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Character Analysis on Delaney Mossbacher

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Danielle English 01A 7:30 30 September 2013 Character Analysis Essay In part one of the novel The Tortilla Curtain, Delaney Mossbacher has many personality traits that do not convince the reader he is a pleasant, all-American family man. Delaney shows narcissistic tendencies. His racist thoughts and actions are quite apparent, and Delaney’s lack of emotional intelligence becomes evident. Delaney Mossbacher Is not the man you may have been deluded to believe he is. Delaney is an absolute narcissist. He describes himself as a “liberal humanist with an unblemished driving record and a freshly waxed Japanese car with personalized plates.” (Boyle 3). This demonstrates how Delaney views himself- as someone who takes pride …show more content…

He doesn’t understand that they won’t listen because his problem is irrelevant to theirs. Delaney becomes angry, like a little child that throws a fit because nobody is paying attention to him. If Delaney was more a part of the community, and had more friends who maybe felt the same way about the things he did, he might have had more of a status in the meeting, but Delaney is like wallpaper. He doesn’t want to be invisible; he just wants to blend in with the rest of the world. Delaney’s racism has only escalated from the beginning of the novel to the end of part one, so one could surmise his problem will only become worse. He puts up a front of this perfect person who has no flaws, and is just a simple man- a “Moss- backer”. He will most likely have another encounter with a Mexican, and that would bring out his anger towards them even more. Delaney could start to realize from the meeting that if he became involved with the community, he could have more of a place in Arroyo Blanco Estates. If he does that, he might see that he doesn’t have to just blend in; he can have an influence in the things that go in in the community. Works Cited Boyle, T.C. The Tortilla Curtain. New York: Penguin Books, 1996.

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