Tortilla Curtain: the Myth of the American Dream
América grew up in Mexico and is completely protected from the harsh realities of the world by her father. Her family lives in a small town and while they are not wealthy, they always have a roof over their head and food on the table. As evidenced by her name, her parents obviously wanted more for their daughter. They imagine that someday she can make it out of their village and make something of herself. América imagines the United States as a country where everyone can have a comfortable lifestyle if they work hard to achieve it. She acquires these fairytale concepts from the novels and television shows she sees in Mexico; these media only illustrate the lucky few who have prospered in order to glorify the United States. América and her husband, Candido, truly believe that in American society "where it [is] green and lush the year round and the avocados rotted on the ground, and everyone, even the poorest [has] a car, a house, and a TV" (26). They imagine that if they come to work in the United...
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