Topics for Further Study
Consider this passage from The Pearl: "An accident could happen to these oysters, a grain of sand could lie in the folds of muscle and irritate the flesh until in self-protection the flesh coated the foreign body until it fell free in some tidal flurry or until the oyster was destroyed." Enhance this description by consulting a biology text or a book on marine life, and interpret Steinbeck's pearl as a metaphor for human development.
If you were Kino or Juana (with only their knowledge), devise a plan to improve the dire situation of the community. Ensure you remain true to the characters as they are portrayed.
The story frequently references colonialism and race. Additionally, Kino represents the trope of the noble savage, and the dialogue is stereotypical of the newly colonized, despite knowing the Indians speak an indigenous language while the Europeans speak Spanish. Are these elements essential to the narrative? Whether you agree or disagree, explain why you think Steinbeck incorporated these additional tensions.
Consider the significance of this line from the story: "The thin dog came to him and threshed itself in greeting like a wind-blown flag, and Kino looked down at it and didn't see it."
Research Steinbeck's literary theory. Does he adhere to or deviate from his own theory in this story?
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