Literary Analysis Of The Pearl

Kino and Juana hear the Song of the Family when they are at peace and trying to protect their family. Family is idolized by its warmth and safety throughout the novella. In the beginning of The Pearl, Kino protects his family above all else and does this in an animalistic way. Family is closely tied together to gender roles in the text, since the duty of the mother and father, husband and wife are an important part of identity. The narrator explained, "Kino heard the creak of the rope when Juana took Coyotito out of his hanging box and cleaned him and hammocked him in her shawl in a loop that placed him close to her breast. Kino could see these things without looking at them. Juana sang softly an ancient song that had only three notes and yet endlessly variety of interval. And this was part of the family song too...aching chord that caught the throat, saying this is safety, this is warmth, this is the Whole (Steinbeck 9). Juana's song has three notes to represent the three members of her and Kino's family. When Coyotito dies, the entire family is completely destroyed: what is left is no longer whole. While the pearl sparks greed in people's hearts the purity of the family is in danger. The love of family is real and not dependent on monetary value. The greed associated with the pearl blinds Kino's eyes to

At the beginning of the story they both felt content and happy as show in this quote “Sometimes it rose to an aching chord that caught the throat, saying this is safety, this is warmth, this is the Whole.”. They did not even speak because their understanding was so great. But after Kino found the pearl his relationship steadily deteriorates as shown in this quote “"Kino," she said huskily, "I am afraid. A man can be killed. Let us throw the pearl back into the sea." "Hush," he said fiercely. "I am a man. Hush.”. That shows that as time goes by Kino is acting ruder and harshly to Juana all because of the greed the pearl caused. Another example is "This thing is evil," she cried harshly. "This pearl is like a sin! It will destroy us," and her voice rose shrilly. "Throw it away, Kino. Let us break it between stones. Let us bury it and forget the place. Let us throw it back into the sea. It has brought evil. Kino, my husband, it will destroy us." And in the firelight her lips and her eyes were alive with her fear. But Kino's face was set, and his mind and his will were set” this quote shows that Juana is becoming increasingly fearful yet Kino is sure this is the way and is willing to do whatever is necessary to become wealthy. This causes a strain between their relation. Finally the worst thing Kino commits is the act of attacked Juana. He is described as a snake hissing at her and hitting her that makes her fall. He even continues to kick her after she has fallen and she accepts it and knows he may even murder her. This shows that Kino has broken all limits of humanity and is being consumed by

First, Kino’s call to adventure with Coyotito being savagely stung by a scorpion and Kino having to find money for the doctor to pay for Coyotito’s medical treatment, second,Kino’s allies that will be by his side no matter what and lastly the examples of how Kino is truly a tragic hero. In John Steinbeck's novella, The Pearl the text gives many hints and clues that the novel follows the pattern of a Hero's Journey. This essay will cover the 3 main aspects of Kino's Journey which eventually leads to his ultimate sacrifice. My claim is significant and relevant to The Pearl because without the three main aspects to Kino’s Journey, the novel would not be the award winning, captivating book that it

Juan Tomas who is Kino’s older brother, warns him about the peculiarity about the unusual events that happen to him due to discovering the pearl. He says “ There is a devil in this pearl. You should have sold it and passed on the devil” (Bender 98). This quote shows Juan his happy for his brother and wants him to be wealthy but he is also nervous about how society and his life will change around him because everyone wants the pearl.  He hides Kino and Juana in his house after he finds out Kino had killed someone to protect himself. Apolonia who is Juan’s wife warns Kino as well about the dangers of the pearls discovery. She has four children too and agrees to give Kino and Juana housing if they need it. Those characters are well aware of the strange occurrences that follow the finding of the pearl. Steinbeck has included them in his book to show that greed can come of a situation like as illustrated in the book. Another character the doctor, is represented in the book as selfishness and greed in the society. He does not agree to treat Coyotito after he has been bitten by a scorpion until he finds out Kino has a pearl that is worth great fortune. Most people in the book become close to Kino to be closer to the pearl. This demonstrates the lust for currency, which Steinbeck truly despises. The priest as well tries to get close to Kino in hopes he can receive some money. The trackers and

To summarize the novella, Mexico is the setting of the Pearl. A physically strong, but mentally limited, man named Kino resides there with his wife, Juana, and his son Coyotito. They assume

She watches him go through the motions and how the pearl corrupts his decision making abilities. “Kino this pearl is evil. Let us throw it before it destroys us. Let us crush it between two stones...Kino, it is evil, it’s evil!”(Steinbeck 56) The pearl is destroying each and every character’s livelihood. They want to destroy it before it destroys them. “It is the pearl.” said Juan Tomas, ‘There is a devil in the pearl.” (Steinbeck 64) The pearl has only brought harm and hardships i.e. “the devil” This is a parallel to how money in society can affect someone. “...It has ruined everyone I know” (Steinbeck/Morris 111) “It” is something that that has taken control of everyone. Greed and social status also come to play because it was something they had never had, something only

According to Mexican folklore, there was a pearl driver who ends up finding a pearl known as “The Pearl of the World” John Steinbeck knew of this tale and wrote a story called the pearl. The Pearl can teach the reader many important lessons through the events of this story and it's many themes that are portrayed through the use of figurative language. An example of this is how Steinbeck uses the symbols of the pearl ,light and darkness to show that greed and wealth corrupts one character.

In the novella The Pearl by John Steinbeck, the pearl causes unforeseen misery and greed despite its beauty and promise of riches. The book tells the tale of a poor pearl diver and his family. The pearl diver, known as Kino finds “the pearl of the world” and just like that, greed begins to destroy him and his family. The town becomes stricken with greed over Kino’s newfound riches. The pearl pushes both Kino and the townspeople to destroy and ultimately kill over the pearl.

After witnessing Kino go through a change to his personality, Juana believes the pearl is corrupted and that something horrible will happen to her family if the pearl is not disposed back into the sea. When Juana attempts to throw the pearl back into the sea, Kino stops her and beats her for trying to dispose of the pearl. Juana then fears that the pearl has completely overcome Kino with greed and evil. “There was no certainty in seeing, no proof that what you saw was there or was not there.” (29).

The pearl is represented as being a precious gem that will bring hope and wealth into Kino’s family. While time passes, Kino becomes anxious. He decides that the best place for the pearl is to bury “... it under the ground…” in fear “...that others, both friends and enemies, have a greed that surposses even the doctor’s” (Meyer).

The pearl's evil infects Kino like a ravaged disease and consumes his mind. He starts off with good intentions, but they become twisted. He wants to sell the pearl and use the money to better his family's lifestyle. He has dreams and goals that each depends on the pearl selling for a good price. Juana sensing the evil and greed coming from Kino attempts to destroy it. Kino beats her unmercifully. "He struck her in the face and she fell among the boulders, and he kicked her in the side...He hissed at her like a snake and she stared at him with wide unfrightened eyes, like a sheep before a butcher." Juana sees through the outer beauty of the pearl and knew it would destroy Kino and herself. Kino's vision from the soul becomes blurred by the possible prosperity the pearl will bring. The evil invades Kino's life as well as everyone he knows and loves.

Symbols helps us understand the true meaning of an object or idea. It allows us to be more aware of what the author wants the reader to think about. The Pearl an allegorical parable novella written by John Steinbeck is a story about a family whose lives have been destroyed by a pearl that was mistaken as a blessing. The pearl began as hope for kino and his community, but turned into something much worse as the novel ended.

The story holds great importance towards the actions of the people in opposition to the generalization of their systematic society, this story also holds a strong moral lesson. The story holds great importance towards the actions of the people in opposition to the generalization of their systematic society, this story also holds a strong moral lesson. Kino, the protagonist of the story, feels that he has been cheated and decides to go somewhere else to sell his pearl this area stresses the fact that he is going against the way of life and the function of their society. His brother tells him, “all of us have been cheated our whole lives… You have defied not the pearl buyers, but the whole structure, the way of life…”(54). This shows that there

Happiness is a lovely thing, but greed can easily poison its light. John Steinbeck, the author of the novella, The Pearl, shows how easily something is tainted. This parable describes a simple fisherman, Kino, and his discovery of a magnificent pearl. This pearl becomes an omen, and his whole world changes, growing dark and ominous. Throughout the story, what Kino perceives as important in life changes as he tries to cope with his internal conflicts.

This leads the theme of how a dream is good, until it begins to destroy the things of value in a person’s life. Because Kino believes The Pearl will help him achieve all the dreams he has in store for his son Coyotito Kino does not want to give up the pearl. Juana, who is smart enough to figure out that the pearl is going to cause trouble, asks Kino to throw the pearl away multiple times. And even tries to get rid of it herself. Juana says, "This pearl is evil. This pearl is like a sin. It will destroy us all!” Even though Juana warns Kino that the pearl will bring great misfortunes to the family and asks him to throw the pearl away, Kino decides not to listen or take the advice his wife is giving because Kino's mind is already overtaken by his dreams he wishes of achieving with The Pearl. He is blinded by the dream of: "Juana and Coyotito and himself standing and kneeling at the high alter in the new white clothes holding a Winchester carbine and ‘’Coyotito sitting at a little desk in a school". It is now clear to us that he is slowly starting to become greedy and that his selfish thoughts are suddenly starting to control his actions and what he says. After Kino has found "the pearl of the world", everyone is eager to own it and they all begin to start thinking of their own dreams and what they can achieve if they had a pearl like Kino’s, "Every