CJMN-hr+1

C.J.M.N. Selena Joarder Maddy Nemeth Rachel Couvreur Kelsey Madary

//Disturbing Fate? // Throughout //The Pearl// the simplicity of Kino’s tribe is evident. They lived in basic huts, sharing a simple frame of mind. Steinbeck’s descriptions of how each event was like a song in the minds of the members of the tribes reflected how their outlook on life was frank; events occurred for a reason, and for this, each person was expected to work with the hand dealt to them. However, when Kino found the Pearl of the World, he lost the innocent frame of mind of his people, instead turning to thoughts of desires and //wants//. Though many would argue that this is merely a fact of human nature, it was not a fact in Kino’s tribe. Through their belief that things would happen naturally, Kino was not supported in his thoughts of what to buy with the money acquired through the pearl. It was one thing to find the pearl, but it was another to plan what to do with the money. As terrible events began to occur, Kino’s little family was disrupted. Instead of ridding themselves of the pearl at the first inkling of a problem, Kino, now disillusioned by his wants, fought to keep it. However, in doing this he seemed to go against the path that fate had set for him, causing his misfortunes. Therefore, I believe that this novel serves to tell audiences that, sometimes, it is best to accept your situation and to not get too greedy. It is fine to have a desire to do better for yourself, but when it starts to have negative consequences, it should be clear that perhaps it is simply not meant to be.

//A bit of foreshadowing? // With all the of the hints given throughout the book, I think anyone could have came to the conclusion that something disatorous was bound to happen involving Lennie. Even when George and Candy were daydreaming about their future on a ranch of their own, Lennie was always in the background, threatening to ruin that dream. A hint that a catastrophe would occur, was when Lennie mentions how he can live in the Cave and he doesn't need to eat ketchup with his beans. Also, how George told him if anything goes wrong, to meet him in the brush. These "safe houses" for Lennie, showed that he has a history of messing things up and he is likely to (unintentionally) strike again. Otherwise, they neednt be mentioned. More clues to the ending could have been Lennie carrying around a dead mouse to pet because he thought it was soft. The idea of Lennie doing anything, evening killing, just to touch something soft, was also always a threat to the american dream of George's. First the mice, a girls skirt, the puppy, and then Fae. Unfortunate, but fate. It was the only way George would be able to live up to his dream and be happy.

**EVIL?**
The theme of evil appears In both novels, //Of Mice and Men// and //The Pearl.// In the first book, //Of Mice and Men// evil takes a new form in Curley's wife. She is a loney women with a hate filled husband. So how does she spend her days? She goes after the workers. This wouldn't be that bad, if it wasn't for the fact that she would not take no for an answer. When Lennie arrives, everyone warns him to stay away from her, and he trys, but she keeps coming He tells her he isn't allowed to speak with her but she instists. In the end when Lennie, being the slightly retarded man, becomes fightened that he will be caught with her, accidently kills hers. In the second novel, //The Pearl,// the "evil" is a tad more obvious. Kino can hear the evil coming and it becomes present in the pearl, until the song of the pearl blends to become apart of the song of evil. I don't want to give the ending away, but through out the book they are attcked, turned against, and have great misfourtun throwm apon them.