A Christmas Carol: The Right Thing?

"Look up and not down. Look forward and not back. Look out and not in, and lend a hand." - Edward Everett Hale

How do you decide how much you need yourself to be comfortable compared to what you give back to the world?

I think when the thieves are talking about how Scrooge always “took care of himself”, they’re saying that he’s always put himself first and worried about his comfort more than anyone else’s. Looking out for Number One. I think a person certainly has the right to worry about themselves and their own well-being, but I don’t think it should be their primary concern. You shouldn’t build all your decisions on how it affects you personally over how it might affect someone else. If all anyone ever did was focus on nothing but their own lives, walked staring straight ahead and never including anyone else in their problems, then of course a lot of people would make it out all right. But there would always be a number of people who couldn’t fend for themselves and would need some guidance or aid – so without anyone to help them, how could they even survive?

A Day in the Life of Ebenezer Scrooge

December 24, 1843

It is that wretched time of year again when all the folks go around being joyful when they haven't got the right to. "Merry Christmas!" they cry, so merry themselves; it's sickening. My own nephew is wishing me to be jovial when he himself is poorer than a mouse. He's married (what a thought) and supports his family on his minimal wages, not a spot of gold or silver to his name - bah! Humbug! He tries to convince me to be merry like him on this Christmas Eve, but I have no reason to be and neither has he. Two men came around, odd little men; one short and stout and the other long-limbed and fragile - and they implore me to pay for some poor humbugs to get themselves off the street. Now, no one sees me on the streets, and I put myself in my shop and with my riches, no help from anyone. The poor don't work to save themselves, so throw them into prison, that's what I say! Leave them to the factories. They earned it!

The Pearl

In The Pearl, this legendary pearl of the world brings out the best and worst in people. What does it trigger in our main characters?

Kino: For our leading man, the pearl begins as a blessing, but he later realizes that it only brings out the worst in those he knows. For Kino, it brings out a more angry side of him in response to everyone else's actions. He himself is not changing because of the pearl directly, but is changing because everyone else is.

Juana: Juana 's reaction to the pearl at this point is that the pearl is dangerous and must be destroyed. It just brings fear out of her because she sees that the pearl is changing everyone around her.

Neighbors: To the neighbors, Kino's pearl is a huge blessing to him, but they are very envious of him and it turns their opinions of him sour with their jealousy. All of them dislike Kino now because they wish it was them who found the beautiful pearl.

The Doctor: To the doctor, the pearl just emphasizes his greediness. He was sleazy and selfish before, and now he's ravenous and will do anything to get Kino's money. Maybe even poison Kino's son.

The Priest: The pearl brings out mixed emotions in the priest. He, being a man of God, feels happy for Kino upon finding the pearl,; happy that he has received this blessing in his time of need. But another side of him is no better than the doctor, and he becomes greedy and sinister towards Kino.

The Townspeople: The reaction of the townspeople is just like that of the neighbors, but instead of being glad for Kino, they are snooty and stick up their noses at him because they see him as just an unworthy Indian receiving such a miracle. Aside from that, though, they are in awe of the pearl's majesty and beauty. And, just like everyone else, they are green with envy.

Ultimately, though, I think the pearl acts as a catalyst. It brings out people's innermost emotions and makes them stronger and more intent, while the pearl itself just sits on the side looking pretty. And it symbolizes everything it evokes in the people in the villages and towns of Kino's homeland, whatever that may be.