Dichotomy

In the Pearl one of the techniques Steinback uses in Dichotomy. Dichotomy is any splitting of a whole into exactly two non-overlapping parts. In other words, it is a mutually exclusive bipartition of elements. i.e. nothing can belong simultaneously to both parts, and everything must belong to one part or the otherIn his book the Pearl there is a lot of Dichotomy. There's the contrast between Juana and Kino who are poor and ignorant and the doctor who is very smart and rich. There's the contrast between the natural good and the corrupt evil. Then things that seemed good such as the pearl turned out to be bad.
Is Steinback showing something that is really in natural life or is this just part of the parable?
I'm not sure. It's true that life is full of dichotomy like right and left, good and bad, love, hate and ignoring, true and false, but not everything that seems good is bad and not everything that seems bad is really good. I think that he used dichotomy to emphasize and teach us things that he couldn't otherwise, but I do also believe that in life there is dichotomy, though probably not as much as in the Pearl. What do you all think?

A new question

Hey everyone here's a quote from the Pearl found in Chapter 2:
"It is not good to want a thing too much. It sometimes drives luck away. You must want it just enough, and you must be very tactful with the God or gods." P.19
What does this quote reveal about Steinback's view of God?
This takes place when Juana is hoping and praying that the pearl of the world would be in one of the clam shells. She believes that the gods kind of just look down on humans and play with them, putting obstacles in their way; and that if they knew you wanted something too much they wouldn't give it to you just for the fun of it. Through Juana's feeling we find out about Steinbeck. He doesn't view God as a loving caring God, he's not even sure if there is just one god. His view is probably like Juana's that you kind of have to trick the gods to get what you want. They don't love you. Earlier in the book we see Kino watching ants climb over a difficult obstacle, and we see him thinking that that is the same way the gods watch us. Juana wanted that pearl really badly. Coyotoito was very sick, and they needed money, so she felt like she had to pray in some way but wanted to make sure they would answer her request. It's actually very sad! It makes me want to go talk to Juana and Steinbeck and tell them the truth!!!!

How do you think the pearl is going to effect Kino and Juana?

We haven't read a whole lot but we know this pearl is going to effect their lives in a big way.
Kino has big dreams of what will happen, but do you think they will come true. I think he's going to become hard and suspicious about everyone and everything and turn into a mean man. He may become greedy and not want to use it for anything good or worthwhile. Mrs. Koning said he would throw the pearl into the sea at the end, why does he do that? I think maybe it's maybe because it has just messed so many things up in his life.

What do you all think?

Thoughts

The most recent novella that we're reading is "The Pearl." So far we havn't read that much, but we've seen the setting and what somewhat happens. How is the setting different than the settings of the Christmas Carol or the Old Man and the Sea? How will this setting effect the plot and characterizations?

The setting of the Pearl is quiet and peaceful. The story takes place on Baja California where it is very hot and dry. The plot centers around Kino finding a pearl. You couldn't find a pearl in the middle of down town England or out in a boat on the ocean. And yet each setting perfectly fits the plot.
As Kino and Juana live by the ocean, the characterizations will have to do with life in a poor Indian village. We find out how they respond to finding the pearl and even to just their social class and position. I think it's neat to imagine the setting and how that effects their daily lives and even who they are.
What do you all think?

Similarities between Charles Dickens and Earnest Hemingway

Here's the question: In what ways are Charles Dickens and Ernest Hemingway similar in their views of the world and how men should live?
Here's what I think:
According to Charles Dickens (C. D.) book The Chistmas Carol, he believes in social justice, generosity, true humanity and the importance of memory. Ernest Hemingway (E. H.) according to his book the Old Man in the Sea, believes in the honor of struggle and that quiting is never right.
C. D. also reveals that struggle is significant in his book the Christmas Carol. Scrooge has to struggle and overcome to become a new man. E. H. reveals the honor in struggle as Santiago has to bear up under the pain and endure much hardship to catch his fish.
Then E.H. in his book The Old Man and the Sea portrays Manolin as being very generous as Scrooge's nephew is portrayed in C.D's book.
Also the importance of memory is important in both. Scrooge realizes the importance of memory as he visits his past. Sanitago (the old man) finds it important to think back to the memories of winning the arm wrestling, Africa and thoughts about the boy.
As you can see both authors have similarities in their views. Not all were the same but there were a couple similarities. What do you guys think?
Stephanie

Introduction

Hi everyone!
This is a blog where I will share different thoughts and oppinions about the novels or novelas that we're reading in Language Arts class. I hope you guys enjoy it and comment a lot about the topics chosen! Have fun!
Stephanie