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Article analysis Everything in this article seems to be relevant to the topic and reliable. Because the article is on a book, there is not a claim on anything but, rather, it gives information on the book. The information that the page gives is very detailed and provides reliable evidence to what is provided. Though there is little information provided, the things that are provided are well developed and helpful. There are a few things, however, that I would change. For example, in this article, it has a section specifically for what John Steinbeck has written. This information is relevant, but it makes more sense to be in a different article since it has to do with the author rather than the actual book. Instead of this information being in the article for The Pearl, there could be a hyperlink to another page that is specifically for John Steinbeck. This would make the article more about the actual book, but it would still help readers to gain more information about the related topics. Additionally, there are some things missing. In this page, it only gives the summary of the book, but, there should be an expansion on the characters and the major themes of the book to help the reader understand the plot more deeply and develop the page more. Though the characters are mentioned in the summary, there should be an in-depth analysis on how they contribute to the plot and develop throughout the narrative. Additionally, there should be a section for the major themes of the book so that the reader can understand what the author is trying to communicate. This is important because authors do not typically write novels just to tell a story, but rather, a message. In this book, there are several things that the author is trying to convey and those are given in the themes of the book. By adding this section, the reader will also better understand the book as a whole. The article is already solid in what it has, but it should have a lot more. Additionally, all of the information is cited properly and all of the citation links work. Not only do they work, but they are also accurate. Each one of the citations are scholarly sources that appear to have been peer reviewed and deal with the novel. They all discuss how the novel is important and digest all the major themes that give the novel importance. Unfortunately, this analysis did not carry over into the Wikipedia article. The article only discussed the summary, but all of the citations go deeper, which is what the article need to do. Though the what is written in the article is very well developed, it is missing a lot of content that could be useful to the readers. By adding additional content, the reader will not only know what happens in the book, but also why the author wrote the information. Without reading the novel, the reader should be able to understand the importance of the book and only going into depth for the summary is not enough to do that.
Characters
Kino is the main character that develops throughout the novel. He begins as a hard-working, simple man that has a wife, Juana, and a son, Coyotito. He is content with his life-style as a diver but is not wealthy until he discovers the pearl. After discovering the pearl, Kino gradually changes to become a completely different man. Though his family is still the center of his actions, he is also driven by greed. Quickly, he becomes obsessed with the material things that the pearl could bring, which is drastically different than before. He is no longer content with his son being uneducated, or his family not being well-dressed. Instead of enjoying his family and their company, as he did in the beginning, he becomes discontent and always seeks more.[1]
Juana, Kino’s wife, is a secondary character. She is a loving woman who cares for her husband and son. Throughout the experience, she remains loyal to her family but also perceives the evil that the pearl brings. For example, one night, she attempted to throw the pearl back into the ocean to bring back peace and happiness to her family, demonstrating her wisdom and love for them.
Coyotito is Juana and Kino’s infant son. He is their only child, so his parents do everything they can to protect him. Unfortunately, despite his parents’ love and effort, he is subject to much harm, both before and after the pearl is found.
The Doctor symbolizes greed and manipulation. Before the pearl is found, he refused to heal Coyotito because the family was poor, though it would have been easy. However, after the family found the pearl, he returns to the family much friendlier. Not only is he particular to who he treats, demonstrating his greed, but he also uses their ignorance to his advantage by lying about how to treat Coyotito. The doctor is a stark contrast from the family and is the beginning of the evil that will come from the pearl.
Juan Tomas, Kino’s brother, is wise and loyal. In the beginning, Juan Tomas warns Kino of the destruction that wealth may bring,[2] demonstrating his love for his brother. When destruction does come, however, Juan Tomas does not arrogantly turn away his brother but, instead, welcomes him in to protect him. He is one of the few characters that does not seek money and knows the importance of family
The pearl dealer is another character that demonstrates greed and manipulation. When Kino tries to sell the pearl, the pearl dealer refuses to take the pearl for its actual price. Instead, he says it is worth less so that he could make more money. He heightens the difference between what Kino wants from the pearl and what it actually brings.[3]
Themes
Family -One of the major themes in the novel is family. Throughout the novel, the plot discusses how the family lives before and after the pearl. It is constantly the focus of the plot and many of the decisions are based on what would be best for the family. For example, the first thing that Kino desires to do with the money from the pearl is to give his wife and Coyotito a better life.[4] This money would pay for Coyotito’s education, better clothes and better protection. Later, Kino also demonstrates devotion to his family by not selling to the pearl dealer. The second buyer was trying to get the pearl for less than it was worth, but Kino, with his family in mind, declined to search for a better deal. He always has his family in mind, whether it leads to warmth and happiness or destruction. It was the reason Kino got the pearl and, eventually, the reason why he threw it back into the ocean.
Good and Evil -One of the biggest themes in this novel is the one between good and evil. This theme is displayed in other themes as well and it is shown from the beginning to the end. In the beginning Kino lives a life of simplicity and happiness but when he discovers the pearl, he believes that good will come from it. Unfortunately, a sense of evil accompanies it. After that, Kino and his family were in a constant battle against evil to preserve the good that they enjoyed before.
Paradox -The theme of paradoxes is displayed through Kino’s desires. Once Kino discovers the pearl, he begins to dream about what could come from this fortune, but as he tries to carry out this plan, the good wealth also brings destruction. Though Kino desires good for his family, there is a paradox of an evil reality that he does not want. Kino tries to “avoid life’s inevitable tension” between these two but he finds that he cannot separate the good and the evil. In the end, the finding of the great prize causes him to lose another, his son.[5]
Perseverance -The theme of perseverance is demonstrated by many characters, but mainly Kino. Before he found the pearl, he was determined to provide for his family and protect them from any harm.[2] After he finds it, he is determined to continue to do that but in a different way. Because Kino believes that this would save his family, he persists “though many obstacles” [5] that accompany the pearl. He perseveres to keep the pearl but, in the end, it was not worth keeping.
Reception and Analysis
These publications praised the novel as a "major artistic triumph" and emphasizes how Steinbeck understands "the universal significance of life." Unfortunately, this novel did not have as great of a review later on. Though many still believe that Steinbeck's work was a unique reflection on "the human experience," there are others who disagreed. Now, people like Warren French, criticize the novel for "lacking both insight and worth."[6] It is not only used to teach students about literature, but it is also used to discuss important lessons about life.[2] Many believe that the book is the easiest of Steinbeck's books to teach because the lessons are simple, yet significant,[3] so, generally, students that are in middle school or early high school study this novel.[7] Teachers intend to teach their students to go deeper than surface level to learn about both the simplicity and complexity of the novel. They emphasize the themes of the book to allow the student to learn more than just literacy. Never the less, this novel has played a significant role in history and has even won the Noble Prize[8]
References
[edit]- ^ Meyers, Michael (1 March 2004). "Wavering Shadows: A New Jungian Perspective in Steinbeck's the Pearl". Steinbeck Review. 1: 132.
- ^ a b c Steinbeck, John (2017). The Pearl. Penguin Books.
- ^ a b Reed, Arthea J.S. "A Teacher's Guide to the Penguin Edition of John Steinbeck' The Pearl". Penguin: 1–5.
- ^ Caswell, Roger (September 2005). "A Musical Journey through John Steinbeck's 'The Pearl': Emotion, Engagement, and Comprehension". Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy. 49 (1): 62–67.
- ^ a b Gladstein, Mimi (4 December 2009). "Fish Stories: Santiago and Kino in Text and Film". Steinbeck Review. 6 (2): 11–21. doi:10.1111/j.1754-6087.2009.01053.x.
- ^ Schultz, Jeffery D. (1 January 2009). "Critical companion to John Steinbeck".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Meyers, Michael (2005). "Diamond in the Rough: Steinbeck's Multifaceeted Pearl". Steinbec Review. 2 (2): 42–56.
- ^ "John Steinbeck - Bibliography". Nobel Media AB 2014.