Fragments

Delicate and intricate;

Intricate and fragile;

Fragile and smooth.

Great Strength;

Strong forces;

Forced memories.

Dreams shattered;

Shattered shards;

Shard splinters.

Broken smile;

Heart-broken;

Fragments.

Parables and Connections

Reflections on…

“The Pearl”

-by John Steinbeck

The novella “The Pearl” begins with a thought-provoking quote. “If this story is a parable, everyone takes his own meaning from it, and reads his own life into it…” Personally, I interpret this to mean that the story that the author is just about to tell has more significance than the simple action that takes place in the storyline. Being alluded to as a parable, I set out reading this story with my eyes open wide for messages and morals that I hoped would come apparent as I read along.

First of all, the author quickly conveyed to me that this was to be no story of happiness. This really set the tone and mood for me. Reflecting on it, I read this book with an apprehensive and pessimistic attitude towards the outcome of the story, which I believe influenced what I got out of the story. The atmosphere of the story that I created myself even before finishing the very first chapter made a big difference to how I would have interpreted the story otherwise.

The idea that this story is a parable seems to fit in keenly with my interpretation and expectations for the story. I immediately recognized the subject matter of the story, about the value of wealth. Because of my background, my values and my system of beliefs, I automatically defined this subject as an evil. This automatic response was then verified throughout the course of the story. I identified with Juana most whenever she began her outbursts of “This pearl brings nothing but evil to us”, and so on and so forth. I admire her love, for her husband and for her son, and the fact that this love was more important to her than any pearl, or wealth. The fact that she stood up against her husband when trying to get rid of the pearl showed just how much she loved him and cared about the outcome of his life. This act, for me demonstrated her bravery and sense of justice.

The doctor in the story, though portrayed as an evil, enemy figure struck me as an accurate replica of us, privileged human beings. We often ignore the problems of those who are in need, but have nothing to offer us. The author used tone and mood to persuade us to feel sympathy for Kino, and oppose the doctor. In a way, I feel sorrier for the doctor, sorry that he was born into a position of privileged and obligation, yet he was not able to fulfill his place in society because he was so riddled with greed, selfishness and wealth.

I believe that the other, less privileged village folk had less physical wealth, but more of an unseen, internal wealth. That is, at least until the pearl came around. The doctor was riddled with evil and selfish desire, and was one day going to have to stand up the judgment against him, while the others lived generally simple, dedicated lives. It seems that they also lived in relative peace, until the pearl came around; where as the richer inhabitants of La Paz would have had to struggle with the baggage that being wealthy brings.

I believe that this story, as a parable, has much to offer to people, rich or poor. It struck a chord in my own life and provoked me to think about the consequences of my actions, and what I should do with the privileges I have been entrusted with.