Character Analysis For The Tortilla Curtain

After finishing part one of The Tortilla Curtain, I can tell that Cándido has not changed very much, at least not yet. He is very concerned about his wife and does not feel that he should be in the position that he is at the moment; unstable to work. It is easy to assume that his characteristics are affected through cultural legacy as well as a gender stereotype. For example, through gender stereotype; Candido should be the one out working to provide for his wife and unborn child while America stays to cook and clean. This can also be an example of taking risks.

Cándido does not feel that it is right for América to be out working while he is not. He feels that because he is the man in the relationship, he should be the one finding work for himself to make money. He is concerned about his wife being out; working because she should not have to do that. Because of the way Cándido was raised, he knows that it is not right for his wife to be out working and bring the food home. It is a cultural legacy. Machismo; he feels that he has to be strong, do manly work, and be responsible for his wife and unborn child. For example, he hides in the bushes, away from the white Americans, waiting for América to come out of the supermarket (Boyle 121-122). This gender stereotype clearly reflects the cultural legacy of Cándido.

The whole situation with Cándido hiding in the bushes at the end of the parking lot is also an example of this character taking risks. He is trying to avoid the white Americans outside of the store until he decides to go inside. Cándido feels unwelcome around these Americans. He was already hit by a man and had his things thrown and torn up with a message left behind, “Beaners Die” by two young red-headed boys. Taking this risk was just as bad, to Cándido, to when he and América tried to cross the border. Although, he did not want to risk going to the hospital because he was afraid that the hospital staff and police would find out that he is not legal and send him back to where he came from in the first place. If that had happened, América would be all by herself. I did find that culture affects behavior in this character. I think that people just follow what they believe they are supposed to do depending on their culture. Because it is a cultural legacy for men to be machismo, it is clear that this is a way how men build themselves as a person.

The men are expected to do hard work and support the family. Cándido’s behavior is well performed through his culture. He wants to protect his wife and be the one working while she does the cooking and cleaning at home. “No… I won’t have it. I didn’t want you to go out the other day… you got yourself lost, didn’t you? You were nearly separated from me - forever…” (26). From this I can tell that Cándido is a worried man, he loves his wife dearly and wants to support her in the best way that he can, even though he can barely move a muscle since the accident. Cándido’s losses are what is also affecting his behavior. Lossing his mother at a very young age, losing his first wife, and even losing himself at some point. Losing his first wife caused Cándido to lose himself. Based on psychological research, according to “The Loss of a Parent” article, children who lose a parent at such a young age are affected by it in their future. It is shown to lead to a long-term psychological damage in the individual. The children begin behavioral grief symptoms such as avoiding people or places that remind them of their loss parent, changes in their eating habits and crying. Since we do not know too much about Cándido and his mother’s relationship, I cannot say how he was affected as a child but as an adult, I can tell that he is reminded after the car accident. As an adult, one can feel emotions ranging from loneliness and emptiness to guilt and anger. In Cándido’s case, it is guilt and anger. He feels anger and takes it out on his wife, América not even realizing why he is doing it or what is causing him to. A psychiatrist and psychoanalyst named Grant Hilary Brenner, has shown that children who go through parental death are affected as adults when in a relationship.

Adults who experienced early parental loss are often more likely to struggle with depression, anxiety, self-blame, and even emotional eating. Just like Cándido, he has experienced depression in his relationship with Studies propose that these people are most likely to not get married, mostly women, or get married early because of the early parental death as a child. In contrast, others who did not have this experience as a child are more likely to become socially and financially stable, enjoy a high quality of life, and have better health; mentally (Kirkpatrick & Davis, 1994; Terling-Watt, 2001; Valle & Tillman, 2014). After Cándido lost his wife, he lost himself. He became a drunk because of that. Based on psychological reasoning, there are five stages of loss; denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. According to “The science of Men’s Behaviour After a Breakup,” they tend to lose control and they are more likely than women, to slip back into bad habits. They tend to do this to numb the pain; the negative feelings after a breakup. Cándido drank and drank to numb the pain and hoped that it would go away. It was just a distraction from what he was going through and from all the thoughts he was having. I think Cándido’s definition of success is money and making his wife happy. Since he has nothing; no home, no money, not much food, and not many clothes. I think this is all he wants for himself and América. He promised América a home. He wants his wife to be safe and not have to worry about her going to work. He wants to work and make money to provide food for his family. I am sure that Cándido sees Delaney as successful; white, nice car and his concern about his car first rather than him, but I do not think that is how Cándido sees himself as being successful. I can tell that Cándido is going to feel guilt and failure because he was not able to protect his wife, América, from being raped (141). I think that just might build up anger and fear in the character. Maybe later on in the book, I will find out how much shame and silence he feels. He might consider himself a horrible husband that will lead to problems between their relationship. He will most likely blame himself for not being able to take care of his lovely wife and unborn child. He will feel like a failure because he didn’t do the most important part of his job; protect his wife.

According to the author of “Gender Roles in Mexico,” discusses the roles of men and women based on their culture. Children watch those around them and learn what men and women should do. Just like Cándido, in his culture, he was taught to be the “man of the house. ” Because he is a husband, he should be the one working and providing the money for food and other supplies needed for a home. It explained that in Mexico when married, women should obey their husband. These roles were based on status rather than marrying for a passion of love. This being said, this can be Cándido and his wife América. Of course, he tells her that he loves her but is it true? Does a man who loves his wife hit her out of anger that is not even caused by her? This can also go back to when he lost everything.