What is tradition? Tradition is the factor that holds up cultures, yet some traditions can be negative in the sense that they are not “up to date” with modern beliefs such as gender equality. Tradition plays a huge role in the novella, The Pearl, which is about a lucky but poor family who finds a magical pearl, by John Steinbeck, and the film, Whale Rider, directed by Niki Caro, which is about a young, headstrong girl who struggles in a patriarchal tribe. In both, tradition is mostly a good thing, but the negativity can be easily sighted. Most traditions, like the ones in Steinbeck’s book and in Niki Caro’s production, are positive. In The Pearl, the native Mexicans of La Paz have a positive tradition of making songs for everything they
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The Maori people tend to stick to their own beliefs and would not substitute in new ideas. This may be viewed as a good idea, but unfortunately, this means that the Maori people are not “up-to-date” with modern beliefs, mainly gender equality. This is evident when Paikea, the headstrong granddaughter of the chief, Koro, is shunned from the training course that the first born sons took to determine who would become the next chief. There was only one reason for this decision: Paikea is a girl. In The Pearl, gender equality may not be a very big problem, but racism definitely is. After reading The Pearl, one can infer that this negative tradition was the reason why Coyotito, the baby of Kino and his wife Juana, died. The reason that the doctor, a corrupt white male, will not treat Coyotito’s scorpion sting is because he is very racist towards the natives of La Paz. These natives do not, obviously, have white skin color. Kino’s baby has just been stung by a scorpion, so they need to go to the doctor. Once he and his wife, Juana, gets there, the servant is summoned to call for the doctor. “‘It is a little Indian with a baby. He says a scorpion stung it.’ The doctor put his cup down gently before he let his anger rise. ‘Have I nothing better to do than cure insect bites for ‘little Indians’? I am a doctor, not a veterinary.’”(Steinbeck 11). The doctor refuses to treat Coyotito’s sting
The Maori people tend to stick to their own beliefs and would not substitute in new ideas. This may be viewed as a good idea, but unfortunately, this means that the Maori people are not “up-to-date” with modern beliefs, mainly gender equality. This is evident when Paikea, the headstrong granddaughter of the chief, Koro, is shunned from the training course that the first born sons took to determine who would become the next chief. There was only one reason for this decision: Paikea is a girl. In The Pearl, gender equality may not be a very big problem, but racism definitely is. After reading The Pearl, one can infer that this negative tradition was the reason why Coyotito, the baby of Kino and his wife Juana, died. The reason that the doctor, a corrupt white male, will not treat Coyotito’s scorpion sting is because he is very racist towards the natives of La Paz. These natives do not, obviously, have white skin color. Kino’s baby has just been stung by a scorpion, so they need to go to the doctor. Once he and his wife, Juana, gets there, the servant is summoned to call for the doctor. “‘It is a little Indian with a baby. He says a scorpion stung it.’ The doctor put his cup down gently before he let his anger rise. ‘Have I nothing better to do than cure insect bites for ‘little Indians’? I am a doctor, not a veterinary.’”(Steinbeck 11). The doctor refuses to treat Coyotito’s sting