The Pearl--Revisited

I've decided I want to talk a bit more about the Pearl.

Steinbeck does something quite amazing. He sets the story in a "primitive" village, where the main characters--a husband and wife, and their baby--live by diving for Pearls. After their baby is bitten by a scorpion, they realize that living day-to-day is taking a horrendous toll on their existence. Kino finds the "Pearl fo the World", and immediately all of his wildest dreams are realized. He speaks them--which sets in motion unavoidable obstacles. It is clear now that riches have changed him. He is isolated, separated, and cast out into the world. The people around him--his neighbors, friends, townspeople--are all viewed in a new light.

This book, this story, this look at ourselves, is a mirror. How often have we simply wished that we could get that lottery ticket, some mysterious benefactor would bequeath us with some exorbitant sum and all our problems would drift away. If we could just get 'enough' all would be made simple; right? Money is our problem, and if we could just get a little more...the problems would be gone. Right?

In reality, it's not the money that's the problem. It's ourselves. We get ourselves into situations that cause strife. We are the problems...not money. Steinbeck shows that money, wealth, materialism are realities in our world--we can't ignore them. Living does take money...(when Coyotito is bitten, he really does need medical attention, although the doctor that treats him is a jackass) and so we can't remove ourselves from that scenario, but recognizing it....recognizing the ACTUAL causes of our conflicts, instead of pawning them off on an easy scapegoat, will bring us just that much closer to an actual solution.

Hmm...these blogs can be dangerous things...for anyone that is reading this...these revelations are all directed back at me, and should not be taken as an indictment of anyone else. Except you. (c;

Thanks for reading...
Tommy