John Steinbeck Symbolism

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The Pearl Symbol Analysis Does pain follow hardship, or does hardship follow pain? Many questions similar to this are posed in John Steinbeck’s 1947 novel The Pearl. The symbol of Kino’s knuckles is a representation of hardship and the individual perception of said hardships. The first instance of this would be when Kino strikes the doctor’s gate after being denied medical service for his child, “Then, without warning, he struck the gate a crushing blow with his fist (Sic).” (Steinbeck 12). Kino had faced hostility and animosity by the people of La Paz, “… for the hundreds of years of subjugation were cut deep in him.” (Steinbeck 30). His past experiences with the townsfolk, coupled with the denial of care to his only begotten son, Coyotito,

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