"Helping a person is a gift you give yourself"

This quote was stated by Robert Louis Stevenson and I think it means that if you help someone else you are helping yourself at the same time. Have you ever put yourself first? I have but I regret not helping the person. I'm sure everyone living has put themselves first at some time. I think a person does not have the right to "Look out for Number One" first because life is not always about just caring for yourself. If our world had everyone caring for themselves first all of the time it would not survive. Everyone would be longing for attention and help. Say someone was to go on a walk and they saw a man setting up Christmas lights and he needed help holding the ladder but all they cared about was getting a good exercise, the man on the ladder would not be able to get anything done. I strongly believe people should be there to help others but also have time to help themselves.

December 24, 1843

Dear Diary, Today was a complete day of nonsense. My nephew came to my countinghouse and tried to lead me to believe Christmas was merry. What reason does he have to be merry? His family is just poor enough. He is a fool. Bah Humbug! After he accused me that I was being dismal I just said, ”good afternoon.” I had better things to do. Finally, when I was alone, a lunatic allowed two gentlemen to come and tell me to give a money donation to poor people so they could have a Merry Christmas. For all that I care they should be in prison if they want to survive. I enjoy to be left alone. Good afternoon.

The Pearl

What do we learn about the pearl's symbolism from the reactions it evokes? What human characteristics does the pearl bring out in these characters? Explain why you think the way you do.

We learned that the pearl is a symbol of wealth. Since Kino found the pearl he has been thinking of all his dreams and what he is planning to do with the extra money. The human characteristics the pearl brings out is greed and jealousy. I believe the pearl brings out greed because eveyone wants to have as much wealth as Kino abd his family now have. Kino is both eager and happy. He is eager because he wants to get Coyitito in college and have all of his dreams come true. He is happy because his baby is going to be healed by the doctor now that they have money. Juana is overjoyed and also worried. The characteristic of joy comes up because her son is going to get better but she is worried because she thinks be great greed will come of it. The neighbors are happy for the family of Kino because they know how injured Coyotito was. The doctor, priest, and townspeople both are being selfish and saying they could use some more money.