Character Analysis on Delaney Mossbacher
Danielle
English 01A 7:30
30 September 2013
Character Analysis Essay
In part one of the novel The Tortilla Curtain, Delaney Mossbacher has many personality traits that do not convince the reader he is a pleasant, all-American family man. Delaney shows narcissistic tendencies. His racist thoughts and actions are quite apparent, and Delaney’s lack of emotional intelligence becomes evident. Delaney Mossbacher Is not the man you may have been deluded to believe he is. Delaney is an absolute narcissist. He describes himself as a “liberal humanist with an unblemished driving record and a freshly waxed Japanese car with personalized plates.” (Boyle 3). This demonstrates how Delaney views himself- as someone who takes pride in his image being perfect. His personalized license plate and shiny waxed car are the first hints of his narcissistic personality. “Delaney’s first thought was for the car (was it marred, scratched, dented?), and then for his insurance rates (what was this going to do to his good-driver discount?), and finally, belatedly, for the victim.” (4). Those thoughts are the second clue to his narcissistic attitude. Delaney is materialistic, only thinking about himself and his car and his perfect image. He does not express concern for Candido until after he has worried about his car and his insurance. When Delaney eventually thinks about the man he hit, he says to himself “It wasn’t his fault, god knew- the man was obviously insane, demented, suicidal, no injury would convict him.” (4). Delaney’s view of himself that he is perfect and could do no wrong is completely flawed. Delaney’s racism is very clear in part one of the novel. “Delaney felt his guilt turn to anger, to outrage… it was people like this Mexican or whatever he was who were responsible, thoughtless people, stupid people, people who wanted to turn the world into a garbage dump, a little Tijuana.” (11). He uses hasty generalization to group Candido and all
English 01A 7:30
30 September 2013
Character Analysis Essay
In part one of the novel The Tortilla Curtain, Delaney Mossbacher has many personality traits that do not convince the reader he is a pleasant, all-American family man. Delaney shows narcissistic tendencies. His racist thoughts and actions are quite apparent, and Delaney’s lack of emotional intelligence becomes evident. Delaney Mossbacher Is not the man you may have been deluded to believe he is. Delaney is an absolute narcissist. He describes himself as a “liberal humanist with an unblemished driving record and a freshly waxed Japanese car with personalized plates.” (Boyle 3). This demonstrates how Delaney views himself- as someone who takes pride in his image being perfect. His personalized license plate and shiny waxed car are the first hints of his narcissistic personality. “Delaney’s first thought was for the car (was it marred, scratched, dented?), and then for his insurance rates (what was this going to do to his good-driver discount?), and finally, belatedly, for the victim.” (4). Those thoughts are the second clue to his narcissistic attitude. Delaney is materialistic, only thinking about himself and his car and his perfect image. He does not express concern for Candido until after he has worried about his car and his insurance. When Delaney eventually thinks about the man he hit, he says to himself “It wasn’t his fault, god knew- the man was obviously insane, demented, suicidal, no injury would convict him.” (4). Delaney’s view of himself that he is perfect and could do no wrong is completely flawed. Delaney’s racism is very clear in part one of the novel. “Delaney felt his guilt turn to anger, to outrage… it was people like this Mexican or whatever he was who were responsible, thoughtless people, stupid people, people who wanted to turn the world into a garbage dump, a little Tijuana.” (11). He uses hasty generalization to group Candido and all
Cited: Boyle, T.C. The Tortilla Curtain. New York: Penguin Books, 1996. Print.