John Steinbeck's Writing Style in The Pearl - Case Study Example

John Steinbeck’s Writing Style in The Pearl I. The use of Spanish local color A. Spanish names B. Elements of the Catholic religion II. The use of a self-character or underdog III. The use of the theme of hatred, racism and discrimination IV. The use of the theme of naturalism A. The death of innocent Coyotito V. The use of a Marxist perspective VI. The use of figures of speech A. The use of metaphors B. The use of hyperbole C. The use of simile VII. The use of consistent characters John Steinbeck’s Writing Style in The Pearl John Steinbeck’s The Pearl is a story of a fisherman named Kino, who found the Mother of All Pearls, a very large pearl that he believed would change his life for the better. However, everything turned out to be the opposite of what he expected. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck employs various writing techniques not only to teach the moral lesson of the story but to demonstrate the theme of naturalism. One writing technique that Steinbeck employs in The Pearl is the deliberate use of Spanish and local color to show “[his] affinity for the people [he was] depicting, to position them with, rather than above, the working class” (Gladstein 81). In fact, according to Steinbeck himself, his boyhood friend Max Wagner had lived in Mexico for a number of years and had learned Spanish from him, and that Steinbeck’s father was able to learn Spanish while “cowboying for the Post family” (82). Obviously Steinbeck had considerable exposure to the language. In The Pearl, Steinbeck uses Spanish in the names of the characters Juana, Coyotito, Juan Tomas and Apolonia, as well as the place called La Paz. He also introduces a Catholic priest, who is a major character in any setting involving a criticism of religion. Moreover, the elements of the Catholic religion, which dominate Spanish culture, are also present in the story such as the Church, God and heaven. Perhaps, one reason why Steinbeck uses the idea of God and the Church is that he uses it as an avenue to criticize religion and the society that believes in God. Steinbeck may not be anti-Christian or anti-Catholic but through his portrayal of the jealousy of the townspeople and the greed in the priest, he somehow exposes the fact that sometimes people simply use the cloak of religion to hide their hidden evil desires. Another technique that Steinbeck never fails to use in The Pearl is the use of self-character, who is usually an “underdog” in the 1930s, and “whose world remains consistently bleak” (Benton 150). These underdogs usually demonstrate the highest possible level of their humanitarian ambitions and they may fail or triumph in the end, but in The Pearl, they fail. Perhaps, Steinbeck uses this technique in order to demonstrate the fact of life that God may not favor someone just because he is an underdog, not because God is a tyrant who favors only the strong and not because God favors people at random. The true reason that Steinbeck may want to portray is that God does not favor the greedy, the selfish and the proud, which Kino has become since he got hold of the Mother of All Pearls. A third technique that Steinbeck employed in writing The Pearl is the use of hatred, racism and discrimination in his novel (Khoudi iv). In the novel, the discrimination and hatred of the villagers focuses on Kino and his family for they are lucky to have acquired the pearl, which is a great fortune that the villagers believe they can never have. However, the villagers then begin to envy them for their good fortune. The dealers seek to fool them and the trackers seek to kill them just to have the pearl. It is also emphasized many times in the novel that Kino is an “Indian,” which seems to somehow justify the ill feelings of the townspeople towards him. However, what Steinbeck portrays here is the fact that people sometimes justify their criticisms with something that is too obvious when in fact their true reason for criticism is something deeper. For example, the townspeople may say that they dislike Kino for being “Indian” but it is actually envy that drives them towards this dislike. Another technique that Steinbeck used in writing his novels, including The Pearl, is the use of the theme of naturalism, or the idea that there is no divine power that saves and that eventually things may happen only at random regardless of how good and bad people have been (Pugh 70). In the novel, Steinbeck demonstrates naturalism as he relates the brutal death of the innocent baby Coyotito from gunshot. Coyotito is not involved at all in the story especially in the greed of his father and in the envy of the people. He is just innocent and no one would think he is supposed to die. Nevertheless, he dies, thus showing the reader the naturalistic principle that there is absolutely no guarantee in this life and in this world. Steinbeck also uses a Marxist perspective whenever he writes, and this technique is evident in The Pearl (Hicks 159). Such a perspective is demonstrated in the fact that there are stark differences between the rich and the poor. The doctor and the priest seem to be in a high position in the village and this seems to be in clear contrast with the financial situation of Kino and Juana. Moreover, the way the characters regard fishermen like Kino is also different from the way they do the rich. Steinbeck also never fails to use various figures of speech all throughout the novel (Tanto and Kosasih). In The Pearl, the statement “Kino was a terrible machine now” is actually a metaphor (Steinbeck). Moreover, Kino’s statements “The pearl has become my soul” and “If I give it up I shall lose my soul” are actually examples of hyperbole (Steinbeck). Moreover, after the death of Coyotito, Juana is described “as remote and removed as Heaven,” which is a simile (Steinbeck). These figures of speech seem to reinforce the true focus of the story – the pearl – and how it has changed the lives of the people around him, especially Kino’s family. Steinbeck also portrays characters which have a consistent personality and resolve despite all odds. Juana, for example, is portrayed as a woman whose “values never change; she is from beginning to end, devoted to the preservation of her loved ones, man and child” (Railsback and Meyer). Kino is also portrayed as someone with a great resolve not to let go of the pearl but only until his son dies. The consistency of the characters is important in order to portray to the readers how far a human being can go with his goals and dreams and what would make someone give up on his dreams. In The Pearl, the ending tells the reader that family still matters in the end. John Steinbeck employs a variety of writing styles in The Pearl in order to teach and demonstrate a few truths in life. The external characteristics of the novel include the use of local color in a Spanish setting and the use of figures of speech. However, the other styles of Steinbeck may have a purpose. The use of the underdog self-character, the Marxist perspective, the use of consistent characters, and the themes of hatred, racism and discrimination somehow tells us that the most emotional stories in this world revolve around those who almost have nothing in their lives. They have the strongest resolves in the world but they are often severely criticized. Lastly, Steinbeck’s use of the theme of naturalism speaks of one thing: there are no guarantees in life both for good and bad people. Everyone is the same under nature. Works Cited Benton, Robert M. “Beyond Boundaries: Rereading John Steinbeck (Review).” Steinbeck Studies, 15.2 (2004): 148-157. Gladstein, Mimi Reisel. “Bilingual Wordplay: Variations on a Theme by Hemingway and Steinbeck.” The Hemingway Review 26.1 (2006): 81-95. Hicks, Kathleen. “Student Companion to John Steinbeck (Review).” Steinbeck Studies 15.2 (2004): 158-160. Khoudi, Mohamed Amine. The Idea of Post-War America in Selected Novels by John Steinbeck and John Dos Pasos. Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi-Ouzou, 2011. Print. Pugh, Scott. “Horrifying Conclusions: Making Sense of Endings in Steinbeck’s Fiction.” Steinbeck Review 3.1 (2006): 69-83. Railsback, Brian, and Michael J. Meyer. A John Steinbeck Encyclopedia. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2006. Print. Steinbeck, John. The Pearl. 2012. Mr. Locke’s Classroom. Web. 9 Mar. 2013. . Tanto, Trisnowati and Marcella Melly Kosasih. “The Use of Foregrounding in John Steinbeck’s The Pearl in Supporting the Literary Elements.” Maranatha Christian University, 2012. Print. Read More