Socratic Seminar #2 - The Tortilla Curtain

Socratic Seminar Questions
1. What did you think of the book?
2. How did the switching of narrators each chapter help you to better understand the book? Did the alternating ever become irritating? Did you have a preference as to who was narrating? Kyra, Delaney, Candido, or America? And did you feel like you were able to get to know one couple better than the other?
3. After reading "The Tortilla Curtain" do you have a different view on immigration?
4. Does the novel depict the experience of illegal immigrants well? Is it too farfetched?
5. The American Dream is a term with a definition that varies from person to person. What is America and Candido's dream? After the tragic mudslide, do you think that dream is still attainable?
6. How do the powerful usages of nature from the Coyote to the Forest Fire and finally the flood impact the novel?
7. It seems as though Candido and America receive much of the reader's sympathy. Do you sympathize at all with Delaney or Kyra?
8. Should this novel be considered controversial (socially, culturally, politically)? If yes, why?
9. Why does Delaney fall so far from his moderate views? Is he considered more of a radical against illegals or a common stance?
10. Does anything really change from the beginning of the novel to then end? Everyone is in a similar place at the end—what differences are there?
11. How do you feel about the end of the novel? Was it an optimistic ending or tragic?

Racist Myths About Mexican Immigrants

How has the stereotype of the Mexican immigrant created a hatred for them across America? The ridiculous racist myths people believe, not only make Americans out to be extremely ignorant but also end up turning the misconception around. Americans actually prove these myths to be true while Mexicans are the innocent ones, standing by the proving these common racist myths wrong. The racist myths many people believe about Mexican immigrants are beautifully listed in an article compiled by Chris Schefler as he questions, “who has a greater right to live and work here [America]” (Schefler 2001). In the article “Racist Myths about Mexican Immigrants”, Schefler lists his first myth: All Mexican illegals are looking for free hand out from people in the U.S. Schefler proves this theory to be false stating that most poor AMERICANS are constantly approaching by passers, asking them for spare change. Poor Mexicans merely find clever ways to collect their money, like selling things such as jewelry. Even if a Mexican happens to be more poor than an American, you will never see them asking for a handout. Mexicans understand that when they come to this country, they must earn their money through hard work and by a free ride from the American people. Ignorant Americans may believe “illegal” Mexicans simply expect to live on handouts, but it is the poor Americans that expect this.
Schefler’s second myth concerns the immigrants and taxes. Most of the population believes “Mexican ‘illegals’ pay no taxes, contribute nothing to our society or our economy, then rape our social services systems for free, unearned benefits” (Schefler 2001). The former statement could not be more false. Mexican workers DO pay taxes and the work for the lowest of the low when it comes to jobs. The pay for these workers is usually minimum wage or bellow minimum wage. This very often results in high profits for the illegal employer causing the worker to pay higher taxes (Schefler 2001). Because these workers fear they will be deported, they hardly apply for social services or even file for income tax returns. They will however seek medical attention and a primary education (because they are necessities). It is rather convenient that California recently passed a law that requires medical care providers and schools to deny their services to illegal immigrant, the only two social services they even use (Schefler). Schefler’s third and final myth may be the most absurd yet, illegals are criminals and because of this, they must be punished. Illegal Mexicans are not criminals (for the most part). Most illegals are simply in search of work in order to support their families.
I for one see the outrage against the Mexican immigrants as ridiculous and unnecessary. The American people are placing their anger in the wrong people. The Mexicans do not beg or ask anything of the people that live here; they pay their taxes, and work the worst jobs in order to support their families. So why is there so much animosity? How did the immigrants become responsible for the economic troubles in our country? If anything it is our own fault. Employers hire illegal immigrants every day, well aware that they are “breaking the law by employing undocumented workers” (Schefler 2001). These concepts and myths can all be seen within the first one hundred pages of the novel “The Tortilla Curtain” written by T.C. Boyle. Boyle describes the life of an illegal couple living in Southern California. The struggles of trying to maintain a job, find food, and simply trying to survive in general are seen through Candido and America. Their lives change and are affected by Delaney and his wife Kyra when Delaney accidentally hits Candido while driving, Candido is badly injured, but due to fear of being deported, the refuses to go to the hospital. Candido, along with other Mexicans, goes against the previously listed stereotypes. This only demonstrates the ignorance that is displayed by many people in the United States (and other countries).
Novels like, “The Tortilla Curtain” help many to see just how absurd stereotypes can be. They provide a justification for many of their actions, and an accurate portrayal to the mexican immigrant's life. The plain truth is: mexican immigrants are looking for ways to support their families, not live off the American people. And thanks to some brave people, the stereotype is only closer to becoming false.

Source:
http://academic.udayton.edu/race/02rights/guadalu4.htm

The O.C.

The popular teen melodrama TV show, The O.C., that portrays its characters as young, skinny, beautiful residents of Newport beach in southern California, suddenly takes a turn and gives the female main character a girlfriend. On the surface, Marissa Cooper is the stereotypical rich, popular girl in high school but, those close to her slowly learn she is the “suffer in silence” type: constantly passing out on front lawns after long nights of drinking, “accidentally” overdosing on drugs, and creating a seem of endless love triangles. Her straining relationship with her mother and decaying family are the motives for her self-destructive behavior and well into the second season, Marissa becomes interested in Alex, a girl. Viewers can find Marissa’s switching of teams either expected or completely shocking. People either applaud her for breaking the stereotype of a girl in her environment, or predictable due to her rebellious behavior. So the real question is: Does Marissa develop true feelings for another female? Or is her relationship a stint used to ignite tension and irritate her mother?

The answer to the former question is easy: Marissa is looking for another way to piss her mother off. Even Julie (her mother) is able to see through her actions. Another controversial issue surrounds Marissa’s curiosity: ratings. With season one’s ratings that had an average of about ten million viewers, The O.C. expectedly came in strong with their second season premiere of eight million viewers. But, as the season dragged (yes, dragged) along ratings slowly began to plummet. When ratings drop that low with a series that had so much promise the previous season, writers inevitably become desperate. I for one see Marissa’s lesbian relationship for about 5 episodes as an act of desperation. Bravo to The O.C. for taking a risk but if the relationship was simply a ploy to gain more viewers, then shame on them.


The growing suspicion of the ratings stunt was confirmed by Marissa and Alex's inevitable break up. Both Marissa and Alex acted completely out of character, causing the relationship to come to a hault very quickly. Once the writers got what they wanted out of the two week relationship, they put a stop to Marissa's bi-sexual ways and traveled down the road of Ryan and Marissa again. The relationship and confusion Marissa went through would have been genuine and related to teens across the nation watching the show, if the intention wasn't so painfully obvious. Although I’d like to think The O.C. would be willing enough to take a chance and break the stereotype of the gay teen, the story line was most likely a way to simply raise ratings. The motivations of the writers and of Marissa were corrupted. The writers weree looking for more viewers who are interested in seeing their favorite main character begin a relationship with another member of the same sex. Marissa Cooper was looking for yet another way to torment her mother and continue the same vicious cycle of hatred between the two. Once Marissa realizes Alex is looking for a real relationship, one that involves paying rent, taking out the garbage, doing the laundry, etc. she gets out faster than she bought that new Chanel bag last week.