In "The Pearl," John Steinbeck tells the story of Kino, a poor pearl diver living in La Paz, Mexico. Kino's life is forever changed when he discovers an enormous pearl, which he believes will bring him and his family financial security and a better life.
However, Kino's dream of a better life is quickly shattered as the pearl becomes a source of conflict and temptation for those around him. Kino's neighbors and even his own family members become jealous of the pearl and try to take it from him. Kino's wife, Juana, begs him to get rid of the pearl, warning him that it will bring nothing but trouble, but Kino is determined to hold on to it and use it to improve his family's circumstances.
As Kino struggles to protect the pearl and his family, he becomes increasingly desperate and violent. He even kills a man who tries to steal the pearl from him, leading to a cycle of retaliation and violence that ultimately destroys Kino's family and his dreams.
In the end, Kino realizes that the pearl was not a blessing, but a curse, and he returns it to the sea, where it came from. The pearl symbolizes the corrupting influence of greed and the destructive power of material possessions. Kino's pursuit of the pearl exposes the dark side of human nature and the dangers of letting material wealth dictate one's actions.
Overall, "The Pearl" is a powerful and thought-provoking allegory that explores the dangers of greed and the corrupting influence of material possessions. Through the story of Kino and the pearl, Steinbeck illustrates the destructive power of greed and the importance of staying true to one's values and beliefs.
John Steinbeck
Kino, a poor As Juana applies a seaweed poultice to the sting, Kino dives for That night, Kino drives off a thief who attempts to break into his house. This analysis focuses mainly on techniques and devices used to achieve this and their effect. With his beautiful writing, Steinbeck tells us the story of Kino, a poor pearl diver, whose simple and peaceful life changes, irrevocably, with the finding of the "pearl of the world". Chapter 3 The news of the pearl travels quickly, and people in the town wonder if they will benefit from Kino's find. When I read a little into the background of this novella, I saw that one of the main themes is "good and evil".
Kino, A Dynamic Character In The Pearl By John Steinbeck
A literary masterpiece that should be read nonetheless, I rate The Pearl 4 stars- 5 for Steinbeck's prose and story telling skills, and 2. They came to the place where the brush houses stopped and the city of stone and plaster began, the city of harsh outer walls and inner cool gardens where a little water played and the bougainvillaea crusted the walls with purple and brick-red and white. It's then that Juan warns him again. However, the pearl that thought to be the greatest fortune, turned to be the greatest demise of him and his family. To travel to the capitol, Kino must take his family by foot across a desert and through the mountains.
The Pearl Chapter 5 Summary & Analysis
In the final scenes, in which Kino is tracked by a posse, it is not clear in the text whether the group are thieves or law enforcement officers hunting Kino for his killing of the man on the beach. He looks over briefly at the editor. Chapter 5 At night, Juana sneaks out in the dark and tries to get rid of the pearl, but Kino catches her and takes back the pearl, striking her. With it goes that all is Kino's fault. When the story begins, Kino is a man perfectly content with his situation despite the lack of material possessions; he wants nothing more than to be able to support his family. Rather than congratulating him on his prized discovery, each villager offers their unique suggestion as to how Kino should spend his winnings. It was a tiny movement that drew their eyes to the hanging box.
John Steinbeck
That evening, Kino tells Juan Tomás his plan to travel to the cities of the north. It's written by Steinbeck, so of course, it's written beautifully. He was growing very stout, and his voice was hoarse with the fat that pressed on his throat. I keep debating whether I should rate it one star or two, but ultimately the Goodreads definition of the two-star rating, "it was ok," pushes me over the edge. He is said to have a round stump on his right arm, but no hand. The scurrying procession came at last to the big gate in the wall of the doctor's house.
Conflict in The Pearl
Reports from the war hum from a radio at the bar and his editor finds the courage to continue. In literature, external conflicts often cause internal ones. Juana finds the pearl in the sand as she makes her way back to Kino. Indeed, Kino and Juana initially are content in their humble life together, and their sense of family is strong although they are poor. They decide to go to Juan and ask him and his wife, Apolonia, to hide them for the night. After Kino kills a man, the thought of improving his family is lost—the only thing that remains is to save himself and his family.
How does the baby die in John Steinbeck's The Pearl?
By the end of the novel, after his efforts to keep the pearl have resulted in the disaster of Coyotito's death, Kino demonstrates a renewed respect for his wife and a return to his initial values, particularly when he allows Juana to walk by his side and then offers her the honor of throwing the pearl into the ocean. This little parable can be read in one go, as the writing is so rich and limpid. Kino realizes that there are trackers after them to get the pearl. I read The Pearl, a novella, in the space of a few hours. Outside the door he squatted down and gathered the blanket ends about his knees.
