"The Pearl" text

Civilised living

During the course of this essay, I will discuss the idea of “civilised living” with reference to the doctor and the town society in the book “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck.
Civilised living according to the doctor is to, on a small income, be “…able to keep a mistress and eat in restaurants.” Now, the doctor lives a life of luxury, but in what he regards as an uncivilised society. He feels sorry for himself, saying “I, I alone in the world am supposed to work for nothing – and I’m tired of it,” It seems the doctor thinks civilised living is impossible in the city he lives in.
In that city, described as “the city of harsh outer walls and inner cool gardens,” and its surroundings people of different origin live side by side in what cannot be described as total harmony… The inhabitants probably think they live more civilised lives than what the doctor thinks they do. However, this is a society where an indigent family from outside of town, coming to the doctor for help, is regarded with shock and interest. Events like this make life worth living.
This goes especially for the beggars outside the church, described in this way: “They were students of the expressions of young women… and they saw them as they came out and read the nature of the sin. They knew every littlie scandal and some very big crimes, these endless earchers after perfect knowleedge of their fellow men.” The beggars may be the ones who know the best whether the people of the city live civilised lives.
Accordingly, there are several definitions of ‘civilised living’ among the people. While the doctor needs to live among others more like himself, the people of the city have adjusted to living with each other, and the curious beggars are happy with their simple lives.