TC Boyle, author of The Tortilla Curtain, stated in defense of his harsh portrayal of the characters Kyra and Delaney Mossbacher that, " If it's satire, it has to bite someone, it has to have teeth, otherwise it's useless" (Penguin Group). This is a response to critics who argue that Mossbacher's characterizations are flat caricatures and that Boyle's tone is not one of bold satire but of empty contempt and sarcasm. The reason Boyle describes Mossbacher's characters as extremely tough is so that they stand out. If they didn't stand out, they wouldn't serve the purpose of helping the overall satire expose the main theme. Therefore, critics of Boyle's text only support Boyle's view of good satire. Recognizing how much the characters stand out shows how effective Boyle's strategies are. Furthermore, critics recognize that Boyle uses sarcasm, which is an element of a satire that serves to reveal the main theme. Therefore, the harsh and critical portrayal of some characters and the sarcasm used are the reasons why The Tortilla Curtain is actually an effective satire, exposing the hypocrisy and racism in our society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Before delving into the main theme of The Tortilla Curtain and how it is exposed through satirical writing, we should first explore the argument that the work is not a satire. The Tortilla Curtain is a work that addresses the controversial issue of illegal immigration by illustrating two families: the Mossbachers, a wealthy couple who live in a gated community, and the Rincons, illegal immigrants who camp in a ravine near the Mossbacher home . One could argue that Boyle attacks those who are racist and insensitive to illegal immigrants by portraying the Mossbachers in such a harsh light. However, a publication is not a satire just because it attacks something or highlights the negative aspects of a society. Furthermore, as mentioned above, Mossbachers are seen as callous and ignorant and their hypocrisy can be satirical. However, a work containing satirical elements does not necessarily claim that work to be satire. How then can we argue that The Tortilla Curtain is not just a satire, but an effective one? The answer can be found in the previous argument that the work is not a satire. First, let's look at the initial description of the dictionary definition. Webster's reads that a satire is "A literary work which exposes human vices and follies to ridicule or contempt" (Agnes 551). Couldn't we perceive ridicule and contempt as an attack on something? There are many instances in The Tortilla Curtain where the author attacks racism and opposition to immigration. It does this by portraying the Mossbachers in a harsh and critical light with many follies such as insensitivity. For example, when Delaney Mossbacher hits Candido Rincon with her car, he doesn't call a doctor or call for help. Candido was not given any medical assistance, nor any kind of attention. No, the only thing Delaney does is give Candido twenty dollars. True, Delaney felt guilty, but only for a brief moment. Soon he “felt his guilt turning into anger, into indignation” (Boyle 11). Why was he angry? He automatically takes for granted that Candido is an illegal, a "criminal", who pollutes the environment, and feels first and foremost that he does not belong in that ravine or on that road. These would not be the thoughts of anyone who is not callous or discriminatory after brutally hitting a man with their car. Someone sensitive would feel sadand guilty and would do anything to help the poor man. Therefore, because the novel uses Delaney's character flaw of insensitivity towards illegal immigrants to attack racism, it can be considered a satire. Another human folly illuminated in The Tortilla Curtain that ridicules and despises those who discriminate is ignorance. For the sake of consistency, let's continue examining Delaney's character. An example of Delaney's ignorance occurs when graffiti appears on the wall surrounding Mossbacher's neighborhood. Delaney automatically believes the Mexicans did it. When he sets up a video camera to catch crooks, he expects to help the police catch them and give them "a one-way ticket back to Tijuana" (Boyle 320). However, Delaney has never seen anyone deface the property with his own eyes. He is unable to believe that all Mexicans are criminals and since he saw Mexicans in the area, it was the Mexicans who committed the crime. Once again, this illustrates the folly of Delaney criticizing discrimination in our society. Here, we see that to create a satirical effect and fully illustrate an important social issue, Boyle's choice of character traits for Delaney is exceptionally strong. Now consider the second definition given of "satire" in Webster's Dictionary: "Sharp wit." , irony or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly” (Agnes 551). To fully probe this, we need to understand the last part of the definition. What vice or madness is exposed and discredited? Boyle is attempting to expose and discredit the issue of hypocrisy and racism, which are vices and follies, of our society. Now we can consider how irony and sarcasm are related to Boyle's theme. Boyle uses his characters, Delaney in particular, to add irony to his novel. Isn't it ironic that Delaney writes for a nature column and is a member of a wildlife foundation, but on the other hand wanted to move directly into the space where animals live? This form of irony portrays Delaney as a hypocrite. Another example of Delaney's ironic thoughts and behaviors is evident with the issue of the new gate around the community. Delaney was against a gated community and believed there was no justification for “closing oneself away from the rest of society” (Boyle 101). Yet, it is ironic that he then gives in to his neighbors' plans to build a wall around the neighborhood. Finally, we consider how Delaney firmly believes in his liberal humanist ideals, as evidenced by his weekly environmentalist column. He believes that “immigrants are the lifeblood of this country” and that everyone has a duty to respect the dignity of others who wish to enter the country (Boyle 101). However, paradoxically, he believes that Mexicans are a threat, assumes that Mexicans caused the fire and graffiti, and ultimately tries to send Candido to prison, based on the fact that he is Mexican, when he picks up a gun and follows Candido to his refuge. All these examples of irony are used by Boyle to expose the theme of hypocrisy. After studying examples of how the novel is a satire that effectively exposes the theme of hypocrisy and racism, we must consider the critics' opinion that the Mossbachers are written as flat caricatures. In reality the critics are right. Boyle's characters are a bit stereotypical and predictable, but it's also true that that's exactly what this satire needs to present the issue. Boyle's characters, Kyra and Delaney, must be hollow for the satire to be effective, otherwise it would be too soft and would not help underline the theme or the fact that a change in the, 1996.