American literature plays a vital role in society, providing entertainment and showcasing themes related to common problems during the 1940s. One of the novels that reflects some of these big problems is The Pearl, written by John Steinbeck. This novel is based on a story that Steinbeck heard during his trip to La Paz, Mexico in 1940. He describes this story in his book, The Trunk of the Sea of ​​Cortez. Steinbeck tries to show the hardships that many people faced in Mexico. In particular, La Perla examines the social and cultural inequalities between Mexicans and Europeans, illustrates how the desire for materialistic possessions can lead to destruction, and demonstrates how one man's actions can influence his family's dreams. One of the main themes displayed in Steinbeck's novel is the difference between the standard of living of Mexicans and that of Europeans. The Mexican people of La Paz are very poor and most of them live in bush houses that only contained one room (Ariki). In Kino's cabin, the only room is used as Coyotito's kitchen, bedroom, and nursery (Johnson 181). Their poverty is further highlighted by the dirty floor covered in ants and other insects (Johnson). “He put his feet in his sandals and went out to watch the sunrise” describes his morning routine (Steinbeck 3). Kino's daily breakfast consisted of corncake and pulque, which is an alcoholic beverage (Johnson 182). Since Mexicans cannot afford utensils, they must use their hands to eat food. This is ironic because Mexicans were the ones who worked the hardest for a living (Johnson 181). Around noon Kino and the others went to the sea in their canoes and dived in search of pearls. Since this was their family's only source of income, t...... middle of paper... at a high cost. For example, by purchasing a rifle, Kino can demonstrate that he owns the same assets that the rich have, and therefore could limit the difference between the two social classes (Johnson 184). However, Kino and Juana have one main dream, which is to give Coyotito an education. This is important at that time because it would eliminate the family's ignorance and Coyotito would be able to survive in the changing world using that knowledge (Johnson 184). The Pearl plays an important role in redefining American literature for this time period, and shows issues that have remained a problem for a long time. There were social and cultural inequalities shown in this novel which depicted the living conditions of Mexicans around the 1940s. It can also show how difficult it is to chase dreams when they are motivated by greed and can ultimately lead to destruction.