W.E.B. DuBois. The paper describes Langston Hughes' "The Negro and the Racial Mountain" in which he attempts to prove that the desire to not be associated with a specific ethnic class is tantamount to racial self-hatred. The author then explains that George Schuyler in his "The Negro Art Hokum" argues that African-American artists are not some sort of unified bloc and that the imposition of subject matter and style is belittling and racist. Next, the author of the paper applies the conclusions of Hughes and Schuyler to two paintings by Beauford Delaney, a prominent painter of the Harlem Renaissance. The paper concludes that the fairest and most logical approach to the study of "Negro Art" lies somewhere between Langston Hughes and George Schuyler.
From the Paper "Another of Delaney's works that highlights the necessity of forming a compromise between Hughes' and Schuyler's contrasting theories on art is his famous pastel drawing of James Baldwin, the American writer and novelist. Although the two were close friends, Delaney does not attempt to transmit, through his strokes, a sense of his love of and appreciation for Baldwin. Had he wanted to do that, he surely would have created a different portrait than the eerie, anxiety-riddled, and yellow-hued portrait that he actually made."
Abstract The paper describes "Tortilla Curtain" by T. Coraghessan Boyle, as a late 20th century novel that embodies many of the cultural conflicts occurring in 21st century America today between Caucasians and Hispanics. The paper then relates that these conflicts are embodied in the experience of two couples in the novel, Delaney Mossbacher and Kyra Menaker-Mossbacher, and Candido and America Rincon. The paper also relates that Boyle's novel conveys the hypocrisies of a nation that defines 'American' in a narrow way and claims to hate illegal immigration even while it depends upon the labor of Hispanic individuals, especially in the affluent yet economically and culturally divided California local where the novel is set.
From the Paper "The novel suggests that cultural interaction is impossible to avoid. The novel exposes liberal as well as conservative hypocrisies, particularly in the way that it shows that Delaney's supposed concern and compassion for the environment does not always translate into compassion for humanity, when he accidentally hits Candido with his car in Part I of the novel. By depicting the lives of two very different couples, living in close proximity to one another, Boyle's novel shows the great gulfs of prosperity that exist side-by side in America."
