The Pearl not having a specific time of when it took place, is about two parents, Kino and Juana, poor like George and Lennie, attempting to pay for a doctor’s appointment for their child (Coyotito) who received a scorpion sting with an abnormally large sized pearl but having the misfortune that they get an unfair estimate on the value of that said pearl. Ultimately leading to them throwing the pearl back where it came from, the ocean. Having
On page 59 the text says, “In that instant Juana knew that the old life was gone forever. A dead man in the path and Kino's knife dark bladed beside him, convinced her” This quote is describing how the pearl took kino’s old life and took his best and created it to be his worst. The pearl not only affected Kino’s personality but it turned Juana’s life and turned it inside out.
Before Kino’s discovery of the pearl, Coyotito was ill because of a scorpion sting. Kino and Juana went to the doctor to get help for Coyotito, but they were rejected. “Have I nothing better to do than cure insect bites for ‘little Indians’? I am a doctor, not a veterinary.” (Steinbeck 701) After
“The Pearl” has several examples throughout the book. The first example is when Kino finds the Pearl of The World. Suddenly everyone is wondering how they can benefit from his pearl. Shop keepers are looking at the clothes that haven’t sold and are probably raising the price just so they can get more money out of Kino.
“Every man suddenly became related to Kino’s pearl, and Kino’s pearl went into the dreams, the speculations, the schemes, the plans, the futures, the wishes, the needs, the lusts, the hungers of everyone, and the only person that stood in the way and that was Kino, so that he became curiously every man’s enemy.” (page 23). This quote states that everyone envies Kino and wants the pearl’s wealth for himself or herself. Later in the book, one of these people will try to take the pearl. This will cause Kino to try to protect the pearl at all costs.
“The acquisition of wealth is a work of great labor.” The first part of this quote unquestionably applies to The Pearl. In The Pearl, Kino has a hard time to keep the pearl in his possession. The pearl is his wealth and people
When Kino heard about the pearl, it was called “the pearl that might be” meaning that the pearl could exist, but it is not one hundred percent positive that it actually existed. Kino knew that if he found that pearl that he could pay for his son to be healed. Stories from the natives proved it was a folktale, or just a legend. Juana even prayed for him to find the pearl. The next time that Kino went to search for pearls he found “the pearl that might be” in a large clam shell.
Kino wanted to sell the pearl so his son Coyotito could have a good life and education, he could own a gun, so he and Juana could have a real wedding, but soon after Kino’s love for his begins to change. ¨He struck her in the face with his clenched fist and she fell among the boulders, and he kicked her in the side¨ (Steinbeck 59). After
The pearl becomes Kino’s soul and Coyotito becoming forgot. She paused for a moment beside the hanging box where Coyotito lay, then for a second she was black in the doorway, and then she was gone. And rage surged in Kino. He rolled up to his feet and followed her as silently as she had gone. When Juana sneaks out of the house to dispose of the pearl Kino goes after her and leaves coyotito alone in the house because of this he is exposed and more at risk of being killed.
It is now he, not the sellers, who has the power to decide if he is going to sell the pearl or not. As Kino holds the pearl in his own bare hands, he has the courage to say that he is not selling the pearl. He is being cheated by the buyers, and is willing to not sell the pearl in the town, but to even risk his life by travelling to the capital for a higher price...which, would foreshadow Kino’s development of lack of honesty. Kino becomes savage he receives the pearls power. He begins to shows violence towards those he loves to save the pearl: “He stuck her in the face with his clenched fist and she fell among the boulders, and he kicked her in the side” (59).
When Kino says "this pearl has become my soul. If I give it up I shall lose my soul" it shows that the pearl has changed Kino to be paranoid and jealous. He thought that when he found the pearl, his life would change and he could become rich and raise his child well, but this is not what happened. The pearl changed him for the worse. Kino has sacrificed his free will to the pearl and will do anything to protect it .
The pearl became evil through all the greed in humanity; therefore, bringing bad luck to anyone who touches it. Throughout the course of the story, I felt annoyed at Kino’s greed and selfishness. After I read the book, I learned that too much greed can lead to suffering, violence, and one’s downfall. Before, I never really knew the consequences of excess greed, but after reading “The Pearl" by John Steinbeck, now I know that I should never let greed take control over me. “He looked into his pearl to find his vision.
The pearl was a very important part of this story. In the beginning of the story, Kino finds his pearl, and calls it ‘the pearl of the world’. He believes that it is the most amazing thing in the world, and that it will save him, and his family, that it was the answer to all his problems. He could see all the dreams that he never dared dream, in the pearl.
These three characters became greedy after each of them wanted to do something different with the pearl. The doctor wanted to keep the pearl in his safe, probably knowing it was valuable. Kino wanted to keep the pearl whether or not it was bringing evil to his family. Finally, the pearl buyer was attempting to convince Kino that the pearl was worthless and they tried getting the pearl for less money than it was actually worth. Overall, three literary devices were used to describe the greediness of three different characters.
In the book, The Pearl, by John Steinbeck, family does play an important role in the story. For example, Coyotito, Kino and Juana’s only child and is the only next generation they have. Notably, Kino and Juana aren’t completely married yet. Juana plays the role that motivates Kino in order for him to be able to keep going and not be brought down by others. While doing so, she accepted the fact that Kino has murdered in order to save his family the pearl.
