(CREDITS):
-written by tgthewriter1
-employed by Ashford University
We all tend to react badly in events of economic misfortune. People can have feelings of anger when money is not present (Caswell, 2005, p.64). People become angry because people use money as a excuse for happiness (Bethea, 2008, p.135). Money should be used to pay bills instead of one’s satisfaction (Bethea, 2008, p.135). Money makes Americans feel depressed. American minds are programmed to be depressed because Americans grew up with the concept of having money to have safety (Caswell, 2005, p.65). Money causes Americans to feel emptiness deep inside their hearts (Bethea, 2008, p.135). If an American is broke for a period of time, they will feel emptiness because American culture is brought up on having money to have a social life (Bethea, 2008, p.135). Certain beliefs can cause the consciousness of American minds to change to anger, depression, or emptiness when experiencing economic misfortunes according to the writings of an American writer named John Steinbeck (Bethea, 2008, p.135).
Americans will often feel angry in the event of economic misfortunes (Caswell, 2005, p.64). We all hate to be broke. During times of economic misfortune, some people living in United States become angry (Caswell, 2005, p.64). Anger is way of coping with failure or fear. John Steinbeck wrote a book called “The Pearl.” The book was about a particular character named Kino who experienced some anger problems (Caswell, 2005, p.64). Kino was a common man living in United States (Caswell, 2005, p.65). Kino wanted fame and glory. He wanted to live the luxury life and make sure his family was safe (Caswell, 2005, p.65). One day, Kino found a pearl that gave him the opportunity to reach his dreams (Caswell, 2005, p.65). Unfortunately, Kino experienced an economic misfortune (Caswell, 2005, p.64).
Kino’s son was bit by a scorpion that was poisonous (Caswell, 2005, p.64). As a result, Kino had to take his son to the hospital (Caswell, 2005, p.64). The doctor told Kino that his son needed a procedure in order to stay alive (Caswell, 2005, p.64). The procedure was very expensive (Caswell, 2005, p.64). Kino was not happy with the doctor’s response to the situation (Caswell, 2005, p.64). Nobody wants to pay for expensive bill that wasn’t planned. Nobody wants to go back to square 1. It’s hard to move up in US and falling back is not really an option. It requires so much work to move up in US to the point where you might be willing to do something crazy in order to prevent you from moving backwards (Caswell, 2005, p.64). Steinbeck would often catch the reactions of common people who deal with day to day problems (Caswell, 2005, p.64). Kino from “The Pearl” story, showed signs of anger in his economic misfortune (Caswell, 2005, p.64). Kino was extremely angry at the situation of his son’s doctor bill. Steinbeck wrote in his work, “struck the gate with a crushing blow with his fists” (Caswell, 2005, p.64).
Why was Kino angry in the first place (Caswell, 2005, p.64)? Is it because of beliefs that were taught in American cultures? The belief that you need money in order to be happy. Money pays the bills. There are no doubts about this. However, does losing money need to cause Americans great feelings of anger? John Steinbeck believed that Americans feel angry because they feel like having material things will make their problems go away (Caswell, 2005, p.65). I personally believe that money will make half of your problems go away. Americans need more then a way to pay bills. Kino was angry because he believed that money was all he needed to survive in US (Caswell, 2005, p.65). Kino was wrong unfortunately. He was very wrong.
Kino became angry because he couldn’t have material things that would prove success to other people living in USA (Caswell, 2005, p.64). Deep down inside, we all try to buy materials things to impress people and show people that we are successful (Caswell, 2005, p.65). When we can not show people material things to prove our success, we become angry and feel hopeless (Bethea, 2008, p.135). Steinbeck wanted to show his readers that you need something more then money to survive (Caswell, 2005, p.65). Money can you make angry in times of economic misfortune because you chase things that are not important (Bethea, 2008, p.135). Kino in “The Pearl” story, had a son that was worth more then the money he would have got for the pearl (Caswell, 2005, p.64). We all need to realize what is important.
When we lose hope, we also tend to become emotionally hopeless (Bethea, 2008, p.135). John Steinbeck wrote about an American feeling hopeless in the “Tortilla Flat.” Danny, one of the characters in the story, lost his house one day (Bethea, 2008, p.135). Danny’s house caught on fire one day and Danny lost his house (Bethea, 2008, p.135). Danny then felt a sort of hopeless emotion (Bethea, 2008, p.135). We all sort of feel hopeless when something bad happens in US. We were all raised to be the best at everything. We all grew up to feel like we have live up to this curse (Bethea, 2008, p.135). John Steinbeck saw a curse that Americans follow to impress other Americans (Bethea, 2008, p.135). Americans follow a curse that means that you need to have certain things to be successful (Bethea, 2008, p.135). Danny didn’t feel happy because he couldn’t keep up with the curse (Bethea, 2008, p.135). Danny lost his house and he worked really hard to obtain it. He doesn't think he can get another house so he becomes hopeless (Bethea, 2008, p.135). Every time we lose certain material objects, we might become hopeless because we think we need certain material objects to be acceptable to other Americans (Bethea, 2008, p.135).
Steinbeck was trying to picture in our minds that sometimes we buy things to feel acceptable to other people (Bethea, 2008, p.135). When we lose certain material objects we feel like a disgrace to other Americans (Bethea, 2008, p.135). Why do feel so hopeless when we lose certain material objects? I personally believe that most of us have minds that are connect to material objects to form happiness (Bethea, 2008, p.135). Sometimes we chase things to show happiness to other people. We buy things to show happiness to other people. What we should do is buy things to impress ourselves. But, the curse tells Americans that we need to buy things to impress other people and fit in with other Americans (Bethea, 2008, p.135). Its hard to break the curse but it must be done in order for one to truly be happy.
One day, we have to realize that events of economic misfortune is part of a normal life. It can’t always be perfect and sunny. There has to be balance. There has to be a reason to try harder to accomplish things. There has to be a reason to find something more then money to be happy. Economic misfortunes make people realize what is really important.
Americans often feel emptiness in times of economic misfortune (Sullivan II, 1979, p.216). Some Americans have to work really hard to survive (Sullivan II, 1979, p.216). But, some Americans do not want to spend all their time working (Sullivan II, 1979, p.216). Steinbeck wrote about a couple in a short story called “The Chrysanthemums.” The husband was experiencing economic misfortunes (Sullivan II, 1979, p.216). The husband wanted his wife to do useful work to help with economic problems (Sullivan II, 1979, p.216). His wife was feeling empty inside because she didn’t want to do useful work (Sullivan II, 1979, p.216).
The wife did not want to spend her time doing hard and frustrating work (Sullivan II, 1979, p.217). The wife thought there was emptiness in her life. She felt like there is more to life then money (Sullivan II, 1979, p.217). Her husband did not really care for anything but money (Sullivan II, 1979, p.217). She was upset with her husband’s way of thinking (Sullivan II, 1979, p.217). The wife didn’t want to work hard because there was something missing that money couldn’t fix (Sullivan II, 1979, p.217).
The wife in “The Chrysanthemus” realized that she was lonely because she bared no children (Sullivan II, 1979, p.217). Her husband lost interest in making love to her because he thought he needed more money to keep up with the other Americans (Sullivan II, 1979, p.217). Her husband had “the curse.” Her husband was trying to please other people instead of his wife (Sullivan II, 1979, p.217). He wouldn’t make love to her and he wouldn’t treat like a beautiful woman (Sullivan II, 1979, p.217). The wife became empty and felt like life was becoming pointless because she couldn’t buy certain things with money (Sullivan II, 1979, p.217). In addition, her husband also treated her badly and disgracefully which made her feel emptiness deep in her heart. She felt like a red rose that was turning black and dry (Sullivan II, 1979, p.217). She felt like she didn’t want to live anymore (Sullivan II, 1979, p.217).
Steinbeck was trying to tell readers in the story of “The Chrysanthemus” that Americans realize after experiencing economic misfortunes that money can not give you complete happiness (Sullivan II, 1979, p.217). The emptiness is present when we do not feel loved (Sullivan II, 1979, p.217). Money can not fix this problem. The problem of feeling empty because no love is present (Sullivan II, 1979, p.217). Love is a different subject that has nothing to do with money (Sullivan II, 1979, p.217). Steinbeck saw the thread in Americans when they experience economic misfortune (Sullivan II, 1979, p.217). Americans chase more money because they think it will fix the loneliness (Sullivan II, 1979, p.217). However, it does not seem to work most of the time. If you have more money, you will have more stuff but what about more people. You can not buy people (Sullivan II, 1979, p.217).
In my personal opinion, loneliness is something you can’t fix with buying clothes or making more money. It won’t fix the concept that you have no one to call or sleep with. You might think it will fix it but it won’t. The feeling that you need someone to talk to. It will always be there. You will always wonder and feel empty without someone.
John Steinbeck was an American writer who believed that Americans behave badly because of the beliefs that were given to them. You can make more money to fix your loneliness. You need to buy material objects to be considered American. You need to be rich to have everything you want. These are the beliefs that Americans grow up with which cause them to feel emptiness, anger, or hopeless within their minds (Bethea, 2008, p.135). There are some things money can not fix. Americans realize this concept when they experience economic misfortune (Caswell, 2005, p.65). It takes something unfortunate to make Americans realize that money is not the only thing you need to be happy. You need love. You need goals that pertain to your dreams. You things that matter that are more important then money. Money is for paying bills and buying clothes. Steinbeck believed that money does not complete you. It will only solve some of your problems. The problems of beliefs and wants are not always connected to money. Sometimes you can do something but your afraid to do it. You never do it because you wonder what other people will say instead of wondering about your lover. The person that really matters. The people who make you feel sunny. The friends who are really your friends. In the end, there are things in life that need to be fixed. Money can not fix certain things. There are times when you have to just do what you want to be really happy. Steinbeck saw this error in Americans.
Reference:
Bethea, A. F. (2008). Steinbeck’s Tortilla Flat. Explicator, 66(3), 133-137.
Bloom, H. (2000). Plot Summary of “The Grapes of Wrath.”. Bloom’s Major Novelists: John Steineck, 13.
Caswell, R. (2005). A musical journey through John Steinback’s The Pearl: emotion, engagement, and comprehension. Journal Of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, (1), 62.
Sullivan II, E. W. (1979. THE CUR IN “THE CHRYSANTHEMUMS”. Studies In Short Fiction, 16(3), 215.
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