by Josh Peffer

Created on: December 17, 2009

            Corruption over money and the fight for survival are a huge part of the world around us.  The world is full of people corrupt because of money and other that are struggling to just survive in the world.  People are struggling to survive and are corrupt because of money at the same time.  This happens in John Steinbeck’s novel, The Pearl, corruption and survival are big factors.  The first half of the book is dealing with more survival.

            Survival is a factor that we all must deal with, some more than others.  In this book all the people of the town of La Paz are suffering to survive to the next day.  The only exception to this is the people that live in the town.  Most of the citizens live in stray houses with little to call their own.  One of the few prized possessions is a boat that is usually past down from father to son in a ritual like manner.  This is what they considered their wealth.  The townspeople live in plastered house and take no heed to the villagers.  They are corrupt because of money.

            In the first chapter, Kino is living of the village of La Paz.  He has a wife, and child, and happiness.  What more could he want?  He hears songs in his head that no one else does, like songs for the family and songs for evil.  The song for evil is playing one day because there is a scorpion on the rope of his child’s basket.  Kino tries to save the baby but the baby gets bit and starts to swell.  They call for the doctor, but because the doctor has “more important patients”, he does not come.  He is thinking that they will not pay for the treatment.  So, Kino and Juana, his wife, go to the doctor.  Everyone in the town hears about this and goes with them to the doctor, because they know how hard it is to survive and are concerned.  They go to the doctor and he refuses because all he wants is money and he knows that they cannot pay.  In anger and frustration Kino punches the gate. 

            Knowing that all the doctor wants is money, Kino and Juana go to the beach and take the boat out to find a pearl to pay for treatment.  Men in that time always dove into the sea to find pearls hoping

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