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Themes in ‘The Pearl’ by John Steinbeck

  Themes in ‘The Pearl’ by John Steinbeck   Good and Evil Kino's belief that darkness conceals evil is a common perspective. Yet, one of his significant shortcomings is the conviction that he alone confronts a world split between good and evil. He endeavors to invite good fortune into his life. In his mind, he perceives the music of his personal battle. The Song of the Family resonates in his thoughts when everything is harmonious. The sounds of waves crashing against the shore in the morning and Juana grinding corn or preparing meals are integral to this song. However, when the wind shifts or a member of the oppressive class approaches, he hears the ominous notes of the Song of Evil, described as "the music of the enemy, of any foe of the family, a savage, secret, dangerous melody." Kino listens and reacts to these melodies. When the scorpion begins its descent down the rope towards the baby, he first hears the Song of Evil. Yet, when the priest arrives, he is pu...

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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  Purple Hibiscus Study Guide (collected from: https://www.gradesaver.com/purple-hibiscus/study-guide/summary ) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ’s first novel, Purple Hibiscus , was widely acclaimed when it was published in 2003. Shortlisted for and awarded several prestigious prizes, Purple Hibiscus was praised for capturing a character and a nation on the cusp of radical change. Adichie uses her own childhood experiences to inform the lives of her characters. She was born in Kambili’s home town of Enugu, raised in Aunty Ifeoma ’s university environment in Nsukka, is of Igbo descent, and is a Catholic. Purple Hibiscus is a story of the corruption and religious fundamentalism that grips Adichie’s native country. Told from the point of view of a child, overt political messages are held at an arm’s length, but they inform Kambili’s coming of age. The wave of bloody coups and corrupt military rule that comprises Nigerian politics are touched upon in the novel through certain characte...