Response To John Steinbeck's The Pearl

injustice of slavery and woman’s rights. He placed his bible on the table in front of him and stood. He wanted to hold her in his arms, but he knew that if he asked she would say no. He took the poem from her hands and examined the words on the page. “This-” he spoke softly. “This is a work of art. You have taken the grief of so many women from across this land and placed it in a beautiful verse. I love it Pearl,” he stared into her eyes. She looked away. How could she divide her heart in two? Before she could think another thought he had lifted her from her seat and folded her in his embrace. He held on to her and prayed for her happiness and safety. In his arms she felt whole and complete, it was as if they were two

He knew that he’d loved this girl with all that he had inside of him and her happiness made him glow. When he’d entered the house he found her standing over a hot kettle of soup. She’d picked fresh vegetables from the garden and made a stew. “Pearl, I have something I want you to read for me. I am having a little trouble with the words.” Pearl took the newspaper, the article was titled, “Winds Change as South Prepares for Great Migration.” She began to read the article, “The South has become a desert of change as many as 1,000 negroes move to the North…” “Not that one,” he interjected, “The one underneath.” Pearl looked at the ad for Railroad Transportation, right beside it, she read the words aloud, “Science declares we are all the same…” tears filled her eyes as joy flooded her heart. She scanned the poem and found her name in bold black letters underneath, by Pearl Ann Tennison. He had used her name. She smiled. Seeing her writing published brought a leaping happiness to her heart. She sat at the table and read her poem aloud. She wanted to be sure that it was all hers. When she finished she wept

It had been a long hard road. Roosevelt had already lost three of the four closest friends he had made since joining the platoon. Overall, the soldiers who had perished was astronomical. There was a spirit of defeat in the air as tired and hungry soldiers awaited a word from a loved one. Dozens of letters were undeliverable, as the life to which they were addressed had ceased to exist. Roosevelt had awaited a letter from Pearl, like nourishment it would fill his empty soul. When the soldier handed him the letter his heart burst with