March 24, Easter Sunday Summary and Analysis

On Easter Sunday morning, Steinbeck and Ricketts find themselves on a yellow sand beach on a lagoon ringed with mangroves, and spend a lazy day swimming, wading, and admiring its beauty. Rather than spending much time collecting, they let their minds wander to the church in La Paz, the meaning of the day, and philosophical speculation. They consider two ways of thinking—one which aims to improve the lot of poor and unemployed people overall, and one which looks more broadly at the larger system of society, realizing that there is only employment for seventy percent of the people, no matter how you may strive to help a particular one. So, if one is helped, another must fall as the overall balance is maintained.

Similarly, an example is given of the sea-hare, a marine creature that...