Theme Of Group Behavior In John Steinbeck

The following paper is a study of tracing the theme of group behavior in John Steinbeck’s novel, The Pearl. Steinbeck’s individuals exhibit group behavior that exerts significant influence on others. They form the foundation for the long span human survival. Steinbeck’s group-man theory rested on the view of human psychology and on the Darwinian understanding of cultural evolution. Steinbeck ultimately wished to convey a theory of human behavior grounded in a particular kind of biological naturalism. Steinbeck says there is a difference between the individual and as part of a group. He says that group is a unit often with a drive, intent, an end, a method. Steinbeck reveals some observations about the man’s behavior, both as an individual and …show more content…
Steinbeck says that while the constructive group behavior elevates the human nature, the destructive group behavior only leaves man with destruction, war, migration, hatred, and fear. Steinbeck thus saw a powerful force standing above individual men that made them components of a bigger entity, even as it threatened or debased their existence by destroying their individuality and working in irrational ways they could not understand or control. The Pearl’s message is universal which identifies the danger of materialism in it. The study explores the group behavior of the characters present in the novel as of constructive group behavior and destructive group behavior. The neighbours and the beggars are analysed under constructive group behavior while the doctor and the priest are observed under the study of destructive …show more content…
Everyone in the town knows that he has found ‘the Pearl of the world’, even before Kino returns to his brush house. People of every group in the town from the beggar to the businessman’s dream of how Kino’s pearl can help them. Kino and Juana ignorant of other’s jealousy, delight in their good fortune. They invite their family and friends to share their joy in their newfound treasure. All of the neighbours stare at the mighty pearl with a mixture of hope and fear at the enormous changes that lie ahead. Juana revives fire and the neighbours overstay even when the dusk approaches. Steinbeck uses his voice to present the beggars’ opinion of the doctor. The beggars know of the doctor’s ignorance, his cruelty, his greed for money. They also know about his clumsy abortions and his little pennies he gave sparingly for alms. They have seen his corpses go into the church. The neighbours and the beggars were eager to join the procession when Kino was about to sell the pearl. Even his brother Juan Thomas with his wife Apolonia and children takes a great care for Kino and wants to protect him from the evil