Literary Analysis for The Pearl
“This doctor was of a race which for nearly four hundred years had beaten and starved and robbed and despised Kino's race,” (9). In The Pearl by John Steinbeck, a Native American family finds a pearl that lifts their hopes and dreams just to crush them once again. Kino, the father of the family, is a very ignorant man, especially about the town’s doctor, the priest, and the pearl buyer. Using characterization and dialogue, Steinbeck expresses that ignorance leads to oppression. To begin with, Kino does not know anything about scorpion bites, so he assumes that the doctor can cure Coyotito’s sting. At the beginning of the novel, a scorpion stings Coyotito's arm, and the family seeks for the doctor. Since …show more content…
Starting off, the news of Kino finding the pearl reaches the priest and he wonders, “what the pearl would be worth,” (21). The Priest knows that Kino will give to the church, because of his new possession. This leads the readers to believe that the priest definitely has an eye on Kino's pearl when he wonders, “what the pearl would be worth,” (21). Also, the Priest considers what else he has done for Kino’s family, such as “baptizing Kino's baby for that matter,” (21). To confirm such things, the Priest visits Kino to have a talk with him which is very rare, considering the villagers said “'The father us coming!’” (27) in excitement. It is very unusual for the Priest to visit Kino in his village, since he lives a higher life of poverty. Since Kino is illiterate, he does not know as much, and the priest takes advantage of that. Readers know the priest is taking advantage of Kino when he says “‘ Thy namesake... sweetens the minds of thy people didst thou know that? It is in the books.’” (27). (LOOK FOR MORE EVIDENCE TOO …show more content…
Steinbeck expresses that people who are ignorant can easily be oppressed. He uses the doctor, the priest, and the pearl buyer, and their dialogue and characteristics, to prove his point. The dialogue and characterization really impacts the story, because they're mainly used throughout the novel, other than symbolism. The message is important to understand, because today, we as people, take advantage of others because of how they think. If people took time to realize how consistent this is in our society, maybe we would stop and think how we could stop it
“This doctor was of a race which for nearly four hundred years had beaten and starved and robbed and despised Kino's race,” (9). In The Pearl by John Steinbeck, a Native American family finds a pearl that lifts their hopes and dreams just to crush them once again. Kino, the father of the family, is a very ignorant man, especially about the town’s doctor, the priest, and the pearl buyer. Using characterization and dialogue, Steinbeck expresses that ignorance leads to oppression. To begin with, Kino does not know anything about scorpion bites, so he assumes that the doctor can cure Coyotito’s sting. At the beginning of the novel, a scorpion stings Coyotito's arm, and the family seeks for the doctor. Since …show more content…
Starting off, the news of Kino finding the pearl reaches the priest and he wonders, “what the pearl would be worth,” (21). The Priest knows that Kino will give to the church, because of his new possession. This leads the readers to believe that the priest definitely has an eye on Kino's pearl when he wonders, “what the pearl would be worth,” (21). Also, the Priest considers what else he has done for Kino’s family, such as “baptizing Kino's baby for that matter,” (21). To confirm such things, the Priest visits Kino to have a talk with him which is very rare, considering the villagers said “'The father us coming!’” (27) in excitement. It is very unusual for the Priest to visit Kino in his village, since he lives a higher life of poverty. Since Kino is illiterate, he does not know as much, and the priest takes advantage of that. Readers know the priest is taking advantage of Kino when he says “‘ Thy namesake... sweetens the minds of thy people didst thou know that? It is in the books.’” (27). (LOOK FOR MORE EVIDENCE TOO …show more content…
Steinbeck expresses that people who are ignorant can easily be oppressed. He uses the doctor, the priest, and the pearl buyer, and their dialogue and characteristics, to prove his point. The dialogue and characterization really impacts the story, because they're mainly used throughout the novel, other than symbolism. The message is important to understand, because today, we as people, take advantage of others because of how they think. If people took time to realize how consistent this is in our society, maybe we would stop and think how we could stop it