Explain: How does this quote from John Steinbeck relate to the book The Pearl? How do the characters and events in the book reveal Steinbeck's attitude about poverty, wealth, and class? Where do Steinbeck's sympathies lie? In other words, as evidenced in the book, how does he feel about the poor? How does he feel about the rich?
John Steinbeck is very critical towards the mistreatment and segrigation of upper classes and the lower classes. This relates to The Pearl because Kino and his kind were segrigated from the classes of the doctor and preist. He gives symapathy to the poor and feels like they are always mistreated. He sees the rich as bad people who are very self-centered and always think they are superior to others. He explains this in his books.
ReplyDeleteThe pearl really expresses his thoughts of poverty and wealth. In The Pearl he shows how the rich treat the poor as if they were animals. For example, "'I am a doctor, not a veterinary'"(The Pearl). This shows how the poor are mistreated by upper classes. I think Steinbeck feels that the rich need to be kinder to the poor and thinks poverty can be ended. In the quote above, it shows how he feels about the poor. He looks at the poor and thinks they are very content with life. He says to go to the poor when in need because they are content with their possesions unlike the upper classes.
I agree with the quote you put down from the pearl, it really shows the doctor treated them disrespectfully and as animals.
Delete~Karina V.☼
In my opinion, I think that John Steinbeck takes the rich people as greedy and rude and the poor helpful and caring. In the book "The Pearl" when Kino tried to take Coyotito to get cared from the scorpion poison, the doctor wouldn't take care of them because of their skin color and because of how little money they had. The doctor would not help because he wanted to help others, but because of how much money the person had. When other people would probably have helped Kino's son because his son needed it.
ReplyDeletePeople honestly don't care to help others as much as they used to, all they help others for is a trade or deal in the helping or for money. Usually for the money though. John Steinbeck showed that in his books like The Pearl. People also Don't play fair and are greedy. Like when Kino got the pearl he started to think of all things he wanted, sooner or later getting greedy for it. No matter how we are, people are greedy no matter what generation we are in.
-Taylor S.
Steinbeck feels that the rich are greedy, selfish, and rude. For example, when Kino went to the Doctor to get treatment for Coyotito, the doctor refused to administer aid because Kino had no money, he was dark skinned and the Doctor had “more important patients.” In addition, the Doctor was rude when he refused to help Kino’s son, calling them animals. However, once Kino had gotten the pearl, the Doctor was practically begging to treat Coyotito so that he could receive the beautiful pearl as payment. Steinbeck portrays the rich this way because he believes that they are too self centered as John (C, not Steinbeck) said.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, John Steinbeck says that if you want hospitalization, you should go to the poor. He sees the poor as caring, selfless, and kind, the exact opposite of the rich. John Steinbeck portrays the poor as gracious for what they have and grateful for what they receive. He believes that they will take better care of you because even though their medicine might not be as good, they will treat you nicer. They will treat you like one of their family instead of just another patient. Moreover, if you need comfort, they will sympathize better because they have suffered so they know what you could be feeling.
“If you’re in trouble or hurt or need – go to the poor people. They’re the ones that’ll help – the only ones”, this quote by John Steinbeck clearly expresses his attitude about the social differences between the poor and rich people. Steinbeck clearly sympathizes with the poor, like Kino, and this can be clearly seen in The Pearl. The wealthy people, represented by the doctor, look down on the poor natives, like Kino. He feels that rich people are greedy and will only help when they are getting something in return. This can be seen when Kino went to see the doctor to get treatment for Coyotito’s scorpion sting. The doctor refused to see them because he knew that Kino did not have any money. Although Kino knew that the doctor would not see them because he didn’t have money, he still went because he was afraid for his son’s life. Also Kino knew that “always when he came near to one of this race, Kino felt weak and afraid and angry at the same time.. for all the doctor’s race spoke to all of Kino’s race as though they were simple animals.” The rich look down on the poor, didn’t treat them any better than animals. So, when he heard that Kino had found a great pearl, the doctor when
ReplyDeleteSteinbeck portrays the poor as selfless people. He feels that Kino and his kind will take better care of others better than the doctor, and ask nothing in return. The poor will offer you from what little they have. The poor will protect you as best they can. When Kino was trying to escape, his brother Juan Tomas gave him and his family protection, although Juan Tomas knew that if they were found in his home they would both be arrested or killed. Without hesitation Juan Tomas simply said to Kino, “I will protect you.” Juan Tomas offered Kino protection without giving a second thought for his own safety. This is a true example of selflessness.
~Karina V☼
This quote relates to The Pearl because John shows this thought through the books events. For example, after Kino killed a man, his poor brother was willing to help hide him and keep him out of trouble. This shows that the poor may help you when others won't. Also, as Alex said, the doctor wouldn't care for Coyotito because not enough money was involved. He is showing that with no materials in mind, people can be more caring than people wishing for something in return. Further, as you may have noticed, the priest never talked to Kino before the pearl and wouldn't be kind and help marry him to Juana. All in all, Steinbeck thinks when you are not blinded by money, you have more of a heart to help.
ReplyDeleteBased on the novel, we can tell Steinbeck believes the poor are kinder and happier than the rich. As stated before, the poor were more willing to help someone in a time of need compared to say, the doctor. The poor are more grateful for what they have while the rich only want money and are greedy. Kino and the others were happy with there lives and the way they lived, while as the doctor would much rather be other places such as France. Also when Kino got the pearl he became more greedy with it. For example, he punched his wife when she tried to get rid of it and the evil that comes along. This shows that in that moment he put money before his wife. To conclude, money can come along with greed and selfishness.
The quote relates to The Pearl because it shows his feelings about the wealthy and poor. For example when the doctor did not treat Coyotito for not being wealthy and for being dark skinned. This would show that Steinbeck thinks that the rich are rude and greedy. Furthermore, the doctor and priest didn't pay much attention do Kino until he had the pearl showing that the rich would only pay attention to you if you have money. Not to mention, he thinks the rich are rude by treating them badly for example the doctor says "'I am a doctor, not a veterinary'" (The Pearl). This shows that rich are rude to poor and think they are not humans.
ReplyDeleteJohn Steinbeck thinks the poor are very kind and nice to people regardless of what they look or act like. Like what Favian says "the poor were more willing to help someone in a time of need ". Like I said before, the poor are much nicer and kinder then rich people. In The Pearl Kino and everyone else he lived with were happy with what they had and would help if they could like when Kino's brother helped to hide him and his family for the night and even supply them with food. Due to this Steinbeck clearly sympathize with the poor for the reason i stated before.
This quote relates to The Pearl because it shows how Steinbeck feels about the poor versus the wealthy. Steinbeck seems to think the poor are more accepting and the rich are selfish. As the quote says, when your in trouble, go to the poor people. In the story, Kino was in trouble so he went to a doctor. The doctor was wealthy and the doctor did not help him. But, when the doctor was able to get money from Kino, he selfishly came back and helped them.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Karina about when Kino's brother offered protection, when Kino was trying to escape, without hesitation even though if they were caught they would both be killed. This shows how much his brother will help when needed. I also agree with John about how Steinbeck gives sympathy to the poor and feels like they are always mistreated, while portraying the rich as bad people in his novel, The Pearl
This quote is related to The Pearl because it shows that the poor are not rich but they would be happy to help. For example Kino's brother without hesitation helped Kino and his family in their time of need. Also the poor really don't have much to loss besides their family. In the book the Doctor wouldn't help Kino's son for free. Once Kino had found the pearl of the world he was willing to help for money.
ReplyDeleteSteinbeck seems to think that you do not need much to be happy. For instance Kino before finding the pearl lived in peace without people coming to attack him.In the book the rich were very greedy and rude with no sense in helping Kino. The poor are caring and kind to the people who come to them. In conclusion Steinbeck thinks the poor are caring and the rich are greedy.
I believe that this quote relates to the pearl and shows many different things about people from lower classes and people from higher classes. i think that like shown in the pearl, higher class and ,ore wealthy people like the priest and doctor care more for money then helping people. the doctor and priest both start acting kindly toward kino and his family after they found the pearl..
ReplyDeleteThis quote also shows that people in lower classes like kino care about money too, but unlike the doctor and priest, also care for helping people and care for them. they help[ each other out and are not kind to people because of their wealth. kino's brother hides him after his house is burned down and does not ask for anything in return. but when kino and his family go to the church after finding the pearl, the priest tells kino, "don't forget to give back ". this shows he wants part of kino's new wealth
I believe this quote relates to the story because of the rich and greedy. When Coyotito gets stung the doctor would not want to help, also their own preist would not. But once they got that pearl everybody was hounding that family to get the pearl. That is why if you go to the pearl thy are more generous. For example, when their home was in flames the poor woman brought them in to their home to protect Kino, Coyoytito, and Juana.
ReplyDeleteJohn Steinbeck feels as if the rich are greedy and want everything to themselves. But the poor are more generous and they are humble and will help. Steinbecks sympathies lie where he likes the poor more, Steinbeck wasn't raised with alot of money so he knows how hard it is. Steinbeck favors the poor to be better than the rich and greedy, he rates the poor higher.
I think that this quote relates to the story because in the story all the rich people are greedy and that they always want more. For example, the doctor and the priest don't want to help Coyotito because they know that Kino has noting to give because he's poor. When Kino finds the pearl of the world, they all want him to give out some of the money he will get. For example, after he finds the pearl, the priest tells Kino," don't forget to give back,"
ReplyDeleteThe poor on the other hand don't usually want anything back in return and are happy to help Kino and his family when they need it. For example, when their house was in flames, a poor woman brings them into their house for safety. Also, Kino's brother helps them without hesitation and without asking them for anything back in return.
John Steinbeck feels that the rich are greedy and want anything and everything. They didn't help Kino in the story, and once Kino had something of value they wanted to take it from him. Steinbeck feels that the poor are kinder and more generous, and and are better to rely on for help. He thinks that the poor are better than the rich, and that if you want to get help from rich to get ready to empty your pockets.
I think that this quote relates to the story because in The Pearl, the rich people are greedy and they always want more. For example, the doctor won't help Coyotito because Kino can't pay him enough money. But then when Kino finds a great pearl, the doctor changes his mind and cures Coyotito. But on the other hand, the poor don't usually want anything back in return and help Kino and his family whenever they need it. For example, when their house burnt down, Kino's brother let him in to his house.
ReplyDeleteJohn Steinbeck feels that rich are greedy and don't like to help anyone in need. Rather than helping Kino, they tried to take his pearl. Also Steinbeck feels that the poor are more generious and kind. He thinks that the poor are much better than the rich and you should get help from a poor person than a rich person.
I think this quote relates to the story because how greedy the rich people are. For instance, when Coyotito got stung by the scorpion the doctor and the priest turned them down because of money problems. If this were poor people they would have done all they can as soon as possible for no money at all. This helps show the difference between people who have almost everything they want and people who would possibly kill for everything they want. Also the only reason the doctor came back is because he saw Kino have the pearl so in his mind he saw money.
ReplyDeleteJohn Steinbeck might be saying that rich people only thrive for more and more money. Everyone only find out who is Kino is because of the people who only want the pearl as theirs. No one even bothered to help Kino until he had the pearl, they tried to kill him because he wanted to sell the pearl to help his family. If anyone else needed help Kino would have helped for no money at all.
This quote relates to the book because it says that only the poor people would help, which is one of the main things in the book. The rich don't care about anyone but themselves, unlike the poor who care about mostly everyone.
ReplyDeleteThis quote reveals that Steinbeck thinks of the rich as greedy, and non-helpful to the world, like they should be. Steinbeck's sympathies lie on the poor, for being mistreated by the rich. He feels, like me, that people shouldn't be judged on what class they are in, but who they are inside.
I think that this quote relates to the book because one of the main plot in the book was that the rich didn't even want to help while the pore did. The rich were greedy and only wanted money. There are many instances where this occurs in the book. The first instance of the rich being greedy and not helping is when Coyitito was bitten by a scorpion. The doctor took the the money and didn't even help Coyitito treat him. A second instance is when Kino found the pearl, the doctor who was so reluctant to help Kino now is trying to be nice to him to get some money from him.
ReplyDeleteThe poor, unlike the rich, helped Kino on many occasions. One of these occasions is when, at the beginning Coyitito was sick. They tribes men and woman helped comfort both Kino and Juana. Another time is when Kino killed a man. The rich would have just killed him and taken the pearl. Instead the poor, in this cause Kino's brother, decided to protect him and shield him from the evil and greediness of the rich. THE RICH EVEN TRIED TO KILL HIM FOR THE PEARL.
___________________________Jamal N. :)
I think this quote relates to the main topic in the pearl. First of all, the quote says poor people will help. In the pearl, all the poor people are always together and there to help and support. All the rich people wanted was money which was very greedy and selfish of them. Yet as soon as an amazing thing happens to a poor person, a rich person will come and help as if they've alwAys been rich like them.
ReplyDeleteThis happens when Coyotito gets bitten. Kino takes him to the doctor, but he refuses Coyotito and Kino because they are poor and couldn't afford it. Then Kino gets the pearl; the doctor is at their house and giving Coyotito medicine like nothing ever happened. The poor are alwAys there though, no matter what wether you're poor or rich. When kinos family needed hiding, poor people gladly hid them for one night. Poor people aren't as bad as the rich people think; they're very kind and helpful but as soon as one gets money, the rich are best friends with them and someone will try to kill you like they tried to with Kino :)
~Juliana P.
I think John Steinbeck feels that the poor are more kind then the rich because there is also a quote in the book about how people are never satisfied with what they have and that they always want more, but poor people or people with just enough to get by cant complain because they know they cant ALWAYS have what they want.
ReplyDeleteThough, for the richer people who can afford a superfluous amount of luxurious things, they never seem to be content and would do anything- steal a pearl from someone, trick him, etc.- for self gain. Thus, they have all the unnecessary items, and a lot of it.
The quote- in my opinion- refers to how the neighbors of Kino all come and support him going into the town to face the doctor or when they gather around their home while Coyotito is being healed by the doctor and reassures Juana that it'll be okay, but the people of the town dont help. All they thought about was getting the pearl, like the pearl buyers tried to trick him.
It expresses how the rich can be greedy and how the poor are more kind and John Steinbeck has a respect and shows sympathy towards them.
-Nikamarie F.
From my understanding and knowledge, John Steinbeck truly sees the wealth gap and the difference in treatment of the wealthy and poor. The quote points out that poor people have the real knowledge in life. Poorer people are wiser to the facts and the ways of life, they've experienced it themselves. In the book Kino and his family are all poor, in fact, most of the people in the village are too! When we read through Kino's point of view, if you read closely, you realize he's gone through a lot and uses those life lessons to aid him in the story. Same with Juana.
ReplyDeleteJohn Steinbeck shows that life isn't all about money, it's about knowledge and experience. Steinbeck shows that wealthy people strive for more money while poorer people yearn for happiness through knowledge, but when presented the opportunity, sometimes a poor person looks for pleasure in wealth like Kino. FInding the pearl was originally meant to save Coyotito but as time stretched, it became about having a better life, the life he had dreamed of: being wealthy. Steinbeck feels that wealthiness isn't the problems, its greediness, a "disease" that comes included with wealthiness.
This quote related to many aspects of The Pearl. After Coyotito had been stung by the scorpion, people with more than enough money to help simply refused to do so. Not even the doctor would help the dying child simple because of his race and wealth. On the other hand, Kino's neighbors and family gave them sympathy and supported them with what they'd could. The rich people, like almost everyone has mentioned, are selfish and egotistical, while the poor are kind.
ReplyDeleteSteinbeck used the characters in The Pearl to show how the segregation of the poor, and sometimes outright exclusion of them was wrong. He did this by pulling at the reader's heart strings when describing the baby's near death experience and how Kino's family had been treated like a pack of wild animals. John Steinbeck also expressed his disapproval of the upper classes by showing how the pearl buyers tried to scam someone who barely had money to begin with. He even shows them shooting his family over a silly little pearl. This shows that Steinbeck sees the rich as greedy and materialistic, while the poor grant hospitality and empathy.
-KA2
If you’re in trouble or hurt or need – go to the poor people. They’re the ones that’ll help – the only ones”, this quote by John Steinbeck truly shows Steinbeck's feelings towards the poor and the rich. Steinbeck gives us a clear image that he sees the poor as caring and kind but sees the wealthy as rude and greedy. In The pearl,when Coyotito gets bitten my a poisonous scorpion,the doctor isn't willing to help treat Kino's son because they are too poor. Also,when Kino finds the pearl,the priest tells Kino ,"don't forget to give back," which shows that they want Kino to give some of Kino's profit away after he sells the pearl. This comes to show greediness since they always expect something in return of their work in which is usually money. Wealthy people, like the doctor, look down upon poor people like Kino and his family. In Steinbeck's opinion,the rich will not help you in serious situations because they are mean and greedy as aforesaid. Through the previous examples,you can truly see how Steinbeck feels towards the wealthy.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand,Steinbeck has sympathy for the poor. Steinbeck feels like they are actually willing to help you in rough situations and will care for you. For example,in The Pearl,when Kino's house burns down a kind woman brings Kino and his family into their house and offers shelter. This shows that Steinbeck expresses a warmth towards the poor. Although they are in poverty,they don't expect money,etc. in return for their treatment and care. Over-all,Steinbeck has more respect for the poor compared to the rich. So if you're going to look for help from the rich,make sure you still have money to pay the bills after paying for treatment.
-Kayla A.#1
I think when he says this he means the poor are people that care.He says that the poor are the ones that they haven't become greedy.That they're the most pure and the most understanding. Also most of the poor people are the ones that think of better things than money. Mainly the better thing than money are the people around you.
ReplyDeleteAs poor people may think this or maybe not. Rich people Don't think like this usually. Rich people become greedy. very selfish and usually care only for them selves. Kino went through this change in the pearl. he started out very kind but slowly became greedy and selfish.