Some+Tortilla+Symbolism

__Opening Activity:__ In hopes that this might actually do some good and get some creative juices flowing try to participate. Each member of the group will pick some item in the room and give it a special meaning (i.e papers strew about the room could show how we deplete our natural resources and waste). After this has been completed try and make connections to various symbols used in other texts and see if they have the same meanings as the ones used in //Tortilla Curtain.//

__Symbols thus far in the text:__ So far in our discussions about the text we have established meaninings for some of the symbols. Today try and go deeper with this connecting each symbol to next one to create a flow event that might lead to a certain outcome.

Here are some of the symbols that I have recognized.

__The Wall:__ The construction of walls in the story has become overwhelmingly controversial. These physical barriers are meant to keep things out, but this doesnt always work and like expected the coyote comes back and take Osbert as well. As brought up in Abby's and Pat's discussions the walls might directly be linked to the barrier being built between Mexico and the US. The problem still hasnt been solved and who is to say that a simple wall will stop the influx.This might also have ties to communism and socialist ideals. Theres more to this and I want to get at it in discussion.

__The Coyote:__ The coyote is also a reoccuring symbol in the story. He possibly could represent the illegal immigrant, being that he is wild and untamed and an oppritunist. Candido is especcially like this whenever gets the chance to work and even when the turkey is offered to him. Another instance where T.C. Boyle might have made this a symbol to illegal immigrants is stated in Delaney's article he says, "The coyote is not to blame—he is only trying to survive, to make a living, to take advantage of the opportunities available to him" (p.215). The coyote must adapt to his surroundings just as Candido and America have had to. Although a little far fetched the coyote might represent the white people and how unbeknownst to them they are taking meaningful things away from the Mexicans community. "looming danger".

__Fire:__ The fire in the story occurs after Candido comes back to the campsite and tries to roast the turkey. He makes a fire that soon becomes uncontrollable and ends up catching onto the entire valley. This might represent the uncontrollable problem of immigration and how we all seem helpless to stop it. The fire might also represent how the Mexican people are reclaiming what was once thiers.

Some of the more Far Fetched ones:

__Food:__ Throughout the entirety of the novel there food and what they eat has been brought up on numerous occasions. Food can be a symbol of status and the rise to some form of status. In the begginng Candido and America had nothing more than a few bitter oranges to suck on. The turkey is the American bird to eat, we eat on Thanksgiving as they did in the story and we eat it whenever a special occasion comes around. The ability of Candido to get one shows just how much he wants to assimilate into the American community. Yet his glory time is abruptly stopped as the fire starts. Could the whole Thanksgiving, turkey and Pilgrim licsence plate things have something to do with each other?

__Elevation:__ America can be seen as the "city on top of the hill", that same quote is shown on our literature anthologies. Candido and America are camped in the canyon that is being overlooked by the Arroyo Blanco estates. This elevation difference might show how much the immigrants strive for and want to achieve.

There are more and I want to try and find them out in disscussion.

Questions: 1. What kind of connections can we make between the coyote reference and the characters in the novel? 2. As Americans we take many things for granted, do you think that Boyle is trying to make this clear with references to food and when the dogs are taken? 3. Can you take Jose Navidad as more than just bad character, is he the symbol that represents what we think of when say //Mexican?// 4. Is Boyle making connections to Communism when he talks about the wall and ostrisizing (sp) Mexican people from our community? 5. Does America's new born represent the hope of the new Mexican? 6. Are there any more symbols that we can bring out from the text that support some of the information?

Harris W.