Virtue amongst the impoverished is certainly one common theme we are presented by John Steinbeck in both "The Pearl" and "Of Mice and Men". Never does the reader behold a wealthy character in either novel that possesses virtuous qualities; we are bombarded with greed, envy, hate and all things evil regarding particularly prosperous characters. Shown in a very real and perceptible light, Steinbeck's novels highlight the social division between the well to do and the indigent characters and the inevitableness of dissolution between the two groups.
Kino and Juana in "The Pearl" are two very simple and content people whom are fairly poor and live on the outskirts of town. It was deserved that such harmless and truly good people were blessed with a force of luck so strong so as to discover a beautifully large pearl that was worth many thousands of dollars. To Kino and Juana, the pearl meant a school education and a baptism for their son Coyotito, an enchanting marriage for Kino and Juana and some new clothes for the family.
English: John Steinbeck
Of Mice and Men
Grave site of John Steinbeck and familyThese everyday things that are so common and taken for granted by the wealthy townsfolk are a blessing for Kino and Juana.
"Of Mice and Men" presents the characters George and Lennie who are two hardworking and honest men in pursuit of a dream that is to one day own a little house of their own: "An' live off the fatta the lan'," (page 15). Although Lennie isn't the brightest spark of them all, he is most certainly a decent man with good intentions and a lovable childish innocence to go with it. A fairly determined man is George, who is Lennie's lifeline. George is honest and dedicated to building up a stake to achieve his dream and subsequent freedom.
Kino's discovery of the...