The Pearl

Over the course of history, women have had a stereotype of being subservient, passive, and deferent. However, John Steinbeck’s novella The Pearl disproves this epithet. The story revolves around a husband and wife, Kino and Juana, and their baby son, Coyotito. The characters experience a meaningful journey and learn a manifold of lessons. Although multiple themes unravel in the story, the author vividly writes about the role and development of women. Steinbeck’s The Pearl depicts various women’s roles and their development, especially in Juana’s words and actions. Juana is the wife to fisherman Kino. She clothes herself in a battered blue head shawl and skirt, and a green ribbon knotted in her braids. Coming from poverty, Juana and her husband

This develops over the course of the novella. Comparatively to a lioness protecting her cubs, Juana protects her baby son, Coyotito, from all harm. It is imperative to Juana to protect Coyotito, as he is her only child. The bond between a mother and child is precious in itself. Juana will do anything to protect her baby, even if it places her in a dangerous situation, such as falling ill to the scorpion’s poison. “She put her lips down over the puncture and sucked hard and spat and sucked again while Coyotito screamed” (6). Instantly, Juana makes this decision without a second thought. She risks her own safety to save her child from dying. Straightaway, yet surprisingly to Kino, Juana demands the doctor of the town to visit her family. It is uncommon for the doctor to visit the poor as they focus directly on the rich. When Juana heard that the doctor would not come, she firmly stated, “Then we will go to him” (7). Tying into the dominant role, Juana is assertive in obtaining aid to cure her child’s illness. During the story’s unfolding, Kino faces the vice, greed, and becomes weakened by the pearl. Juana, being the supportive wife, helps fixes his

When Kino is negatively changed by the pearl, Juana is the one to stray him away from its evilness. Granted that, Juana represents the wise and sensible character, which is progressively displayed in The Pearl. Juana states that, “‘This thing [the pearl] is evil’ . . . ‘It will destroy us all’ . . . ‘Even our son’” (38). She firmly presents this to Kino. She clearly understands the pearl’s power and wickedness. Kino does not. It takes a while for him to realize the pearl’s real intentions. Juana knows her family’s unfortunate future if they keep the pearl. She protects Kino in order to stop the insanity the pearl has burdened him with. Ergo, Juana decides to dispose of the corruptive object. Kino catches her in the process and beats her. He becomes angry at her. In the end of the story, Kino and Juana return to their town walking side by side, representing the break between gender roles. After working through the same obstacle together, they are an equal couple. Kino finally recognizes the pearl as it truly is, evil. Juana instructs Kino to throw the pearl into the sea by saying, “‘No you’” (89). She wants him to release it, so he understands that the pearl is gone