THE SOCIAL CRITICISM OF INDIAN IN THE NOVEL THE PEARL BY JOHN STEINBECK

Abstrak

The Social Criticism of Indian in the Novel The Pearl by John Steinbeck is concerned with socialcriticism on the disruption of the Indians‘ life in Southern America 1940s. They were found tohave been unjustly treated and pressed by the European immigrants. This writing addressescriticisms on the social inequalities that emerge as a result of the presence of the immigrants. It isan attempt to address the Indians‘ struggle against the existing immigrants to overcome theeconomics of social conditions.Data were mainly obtained from related references as the secondary data and the novel The Pearlas its primary data. Other supporting documents were also taken to base the analysis. In doing so,the Structural Genetics approach that is the combination between fictional intrinsic elements suchas the plot, character, setting, theme and the external aspect such as the author‘s socialbackground and social reality of people was used.The result of this writing appears that the appearances of structural elements in the novel ThePearl depict the social, political, and economical conditions of Southern America in Mexico.John Steinbeck as the novel‘s author seemed to suggest the awakening of the Indians‘ struggleagainst social disruption due to the emergence of European immigrants. He insisted the Indianson organizing their struggle for better life.Key Words: Social criticism, Inequalities, Indians‟ struggle, Structural Genetic Approach