The Pearl

The loss of innocence John Steinbeck’s book, The Pearl, is about a Mexican pearl diver, Kino, and his family. The story is told through the eyes of an outside narrator about his journey with “The Pearl of the World.” The main character is Kino, who is hardworking and desperate to support his family. In the book, the author uses revealing actions to show that disappointment and greed can make a man forget his purpose. Kino started as a family man, but by the end of the book, he was controlled by the greed he felt in his heart.

In the novel Fever, 1793, by Laurie Halse Anderson there is a lot of conflicts. I believe conflict is a situation or problem that one character or more are facing. These conflicts are the struggles of the fever, having to deal with the Ogilvies, and Mattie facing herself. Mattie’s perseverance while facing the challenges of getting through the fever, facing the Ogilvies, and facing herself and her doubts helped lead her from childhood to adulthood.

After Coyotito is cured, Juana and Kino end up fighting off thieves, robbers, and themselves when the greed and lust for the pearl become unbearable.

Conflict could be stated as a ‘a solemn difference between two or more beliefs, ideas or interests.’ In general, it is a fairly indispensable part of our lives as well as shapes individuals into who they are, and due to the consequences that linger around conflicts , it affects the relationship they have built with others along with their opinions towards them. This is evident in the award-winning play written by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet. In which the two families , Capulet and Montague constantly compete each other, and in the midst of this heat, ‘a pair of star cross’d lovers’ strive for the sake of their short-lived love; as a result causing what is now known as ‘the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet’. Correspondingly, in S.E

One of the first conflicts in the film causes a bigger conflict in later years and later in the plot between the same characters. A conflict is defined as "Conflict is a fact of human life. It occurs naturally in all kinds of settings. Nations still struggle, families fracture in destructive conflicts, marriages face challenges and often fail, and the workplace is plagued with stress." in the textbook "Interpersonal Conflict" by Wilmot. Meriam-Webster defines conflict in three ways. Firstly a war, fight or battle. Secondly "competitive or opposing action of incompatibles :antagonistic state or action (as of divergent ideas, interests, or persons)" or "mental struggle resulting from incompatible or opposing needs, drives, wishes, or external or internal demands". Lastly "the opposition of persons or forces that gives rise to the

Of all the symbols that are in Steinbeck’s story, the pearl of the world is the most important because of its direct impact on Kino, Juana, and Coyotito. The Pearl is about a poor diver, Kino, who gathers pearls for a living. Then, on a day like any other, Kino comes to the surface of the sea with a pearl as large as a seagull’s egg. Kino thought it would be a source of wealth, hope, and comfort, whereas it was actually the evil that destroyed their family.

Conflict, in general, is a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one. When conflict is studied in literature, the subject is broken down into a few major types, or classes of conflicts. This includes person versus person, person versus nature, person versus society, person versus self, as well as some others. Out of the Dust, a historical fiction novel by Karen Hesse, contains many types of conflicts, with person versus nature being prominent, as the book is based upon the Dust Bowl. However, there are multiple instances in the novel where a person is having a conflict against him/herself, and those conflicts impact their decisions, actions, as well as their relationships.

John Steinbeck’s The Pearl follows the story of a Mexican-Indian family who lived in a small village on the coast of the Baja peninsula during the colonial era in Mexico. Kino works tirelessly as a pearl diver to provide for his wife, Juana, and Coyotito, his son. Although he was poor, he and his wife were initially satisfied with their lives. However, Coyotito’s scorpion sting and the discovery of the Pearl of the World opened Kino’s eyes to a much larger world. His simple, peaceful life was marred by the violence and conflict that the pearl brought. The pearl, which incited greed in all who come in contact with it, changed from a symbol of hope to that of chaos and misfortune.

Throughout John Steinbeck's The Pearl, the stereotypes of Kino and his people are highlighted severely. One of these stereotypes are the role of men and women during that time period. Kino and Juana lived in a patriarchal society where men controlled the community, government, and the church. Kino and Juana were no exception to this standard. Kino and Juana’s relationship finally becomes equal after the difficulties they face ensuing the pearl.

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

Conflict can be especially seen more towards the end of the short story when they encounter the misfit. The type of conflict that occurs during the encounter can be deducted to be man versus man and man versus self. Man vs. man is seen through the struggle between the family's decision on where to have their vacation. This same type of conflict is also be seen with the family's confrontation with the misfit. When the grandmother meets the misfit after the family crashes, she is trying to beg for her life to try to appeal to his morals, ultimately to try to convince him not to kill her .

The Pearl written by John Steinbeck is a parable, a story that teaches a moral lesson. This novel is centered on a poor Indian family, who live in a brush hut along the Gulf of Mexico and by the village of La Paz. The family consists of: Kino, a fisherman and pearl diver, his wife Juana, and their infant son Coyotito. One day while diving, Kino discovers a great pearl that he calls, “the pearl of the world” (22). The theme of a literary work is defined as the central idea, concern or purpose about life that a writer wishes to convey. There may be several themes identified in a literary work; however, in John Steinbeck’s novel The Pearl the author uses the pearl to develop one of the most essential universal themes in literature, that of

The Pearl, written by John Steinbeck perfectly encapsulates the stringent economic and social divide among the poor and the rich not only on the basis of wealth but also ethnicity and historical divide. This is highlighted by the fact that there was frustration among the people of the village due to their oppression at the hands of their European colonizers. The living conditions of the town were thus very poor. They lived in brush houses and wore ragged clothes, without proper housing or even sanitation. While the European descendants lived in stone houses, surrounded by walls, the Indians, who had been subjugated for over 400 years lived in grass shacks with muddy floors. The situation of the town could be subsequently

The Pearl written by John Steinbeck is a parable, a story that teaches a moral lesson. The focus of this novel is on a poor Indian family. The family consists of three members: Kino, a husband, father, and fisherman, Juana, his wife and loving mother; and Coyotito their infant son. This indigent family lives in a small brush hut along the Gulf of Mexico by the town of La Paz. One day Coyotito, is bitten by a scorpion; a scorpion sting can be deadly to a baby. Kino and Juana are very worried over the health of their baby; therefore, they hope to find a pearl worthy enough for the doctor’s payment to the doctor to treat Coyotito. With luck on their side, Kino finds a pearl the size of a seagull’s egg; he calls it “The Pearl of the

The pearl then makes Kino impatient and desperate for good luck, therefore he resorts to violence. He “strike[s] [Juana] in the face with his clenched fist and she fell among the boulders, and he kicked her in the side” (Steinbeck 59). These violent outbursts of anger are unlike Kino. He has resorted to beating his wife, who he