The novel, “The Pearl”, written by John Steinbeck, traces the story of a man named Kino, his wife Juana, and his son Coyotito and how each of their lives begins to dramatically change after the finding of a large pearl at a small town in Mexico. Before the finding of the pearl, Kino and his family have feelings of family, warmth, and serendipity and although they are not rich they are able to live happily with one another. However, one day Coyotito gets attacked by a poisonous scorpion and Kino and Juana seek medical help but cannot afford the necessary treatments. As a result of this, Kino goes out and finds a large pearl while pearl diving. After many harsh trials, Kino throws the pearl back and he and Juana begin to rebuild their family …show more content…
Her unease for Coyotito, Kino, and herself grows more and more rapidly throughout the novel. Although the cause for these emotions originally begin with the fear that her son would soon die from the pinch of the poisonous scorpion, they developed into a concern of something much greater. Juana became anxious about the amount of power that the pearl was sending to the head of her husband. News of Kino’s “great find” spreads throughout the town causing malicious and intense jealousy. As a result of this jealousy Kino begins to get threats directed towards himself and his family and he feels a sense of power and masculinity because of this. Juana attempts to persuade Kino to throw back the pearl because she is afraid of him, the pearl, and what the power of the pearl will lead him to do. She was proven correct in her concern as Kino is seen going to extreme measures so that he could sell the pearl for the most expensive pay out. Throughout the course of the novel the power of the pearl leads Kino and Juana to fight verbally and physically and the danger that it cast upon their family cost Juana and Kino the life of their son