The Tortilla Curtain

Compare Delaney and Kyra’s relationship to Cándido and América’s relationship. How are they different? Are there any similarities?

The Tortilla Curtain follows two parallel storylines. Does the novel show one side of the story in a more positive light? Are all the characters treated equally? If not, why not, and to what effect?

The Tortilla Curtain was published almost 30 years ago. What critiques of the novel could you make based on the current immigration debate? In what ways are issues concerning immigration the same as in 1995, and in what ways are they different?

How are gender roles treated in The Tortilla Curtain? In what ways are traditional gender roles followed or broken, and how do characters feel about this adherence or deviation? How are men and women treated differently in the story?

Which character do you feel is the most important to the story? Is there a single hero or protagonist?

How do satire and irony function in The Tortilla Curtain? How do they support the novel’s themes and propel the storytelling?

In The Tortilla Curtain, every character faces varying degrees of misfortune. How do they deal with adversity, and why might one character’s approach be different from another’s?

Discuss the representation of the American Dream in the novel. What does the phrase mean to each of the characters, and what obstacles stand in their way of achieving this dream?