The Pearl by John Steinbeck - Christine Dunham | Library | Formative

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"The servant from the gate came to the open door and stood waiting to be noticed. 'Yes?' the doctor asked. 'It is a little Indian with a baby. He says a scorpion stung it.' The doctor put his cup down gently before he let his anger rise. 'Have I nothing better to do than cure insect bites for 'little Indians'? I am a doctor, not a veterinary.' 'Yes, Patron,' said the servant. 'Has he any money?' the doctor demanded. 'No, they never have any money. I, I alone in the world am supposed to work for nothing - and I am tired of it. See if he has any money!' At the gate the servant opened the door a trifle and looked out at the waiting people. And this time he spoke in the old language. 'Have you money to pay for the treatment?' Now Kino reached into a secret place somewhere under his blanket. He brought out a paper folded many times. Crease by crease he unfolded it, until at last there came to view eight small misshapen seed pearls, as ugly and gray as little ulcers, flattened and almost valueless. The servant took the paper and closed the gate again, but this time he was not gone long. He opened the gate just wide enough to pass the paper back. 'The doctor has gone out,' he said. 'He was called to a serious case.' And he shut the gate quickly out of shame" (11). What theme is best represented at the beginning of the story with the interaction between the servant and the doctor?