Poverty in John Steinbeck's The Pearl (Social Issues in Literature)

Great literature resonates with us not only because of well-developed characters and plots, but also because it often reflects important social themes; these books explore a work of literature through the lens of the major issue reflected in it.; This volume of Social Issues in Literature examines John Steinbeck’s life and work, with a specific look at key ideas related to The Pearl. The text discusses a variety of topics, including whether Kino chooses enslavement to wealth in order to escape poverty, and whether the townspeople have a parasitic relationship with the poor. The book also explores contemporary perspectives on poverty, such as the changing views of the term “culture of poverty” and the relationship between western materialism and spiritual depression.; This series brings together the disciplines of sociology and literature in a unique format designed to support cross-curricular studies. Each volume explores a work of literature through the lens of the major social issue reflected in it, and features carefully-selected content representing a variety of perspectives. All volumes in the series contain biographical and critical information about the author; secondary excerpts offering both historical and contemporary views of the highlighted social issue; a timeline of the author's life; a "For Further Reading" section of other works on the issue; and a detailed subject index. Read more