The Pearl Archetypes

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Steinbeck's use of archetypes and symbols in The Pearl In Steinbeck’s The Pearl, archetypes and symbols are used to develop the theme of striving for the American dream. Corruption of wealth, greed, and fate all lead to the development of this theme. Steinbeck also uses correct historical representations of that time which greater represent the theme of the American dream. The American dream can be described as innovative and industrialized to create happiness. During the 19th century American immigrants that came from other countries worked as either farmers or domestic slaves. They produced iron, steel, textile mills, food, gas and electricity. They also opened up factories, small restaurants, barber shops, and many other small businesses …show more content…
They play important key roles in developing the plot, theme and conflicts of a story. Without archetypes there wouldn’t be the stereotypical protagonist hero character coming to save the day in today's movies and books. Throughout history archetypes have been roughly the same, a protagonist and an antagonist but the way they have been used has been distinctly different through time. For example, In Steinbeck's The Pearl Kino the protagonist who also serves as an underdog, has to face many difficult situations and life changes. For example, when Kino’s child Coyotito get stung by a scorpion Kino need to get the baby to the doctor. The doctor won't see Kino because Kino doesn't have anything that the doctor sees of value that he could want from Kino(Steinbeck 7 ). The doctor in this stands as an antagonist towards Kino and as an archetype due to later on in the story trying to deceive Kino and go against him once again. Steinbeck uses archetypes differently but still has the same concept that no matter what the protagonist still keeps going on. Although the novella had a not so American dream ending, Kino pushed through getting chased, deceived, and fighting his own inner greed to try and fight for his chance at the American dream. Steinbeck uses archetypes to set the theme of striving for the American dream by using them what they were made for. The protagonist pushes through no matter what, the antagonists try stopping the protagonists, the innocent wants to help the protagonist but doesn't know how and the fighter want the protagonist to push through. All of these can been seen in as archetypes in The Pearl. Kino the protagonist. The priest, pearl buyers, and the doctor are the antagonists. The innocent are Juana and Coyotito. The fighter is Kino's brother Juan

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