kchen
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Post by kchen on Feb 4, 2016 2:47:04 GMT
In "The Pearl," Kino's desire to use the pearl to improve his life reflects the American Dream. His hard work (searching for pearls every day) results in material wealth, which he hopes to transform to education and comfort. For his family, it is their path out of poverty. However, he is gradually corrupted by the pearl and is consumed by his greed, even attacking his wife when she tries to throw it back into the ocean. This reflects the fundamental flaw of the American Dream - people pursue wealth at any cost. With Kino, it's his morals and his own son. Instead of opportunity, he is surrounded by people who want to take the pearl and its wealth for themselves. Kino sacrifices almost everything for a pearl that he eventually throws back because he realizes that the cost was too high, thereby giving up on the American Dream. The American Dream itself isn't necessarily bad - it simply states that people from any path in life can gain wealth - but humanity's inherent greed corrupts it.
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Post by morganmassino on Feb 4, 2016 3:24:58 GMT
Great points, Kassie. Do you think that Steinbeck was pointing out the unattainability of the American Dream? While the idea of social mobility and the hope of being able to better one's status in society is enchanting to many, human nature ruins the chances of true success in achieving the Dream. If people were not so blinded by wealth and greed, they would find more success. As you mentioned, Kino is eventually consumed by his greed and he fights to protect the pearl from others. Although his original intentions are good (one thing he wants is to get an education for his son), his mind is soon overcome with the need to hold onto the one thing that gives him status in his community.
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ruchi
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Post by ruchi on Feb 5, 2016 22:42:34 GMT
You both make interesting points, and I agree that we definitely did see Kino's change his attitude after he had possession of the pearl. I think that, however, this attitude must be sort of prevalent with anyone who is chasing the American Dream, or really any goal at all. He has a desperate passion to keep succeeding, to keep gaining wealth, that normally in most success stories this would drive people to the top. In the end, some people's ambition and risk-taking pays off, and they hit it big, but unfortunately, many (like Kino) make a mistake and find themselves at the bottom yet again. I think this story is just different in that we saw the point of view of someone who almost reached the Dream but lost the gamble and suffered loss instead of prosperity.
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Post by colleenstrohlein on Feb 6, 2016 4:02:08 GMT
These are all great ideas, and I agree with Ruchi. I think that the story is trying to explain that the American dream comes at a high cost. This book seems unique in the aspect that Kino does achieve the American dream, if only for a second. However, the point of allowing him to get his dream but to have lost so much in the process is perhaps trying to point out that the American dream is possible, its just not as great as everyone perceives it to be. Also, if the pearl represents the American dream, then maybe Steinbeck was trying to show that you cannot live the perfect life because humans are selfish and each only cares about having a perfect life for themselves, therefore ruin anyone else's chances of coming close. Because each of the towns people and thieves are selfish and want the pearl, they will not allow Kino to keep it. To sum this all up Steinbeck may have been trying to convey that humans and their own faults hinder them from achieving the perfect American dream.
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Post by echeng on Feb 7, 2016 19:49:09 GMT
In the end, some people's ambition and risk-taking pays off, and they hit it big, but unfortunately, many (like Kino) make a mistake and find themselves at the bottom yet again. I think this story is just different in that we saw the point of view of someone who almost reached the Dream but lost the gamble and suffered loss instead of prosperity. When I read your post, Ruchi, it immediately reminded me of the lottery. You mentioned that sometimes while chasing their American Dreams, some people hit it big, while others find themselves at the bottom again (sometimes even worse than they started out). While the lottery does not fit the traditional definition of the American Dream of working hard to achieve a goal, the possible end results of both the lottery and the American Dream are eerily similar. I once read an article on the Business Insider, on the Top 10 Lottery Winners Who Lost It All; many of these unfortunate people squandered their money on drugs, parties, elaborate houses, etc. With the sudden inundation of money, these people seemed to have lost all sense of logic. Similarly, when one is obsessed with achieving the American Dream and keeping it, like Kino, the same descent is inevitable. |
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Post by amytheoriginalg on Feb 8, 2016 0:38:39 GMT
In the Pearl, I think another point to note is the fact of how dangerous having the pearl was for him. People were constantly after him and his family, and it caused his son to be killed. I think this is symbolic that the danger of the American dream can take many forms, and that having money in itself cant protect you from the unpredictability of life and human nature.
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Post by oliviamccubbins on Feb 8, 2016 4:22:34 GMT
I like the idea of the Kino being obsessed with the pearl. But I think part of it is you can only give yourself completely to one thing. At first Kino is dedicating his whole life to making his family and baby happy. He is devoting everything to protecting them, on the other hand, once he had the pearl he devotes his whole life to money. This one- eighty is basically a look at the American Dream and how it can be corrupted. When the baby dies it is the end he has given himself so completely to the money that nothing is left. His family is gone, his life is gone and in the end was it worth it. There is verse in the Bible saying what is it worth to gain the world if you lose your soul. I think that verse perfectly encapsulated the mentality of the Pearl and the American Dream of the time.
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