The Pearl By John Steinbeck

In the novella, The Pearl, written by John Steinbeck, a pearl diver named Kino is eager to find a pearl to help his son, Coyotito, after he was stung by a scorpion. After the doctor refuses them treatment, Kino coincidentally finds ‘The Pearl of the World’. Originally, it was just supposed to help them with the payment for Coyotito's treatment, but it leads to other happenings. People start hating Kino, and are jealous of his pearl. Trackers try to hunt him down in the mountains to kill him and get the pearl, but that’s not what Kino has in mind. Coyotito is accidentally shot in the head, and that starts a fire in Kino. Anger-filled, he kills the trackers. As Kino and Juana arrive home, they are described to be different people, and it's all

After the death of Kino's son he was no longer happy and he probably never will be. The pearls purpose was to provide for Coyotito. Kino was going to give his son an education so he could have a decent life when he was older. Therefore without Coyotito the pearl had no value to Kino.

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.

4. One of Kino’s most prized possession is his canoe. His canoe will let Kino and Juana go out in the Ocean and dive for oysters. With the oysters found Kino is able to make a living by selling his pearls. Though I believe Kino has not taken his role seriously as a caretaker in the family.

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

“ The acquisition of wealth is a work of great labor; its possession, a source of continual fear; its loss, of excessive grief.” This quote can apply in our lives and even some books we read like The Pearl. In the book, The Pearl, the wealth of Kino and his family is the pearl they find. It’s possession caused them great fear and labor from the beginning of the book, and it caused them grief towards the end. This quote applies to all parts of the book, and we will examine into all of the chapters to take a closer look.

“Kino could see Juana in a shawl, stiff with newness and a new skirt, he could see himself dressed in new white clothes with a new hat, holding a new harpoon better than the one he had previously broken. He could see Coyotito, he wore a blue sailor suit from the United States and a little yachting cap, these are all things he wanted, that he could now have.” Kino states everything he wants and can now get in life which makes him more arrogant, leading him on a path of destruction. This also gives Kino something to look back on after it's too late. “In the moonlight he could see the frantic, frightened eyes, and Kino aimed and fired between the eyes. Suddenly he heard the keening, moaning, rising hysterical cry from the little cave in the side of the stone mountain, the cry of death. He hastily scaled the mountain and entered the cave to bear the sight of a small limp heavy bundle. The shawl was dried with blood, and the bundle swayed a little swayed a little as it was held.” Kino has sacrificed the one thing he cares most in the world about for a simple pearl which again proves the point that Kino is truly a tragic hero. Kino believes that if he can come out safely with both his family and the pearl intact that he can live happily ever after, but with the pearl comes evil and death. Later in the novel when Kino is forced to choose between his family and

In the book, The Pearl, there is one main instance where Kino, Juana, and Coyotito gain something and it changes them and their lives throughout the whole book. There are many themes, what the characters gain and how it changes them, how does gaining and losing wealth and power affect people, and how the story compares to today’s society.

In the novel, Steinbeck writes, "No,[Kino] said, 'I will fight this thing. I will win over it. We will have our chance... No one shall take our good fortune from us." (Steinbeck 57) This quote reveals how Kino is making his own decisions, creating his own fate. But Kino only performs these actions out of spite. He only did these actions because society discriminated against him, and society did not allow him to have an education. For example, the doctor states, "Have I nothing better to do than cure insect bites for 'little Indians'? I am a doctor, not a veterinary"' (Steinbeck 11) Because the doctor refused to help Kino's ailing child, Kino is forced to cu. So, he finds a pearl and tries to sell it. But with being taken advantage of by the buyers and the constant discrimination against him, Kino ends up becoming overwhelmed and paranoid of his surroundings. With the constant paranoia and anger, Kino kills a man, burns his home down, and flees away from his home. All these acts are caused by society not allowing him to have an education and society discriminating against him because of his

Kino and Juana experienced multiple struggles throughout the story of The Pearl. Kino is a pearl diver, and he found a pearl that he believed to be everything. Kino started to value the pearl more than his family. He got his priorities mixed up, and the pearl should not be valued more than his family. Throughout this novel, Steinbeck conveyed that the most precious things in life are not as valuable as they seem.

In the book “The pearl” written by John Steinbeck, family played a huge role in it. In almost every situation or event that happened in the book involved family. The first biggest event that happened in the book was Kino finding the world’s famous pearl. This pearl had so much value to it, that made Kino change as a character. He became greedy. The setting in the book was people who didn’t have much. They work for what they need, things aren’t just handed down to the. Kina forgot about that, about working for what he needs. Instead, he acted as if he was rich. He demanded a list of things he wanted when he had the pearl. He wanted his son, Coyotito, to get the education he needed. But couldn’t get because they weren’t wealthy enough. Kino wanted him and his wife, Juana to have an official

What if something seems so worthwhile, you would risk everything to try to get it? The Pearl by John Steinbeck focuses on a man named Kino. Kino found a pearl whose value was so great that it could potentially give his family everything they wanted. But Kino quickly lost sight of what really mattered and let suspicion, anger, and fear overtake him. Throughout the book, Kino’s family is subjected to multiple tragedies. A tragedy is an event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, like a serious accident. Kino caused the tragedies his family experienced because he only cared about the pearl, had no control over himself, and didn't listen to others.

After traveling long and fighting against the whole world, first with his town filled with people trying to steal it, then fighting for the money, then against himself and finally against the trackers, he was left weak, and there was no more strength to fight anymore. “The people say that the two seemed to be removed from human experience” (Steinbeck 88). His struggles with the pearl have left him dehumanized and stripped of emotions because after so many battles with himself and others, it has ruined the pearl’s value by taking away the shine and leaving a dusty grey as all of his original plans of a wedding, new clothes and an education for Coyotito have turned into memories of traumatic moments. “And in the surface of the pearl, he saw Coyotito lying in the little cave with the top of his head shot away.” (Steinbeck 89). Family was the strongest part of his life because it was Kino’s only power throughout his life, which is why when he returns back to his village, people don’t recognize him as he walks through people unbothered by their staring eyes that glare right through the hollowed soul, making them feel scared. Whether Kino can’t feel anymore or chooses to disconnect himself from that battle is a mystery, but, he is still left as a dehumanized

He worked to feed his family, and protect his family from anything that could harm them. So, when Kino found the pearl, this great opportunity, he seemed to change all of his morals and traits that made him the person he was. Juana had noticed the effect that the pearl had on Kino and the whole environment that was around them, so she decided to try and get rid of it herself. When Kino saw Juana down by the water he ran out to her and throw her up against a rock and kicked her in the ribs. His actions showed that in his mind the pearl was worth more to him than Juana was.

In a small fishing village by the name of La Paz, live a simple, content, and calm family. The family consists of a child, Coyotito, and husband and wife, Juana and Kino. Kino is a poor fisherman and pearl diver that is simply working to support his family that he cares for very much. In the novel, Kino eventually acquires a pearl that he hopes will change his life around. As a result, the whole of his village despises Kino. They envy him for the rarity that is the pearl. Kino envisions an education for Coyotito, a rifle, and a marriage in a church, but realistically, the pearl shows death and more morbid outcomes such as Juana being beaten, and Coyotito being ill. Throughout the novel, the pearl noticeably has an impact on Kino's