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Latoya Lewis

11B

English/Adrasse

John Steinbeck said: “It is the responsibility of the writer to expose our many grievous faults and failures and to hold up to the light our dark and dangerous dreams for the purpose of the improvement”. This quote means that people must be able to change and improve it. The Pearl, by John Steinbeck and Swallowing Stones, by Joyce McDonald agrees with this quote.

The “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck relates to the quote because it uses the techniques of symbolism and personification. The symbolism is the scorpion that bit Coyotito, it represented all the evil and corruption that started to fall upon Kino and Juana’s life. Personification is also used in The Pearl. An example used is the quote, “it has a beginning and an end like our life we will be born and we will also die”. This quote means that every other living thing and inanimate objects has a story that it goes through, there is a beginning and there is an end. This relates to Kino’s life because it showed that the pearl had use and the use would bring nothing but evil and corruption to one’s life. The pearl resulted in Kino killing someone and someone killing his son. This is when he finally threw away the pearl. This shows that what goes around comes around.

Swallowing Stones, by Joyce McDonald agrees with the quote by John Steinbeck. This book uses the literary technique of conflict. An example of conflict is when Joe told Michael, “We have to act like nothing happened”. This became a problem because it is now harder for the police to find out who is responsible for the murder of Charlie Ward and Michael was left with the guilt of knowing that he killed someone. Instead of him following his mind and doing the right thing he listened to a friend that was already known to be a bad influence.

It is the responsibility of the writer to expose our many grievous faults and failures and to hold up to the light our dark and dangerous dreams for the purpose of the improvement. In conclusion John Steinbeck’s, The Pearl, showed that the pearl was the grievous fault that was holding Kino and Juana back from the coming to the light and recognizing their wrong doings. In Swallowing Stones, by Joyce McDonald, Michael was the only person that held himself back from his many grievous faults and failures. It took the guilt inside of him to finally admit his wrong doings for the purpose of improvement. This is how The Pearl and Swallowing Stones agree with this quote.