The chances of finding a valuable pearl are extremely low. In the book The Pearl, Kino found what was called The Pearl of the World. One of the most valuable objects anyone could've had in this time period. Pearls were used for income. The better the pearl, (no irregularities, and not too small or big) the more money you could receive for it. Although wealth is satisfactory, and can bring joy at the moment, it does not equal happiness because once you're wealthy enough, you're not happy anymore, money doesn't buy love, and money doesn't buy family and friends.
Once you've acquired enough money, or even possibly all the money in the world, you really can't be happy since you've already accomplished the goal. In The Pearl, Kino was happy when
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If anything, the pearl and wealth in general only made Kino and the townspeople more selfish. The stingy doctor for example, was so invested in making a profit, that he didn't even give a second thought about his deceased wife. In the book, it states, "The pictures were religious, even the large tinted photograph of his dead wife, who, if Masses willed and paid for out of her own estate could do it, was in Heaven," (Shmoop Editorial Team). This quote proves that the doctor was too wrapped up in his world full of money that he paid no respects to his wife, especially since he sold most of her belongings to make a quick buck. This also leads to the doctor poisoning Coyotito in order to scam Kino and Juana out of their pearl money when Juana had already cured him. The Pearl states, "She gathered some brown seaweed and made a flat damp poultice of it, and this she applied to the baby's swollen shoulder, which was as good a remedy as any and probably better than the doctor could have done. But the remedy lacked his authority …show more content…
Juana loved Kino regardless if they were poor or rich. The book states, " In the pearl he saw Juana and Coyotito and himself standing and kneeling at the high altar, and they were being married now that they could pay. He spoke softly, "We will be married – in the church," (Shmoop Editorial Team). It shows how Kino and Juana were not even married yet, due to lack of money, but they were still in love. Even before Kino found the "Pearl of The World." Regardless of the situation, Juana still loved and supported Kino, and trusted his judgment and decisions. Kino probably thought that by having money to send his child to school, he'd "buy" Coyotito's love. In the book, it says," In the pearl he saw Coyotito sitting at a little desk in a school, just as Kino had once seen it through an open door. And Coyotito was dressed in a jacket, and he had on a white collar, and a broad silken tie. Moreover, Coyotito was writing on a big piece of paper. Kino looked at his neighbors fiercely. "My son will go to school," (Shmoop Editorial Team). The quote illustrates how hopeful Kino was that his son was going to go to school, learn to read, teach his people how to do the same, and how Coyotito would be very thankful and loving towards his father for giving him that opportunity. Just as you cannot buy love, you can't buy family and friends
When Kino first finds the pearl, he becomes a different person, and that shows us how ambition can change people. He becomes greedy, and then starts to treat his wife differently. Kino also became very ambitious for the worth of the pearl. When the dealers see the pearl and say it isn’t worth much, Kino ceases to view the pearl with optimistic delight and instead focuses on its sale with determined ambition. From this point on, that ambition continues to hurt him, to the point where his son, Coyotito, dies.
His family was really close and they loved each other without money. His obsession with the pearl caused his son Coyotito to die. Kinos tends to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something he does not have but appreciating and recognizing what he does have. Throughout the pearl” Kino and his family learned this the hard way. The pearl demonstrates Kino was already making a hard skin for himself against the world”(29). Kino changes his character throughout the story by his thoughts and actions. In the first chapter of the novel kino is presented as a loving protect her husband who wants nothing more than support for his family. Furthermore to know was cruel to his wife after he found the pearl. Having a lot of money but not being happy is worse than being happy and not having money. Perhaps, people should learn the having a lot of money is not as important as
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.
She even says in the book “ I knew there was murder in him” meaning the pearl brought out this strange and unnoticed evil part of him she had never seen before. He struck Juana in the face with a closed fist and kicked her in her side when she was lying on the ground. After that, he said “I am man” which was very strange if you are familiar with Kino he never acted like that or ever even laid a hand on her. Now you probably can tell that the pearl changed Kino and brought him to the low level of hurting other people that he cared dearly
“ 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.
“Don’t educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be happy, so they know the value of things, not the price” Victor Hugo stated. Kino and Juana did not have the values or money that many people had, but they had Coyotito. Coyotito shows many symbols such as love, devotion, dedication, and affection towards Kino and Juana throughout the book. In The Pearl by John Steinbeck, Coyotito's illness and characteristics had an impact on Kino and Juana’s decisions.
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
Although Kino performed many heroic acts, he also acted foolishly in various circumstances. He lives with his wife Juana and his son Coyotito. The novel tells his story when he happens to find a large pearl in the beach that has the capacity to either bring him death or happiness. After finding this big pearl, he believes that this is going to the beginning of a new chapter for him and his family because poverty was eventually going to leave them. His foolishness was first seen when he announced the pearl that he had found making everyone to try to steal it from him. Knowing the worth of the pearl, he should have kept the information to himself and sold it later. After seeing what people were able to do to him because of the pearl, he should have just sold it at the price the buyers said because it eventually led to the death of his son. The buyers only referred to it as a ‘fool’s gold’ and that it was not worth anything. Kino’s greed put his family in danger and caused the death of his only son. Even after he was convinced that the pearl was evil by his wife, he says, "The pearl has become my soul. If I shall give it up, I
News of the pearl travels quickly. when kino and juana return home people start to gather around them. kino starts making plans on what he is going to do with the money from the pearl. he tells everyone he is going to get married, going to buy new clothes for his family, buy a rifle and send coyotito to school. the priest comes to say that the church would need the pearl for repairs, juana respects the father’s words but kino was too busy on hearing the song of evil and the song of the pearl. when everyone leaves kino starts to think that everyone has it for the pearl and he is the only thing in their way. later the doctor and his servant come to kino’s home and he offers his services. he tells kino about the poison and he treats coyotito.
At first, Kino’s friends and family are happy for him for finding the pearl, but once the people started thinking of what they could gain from the wealth of the pearl, it corrupted them with greed. Greediness takes over the town’s people in the village by them realizing what the pearl can do for them. Influential people, like the town doctor, the pearl dealers and even the town's priest all are consumed with greediness for the pearl’s wealth. “The news came early to the beggars in front of the church, and it made them giggle a little with pleasure, for they knew that there is no almsgiver in the world like a poor man who is suddenly lucky” (24). All of these people with high moral values fall victim to greed when they try to steal the pearl from Kino.
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
Family— After Coyotito got stung, Kino and Juana went searching for a doctor. Which was too expensive for them to afford, and was someone who would usually not help people like them. “The doctor never came to the cluster of brush houses. Why should he, when he had more than he could do to take care of the rich people who lived in stone and plaster houses.” (p.7) They were both willing to give up everything to save their child. After they found the pearl, one of Kino’s first thoughts was to put Coyotito through school, and to officially marry Juana. Wherever they go after that, they stay together. Throughout the beginning of the book Kino and Juana desire the best for Coyotito and for each other. Unfortunately Kino is almost turned from his
The previously poor Kino was overcome by the thoughts of greatness that the pearl held when he could see the wealth in the pearl and the happiness it would
Rather than wanting to do so as an act of kindness, the priest is motivated by Kino’s newfound treasure. He visits Kino and as he discusses the pearl, Kino begins to believe that wealth can fulfill all of his needs. Thus, he grows more attached to the pearl, and holds on to his desires more strongly. When attempting to sell his pearl, Kino’s wishes cause him to reject the low offers of the pearl buyers: