White Americans’ Dehumanization Toward American Indians in John Steinbeck’s The Pearl

The article explores the representation of the issue of white American’s dehumanization towards American Indians in John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. The article describes the fact that Steinbeck addresses dehumanize approaches which white Americans did towards some aspects of American Indians lives including the lifestyle, belief, and culture. In the analysis, we use the sociological approach by applying the concept of dehumanization by Frantz Fanon. The research shows that Steinbeck concerns mainly about three dehumanize acts by white Americans against American Indians. First, white Americans conditioned the American Indians to obey the rules and adjust their lives. Second, American Indians had to embrace white American’s religion. Third, white Americans forced American Indians to pursue their culture especially the language and art. Generally, this study shows that Steinbeck disagrees with discrimination and oppression by White Americans towards American Indians.