The Pearl John Steinbeck Pdf

The Pearl John Steinbeck Pdf Rating: 4,4/5 3535 votes

The Pearl is a novella by American author John Steinbeck, first published in 1947. It is the story of a pearl diver, Kino, and explores man's nature as well as greed, defiance of societal norms, and evil. Steinbeck's inspiration was a Mexican folk tale from La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, which he had heard in a visit to the. John Steinbeck’s The Pearl: Summary The Pearl, by John Steinbeck, evil transforms certain humble citizens into envious savages. Evil was exhibited by the doctor who refused to treat Coyotito because his parents had no money. Free download or read online The Pearl pdf (ePUB) book. The first edition of this novel was published in 1947, and was written by John Steinbeck. The book was published in multiple languages including English language, consists of 96 pages and is available in Paperback format. Download: The Pearl.pdf. Similar searches: The Pearl Pdf The Pearl Pearl The Pearl Summary The Pearl Steinbeck Rosenbaum And Pearl The Pearl Pdf Notes Bill Pearl Fortress Of The Pearl The Pearl Book The Pearl Essay Pearl In The Sand The Pearl Themes Summary Of Pearl Summary Of The Pearl Themes Of The Pearl The Pearl Summary Pdf Download Guidebook Book For The Pearl The Pearl By John Steinbeck.

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Like his father and grandfather before him, Kino is a poor diver, gathering pearls from the gulf beds that once brought great wealth to the kings of Spain and now provide Kino, Juana, and their infant son with meager subsistence. Then, on a day like any other, Kino emerges from the sea with a pearl as large as a sea gull’s egg, as “perfect as the moon.” With the pearl come..more
Published January 8th 2002 by Penguin Books (first published 1947)
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Popular Answered Questions
DuaneWell.. I think nowadays we're supposed to apply situational ethics here, aren't we? To wit.. :
If Steinbeck was a Liberal, we're supposed to excuse…more
Well.. I think nowadays we're supposed to apply situational ethics here, aren't we? To wit.. :
If Steinbeck was a Liberal, we're supposed to excuse him by saying that'he was a man of his time', (like Woodrow Wilson belonging to the KKK, etc.).
But if he was a Conservative, then we're supposed to immediately write him off completely as being a racist sexist bigoted homophobe, etc.
Did I get that right? My PC-Ometer hasn't been calibrated recently so it may be a little rusty..
(less)
Laura HerzlosUnless they totally have to, I would not recommend it. There are much better books, better written than this one. Depending on how fast they read and…moreUnless they totally have to, I would not recommend it. There are much better books, better written than this one. Depending on how fast they read and their vocabulary level, it can even be read in 3-4 hours, even, so I'd say a few days is more than enough.
But seriously, unless it's mandatory, I'd go for something better.(less)
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Dec 18, 2016Brina rated it really liked it
John Steinbeck's chilling novella The Pearl is the short story selection in the group catching up on classics for January 2017. In his retelling of a Mexican folktale, Steinbeck tells the tale of a fisherman named Kino who finds the pearl of the world on one of his dives. Showing how money is the root of all evil, Steinbeck delivers a poignant tale.
First published in 1945, The Pearl is the story of Kino, Juana, and their baby Coyotito who one day discover a giant pearl on one of their fishing e
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Jul 04, 2017Matthew rated it it was amazing
Steinbeck does it again. All my experiences with his writings have been fantastic. Every word, every description, every plot point, every twist - perfect!
The Pearl is very short but very amazing. It is a tale of greed and how people around wealth or who come upon sudden wealth are affected. Many of us think our life would be perfect if we won the lottery, but I think all of us could benefit from the lessons in this story.
I picked this book now because I am on vacation in Hatteras, NC, and the lo
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Mar 07, 2017Henry Avila rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Innocence turning to greed, and how people react to another man's good fortune, is the major theme of John Steinbeck's popular novella, The Pearl, set apparently in the early 20th century, ( the author is rather vague on the subject) in the then small, sleepy town, now a major city of La Paz, Baja California, Mexico, near the tip of the astonishing long peninsula, 775 miles ..Our main character is Kino, a young, poor Mexican man in his early 20's of Indian extraction, living in a remote part of..more
Jul 26, 2017Cecily rated it really liked it
It was a morning like other mornings and yet perfect among mornings.”
This novella opens with the simple contentment of a young Mexican pearlfisher: at peace with his life, wife, and baby, living in a tightknit community, and accompanied by the “Song of the Family” that plays in his mind.
Pearls, by contrast, are a consequence of imperfection - possibly of pain or discomfort. But from the irritation caused by stray sand, rare transfixing beauty can occur. Unlike gold and diamonds, a pearl needs n
..more
Nov 08, 2011Mario rated it did not like it · review of another edition
Overall, it's just not very good. 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. It wasn't ok; nothing about this was ok.
The writing style is bad, though I haven't read enough Steinbeck to know whether his stilted, awkward prose is just an affectation for this work (in an insulting attempt to illustrate that his main characters are poorly educated), or whether he is just always like t
..more
Oct 01, 2014Ahmad Sharabiani rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: historical, classic, fiction, 20th-century, literature, united-states
The pearl, John Ernst Steinbeck (1902 - 1968)
The Pearl is a novella by American author John Steinbeck, first published in 1947. It is the story of a pearl diver, Kino, and explores man's nature as well as greed, defiance of societal norms, and evil. Steinbeck's inspiration was a Mexican folk tale from La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, which he had heard in a visit to the formerly pearl-rich region in 1940. In 1947, it was adapted into a Mexican film named La perla and in 1987 into a cult Kann
..more
goodreads david writes this: I'm convinced that the general besmirchers of Steinbeck are fucktards, asswads, and vibrating pustules.
it's nice as a reader (bad, i guess, as a reviewer) when a writer achieves can-do-no-wrong status. reading steinbeck i feel less distance between the writer -> his words -> myself than with nearly any other writer. his prose stylings can't touch his contemporaries, his structure and pacing can be sloppy, he's sentimental, preachy, overly didactic, and his them
..more
Jan 09, 2012Cindy Newton rated it really liked it
This is a deceptively simple Mexican fable. It's written by Steinbeck, so of course, it's written beautifully. The story is pretty straightforward--poor, uneducated peasant finds monster pearl and now has everything previously denied to him within his grasp. Or does he?
*** SPOILERS AHEAD ***
Kino is happy despite his poverty and his low position on the social scale. He and the other natives in his village are under the control of the wealthy Spanish people who have taken up residence in the nicer
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Jul 22, 2013Dolors rated it really liked it
Recommends it for: Seekers of pearls of wisdom instead of riches
Recommended to Dolors by: A bookseller in Monterey
“They had made songs to the fishes, to the sea in anger and to the sea in calm, to the light and the dark and the sun and the moon, and the songs were all in Kino and in his people – every song that had ever been made, even the ones forgotten.”
Can you hear it?
A melody shrouded in ancestral mystery can be heard amidst the roaring waves lapping at the shores of this pulsating narration. Summoning songs of despair and songs of hope, soothing lullabies and wrathful incantations, this folkloric tale
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So, John Steinbeck and his editor walk into a bar. . . (disclaimer: I'm making this up) and John's editor says, 'John, it's so bor-ing being your editor. I mean, you've written the Great American novel, you've won the Pulitzer, you've fought for the poor man, you've made your fiction read like non-fiction and your non-fiction read like fiction.'
John lights a smoke, takes a slug of beer, grunts. Reports from the war hum from a radio at the bar and his editor finds the courage to continue.
'Well.
..more
This is the first Steinbeck's book I've read, though it won't be the last, despite the horrible first impression. I hate everything in this book - from it's anticlimactic writing to its incommodious characters. There is nothing worth praise in here. After I reached the end, I've been so angry and almost ready to punch something.
Poor low-class man, living with his wife and their baby, finds a giant pearl, decides to sell it and then use the money to buy medicine for his child, who just got bitte
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Jul 16, 2018Timothy Urges rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
She was as remote and as removed as Heaven.
The Pearl is a beautifully written tale of avarice and the power of ignorance.
Jul 03, 2009Madeline rated it it was ok
Poor pearl diver in South America finds giant-ass pearl, decides to sell it and use the money to buy medicine for his baby, who just got bitten by a scorpion. The mierda hits the fan, people die, everything generally goes to hell in a handbasket, and it all happens in about the space of time it took you to read this review.
Verdict: meh.
Read for: 10th grade English
Oct 27, 2013Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* rated it liked it
Shelves: classics-i-have-finally-conquered, classics, reviewed, drama-gen-fiction, 3-star, read-in-2016, a-own-book-form, didnt-like-ending, got-in-2013

Read it and philosophize while you read it and weep.
Sometimes I have to wonder what the people who write the back blurbs of these books are thinking (or smoking). The back says 'THE PEARL is a book to be read many times and cherished forever.' What they're talking about, I can't imagine. If you choose to get pissed over and over again, then by all means keep reading this tragic story.
I get what Steinbeck is saying in his beautiful writing voice - to be content with what is had and to not let th
..more
Jan 02, 2017Connie G rated it really liked it
John Steinbeck adapted a Mexican folk tale into a novella about fate, evil, the perils of greed, and the plight of oppressed people. The infant son of Juana and Kino, a fisherman and pearl diver, is stung by a scorpion. The doctor refuses to treat the baby because Kino does not have the money to pay him, and because the affluent Spanish colonialists look down at the natives. Kino dives for pearls in the hope that he could afford to pay a doctor, and comes up with a huge, valuable pearl--the 'Pea..more
Mar 12, 2012Nilesh Kashyap rated it liked it
It was a big mistake I made 3 days ago, I was going to start 'Charlotte's Web' but instead I started 'The Pearl' thinking it was written before ‘Of Mice and Men’ and on just finishing I found it was written much later. All I remember is my decision to read books in sequence they were published. Anyway it can’t be undone.
The Review:
“In the town they tell the story of the great pearl” how it was found and how it was lost again. They tell of Kino, the fisherman, and of his wife, Juana, and of the
..more
i have had this sitting on my bookshelf for a while now (about 5 years! what?!) so i finally decided to read it. and, although i didnt enjoy it as much as some of his other novels, i appreciated the cautionary message of the story and the classic steinbeck writing style.
3 stars
Aug 02, 2015Betsy Robinson rated it it was amazing
I can’t help it. I’m seeing everything I’m reading these days through the metaphor of our insane political culture. Maybe that’s because we are in the midst of iconic metaphors—the stuff of Shakespeare, Aristotle, and more recently John Steinbeck.
The Pearl, based on a classic Mexican folk tale, tells the story of Kino, Juana, and their infant son. They are simple people, whose life explodes with a scorpion bite. Poison! Poison leads to a need to pay for a bogus antidote, which leads to the disco
..more
Oct 27, 2017Fiona MacDonald rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
A simple story about a young man who finds a pearl, and the tragic consequences that greed can bring, yet I came away from this absolutely gobsmacked with the intensity and beauty of Steinbeck's writing. It was powerful, gripping and heartbreaking, all in less than 100 pages. I can only liken this to Hemingway's 'The Old Man and the Sea' - utterly flawless.
Aug 29, 2014Luís C. rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: us-canada-author, reading-the-world, 20th-century, on-my-own, livros-do-brasil
This book is an allegory of money or, at least, a parable on the theme of physical possession.
All is symbol in this book, the pearl, object coveted by bead researchers, like money, sought by those who do not, are in the center.
The story takes place in Mexican California, near the end of the peninsula. The protagonists are poor (as seems to me at Steinbeck) and one of them will find, so to say, the gem. I'll let you see what can happen to the poor who die of a magical stroke let fly fortune .. T
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Apr 03, 2016Cathrine ☯️ rated it really liked it
Recommends it for: anyone with a sense of adventure

The Pearl Questions Pdf

4+★
This short novella (90 pages) brings to mind the biblical parable of The Pearl Of Great Price. Like the parables, the telling juxtaposes contrasting motifs of good and evil and what defines them or makes them so. How sudden wealth can corrupt depending on one’s choices, needs, or morals. Is it better to let things be or risk irreperable change for possible transformation or benefit? The reader has much to ponder throughout the pages which turn beautifully. I could hear the sounds of water, sm
..more
Jul 20, 2018❄️Nani❄️ rated it really liked it · review of another edition
It’s Steinbeck. It was perfect.
Short but oh so impactful.
Sep 03, 2016Erin Clemence rated it really liked it
I read this book in high school (doesn’t everyone?) and then recently re-read it, surprising even myself. Initially I had picked it up because it was such a small book, and the 89 pages were just long enough to get me through the day. I normally try and avoid massive literature greats like Steinbeck, as the easy reading I normally do helps me to escape my reality without a huge deal of thought.
Anyway, Steinbeck’s story (for those who don’t know) tells the tale of Kino, his young bride Juana and
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Aug 06, 2014Duane rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: rated-books, reviewed-books, 2016-book-challenge, american-classics
Steinbeck's tragic novella is about a poor pearl diver, Kino, and what happens to him and his family after he finds 'the pearl of the world'. This great pearl should bring incredible wealth to it's owner, but the ways of the world are not set to benefit Kino which he quickly learns. This book is likable and easy to read, even for people who are not generally fond of Steinbeck's writing, I would think.
Dec 11, 2016Richard Derus rated it really liked it
Rating: 4* of five
A beautiful fable of life's central issue: greed. How awful it felt to write that sentence.
Particularly important to read in this horrendous passage in American history.
Jun 05, 2017Mackey rated it really liked it
Shelves: my-reviews, favorites, classic-fiction-lit
I will preface this by saying that I'm a HUGE Steinbeck fan. A friend and I took the time to follow through the route of many of his books in the west just to see where he wrote, the places he wrote about it. It was one of the greatest highlights of my life. With that said, I recognize that this is not his greatest work, but it still is a great work of literature.
Steinbeck is very well recognized for his lean writing style. It is what made him so very popular at the time after years of reading
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Oct 14, 2014Aj the Ravenous Reader rated it liked it

This is one of the first novels I have ever read. The story is simple but very genuine. The plot is interesting and the messages the story contains are timeless and universal. It is also a very quick read.
Nov 05, 2016Jon(athan) Nakapalau rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
At some point you can sell your soul and not even be aware of it. This book should be required reading for anyone who is working on their MBA.
Jan 03, 2016Shannon (leaninglights) rated it really liked it
Nov 12, 2012Kim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A jewel of a novella, short, suspenseful and moving, The Pearl is the re-telling of a Mexican folk tale. It's the story of Kino, a poor pearl diver, who finds an enormous pearl. He sees it as the path to dignity for his family and an education for his son, but it brings tragedy instead. Essentially a parable, a central message of the work is to be careful what you wish for. The message is obvious from the text and there's nothing subtle about the way in which it's presented. On the other hand, S
..more
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John Steinbeck III was an American writer. He wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath, published in 1939 and the novella Of Mice and Men, published in 1937. In all, he wrote twenty-five books, including sixteen novels, six non-fiction books and several collections of short stories.
In 1962 Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Steinbeck grew up in the Salinas Valley
..more
More quizzes & trivia..
“For it is said that humans are never satisfied, that you give them one thing and they want something more. And this is said in disparagement, whereas it is one of the greatest talents the species has and one that has made it superior to animals that are satisfied with what they have.” — 178 likes
“Luck, you see, brings bitter friends.” — 80 likes
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The Pearl
AuthorJohn Steinbeck
IllustratorJosé Clemente Orozco
Cover artistCover design: Micheal Ian Kaye; Artist: Ross Mcdonald
CountryUnited States, Mexico
LanguageEnglish, Spanish, Portuguese
Set inLa Paz, Baja California Sur, 1940s
PublisherThe Viking Press (US)
William Heinemann (UK)
Fondo de Cultura Económica (Mexico and rest of Latin America)
Publication date
1947
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
ISBN0-14-017737-X
OCLC27697348
First edition title page

The Pearl is a novella by American author John Steinbeck, first published in 1947.

It is the story of a pearl diver, Kino, and explores man's nature as well as greed, defiance of societal norms, and evil. Steinbeck's inspiration was a Mexican folk tale from La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, which he had heard in a visit to the formerly pearl-rich region in 1940.[1]

In 1947, it was adapted into a Mexican film named La Perla and in 1987 into a cult Kannada movie Ondu Muttina Kathe. The story is one of Steinbeck's most popular books and has been widely used in high school classes.[2]The Pearl is sometimes considered a parable.

Summary[edit]

The Pearl, which takes place in La Paz, Mexico, begins with a description of the seemingly idyllic family life of the poor pearl fisherman Kino, his wife Juana and their infant son, Coyotito. Kino watches as Coyotito sleeps, but sees a scorpion crawl down the rope that holds the hanging hammock where Coyotito lies. Kino attempts to catch the scorpion, but Coyotito bumps the rope and the scorpion falls on him. Although Kino kills the scorpion, it still stings Coyotito. Juana and Kino, accompanied by their neighbors, go to see the local doctor, who refuses to treat Coyotito because Kino cannot pay enough to sustain the greedy life of the Doctor, and because the doctor holds racist views towards the poor Amerindians.

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Kino and Juana take Coyotito down near the sea, where Juana uses a seaweed poultice on Coyotito's shoulder, which is now swollen. Kino dives for oysters from his canoe, hoping to find a pearl he can sell to pay the doctor. He finds a very large oyster which yields an immense pearl, and which he dubs 'The Pearl of the World'.

The news that Kino has found an immense pearl travels swiftly through the town of La Paz. Kino's neighbors begin to feel bitter toward him for his good fortune, but neither Kino nor Juana realize this feeling that they have engendered. Juan Tomas, Kino's brother, asks him what he will do with his money, and he envisions getting married to Juana in a church and dressing Coyotito in a yachting cap and sailor suit. He claims that he will send Coyotito to school and buy a rifle for himself. The local priest, hearing the news, visits and tells Kino to remember to give thanks and to pray for guidance. The doctor also visits, and although Coyotito seems to be healing, the doctor insists that Coyotito still faces danger and treats him. Kino tells the doctor that he will pay him once he sells his pearl, and the doctor attempts to discern where the pearl is located (Kino had buried it in the corner of his hut).

That night, a thief attempts to break into Kino's hut, but Kino drives him away. Juana warns Kino that the pearl will destroy them, but Kino insists that the pearl is their one chance for a better life and that tomorrow they will sell it.

The next day, Kino goes to sell his pearl. Unknown to him, and all the pearl fishers, the pearl dealers in La Paz are all employees of a single buying organisation. The dealers are employed to make it appear as though the prices offered are competitive when in fact they are kept very low and the natives are cheated. The dealers are aware through the gossip of the town that a big pearl has been found and have agreed to pretend it is a freak and worthless. They offer Kino a thousand pesos for the pearl when Kino believes that it is worth fifty thousand. Kino refuses to sell to the pearl dealers and decides to go to the capital instead. That night, Kino is attacked by more thieves, and Juana once again reminds him that the pearl is evil. However, Kino vows that he will not be cheated.

Later that night, Juana attempts to take the pearl and throw it into the ocean, but Kino finds her and beats her for doing so. A group of men accost Kino and knock the pearl from his hand. Kino defends himself with his knife. Juana watches from a distance and then sees Kino approaching her, limping. A thief whose throat Kino has slit lies dead in the bush. Juana finds the pearl on the path, and they decide that they must leave even if the killing was in self-defense as they will not get a fair hearing. Kino then finds that his canoe has been vandalized, their house has been searched, and the flimsy structure set on fire. The family take refuge with Kino's brother Juan Tomas and his wife Apolonia. They hide for the next day before setting out for the capital at night.

Kino and Juana travel through the night and when dawn approaches find a concealed place to rest in the bush . Kino fears pursuit and looking back spots a distant party approaching along the dirt road consisting of a man with a rifle on horseback and two skilled trackers on foot . The trackers miss their carefully concealed hiding place and go on along the road. Kino knows they will return to search more thoroughly so he and Juana leave the road and head into the mountains where they know they will leave fewer tracks on the rocky ground. They find a cave to hide in above a pool of water. At dusk the trackers arrive and make camp by the pool below them.

They realize the thieves will eventually find them, and having stolen the pearl, will have to kill them to hide their crime. They realise their only choice now is to attack first.

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Juana and Coyotito hide in the cave while Kino goes down to kill the trackers with his machete. As Kino approaches unseen, the trackers hear a child's cry. They assume it is merely a coyote pup but shoot in the general direction of the cries to silence it. At that moment, Kino attacks, killing all three thieves in a frenzy.

However, Kino can hear nothing but the song of death in his head, for he has realized that it was Coyotito's cry that the trackers heard, and the shot had hit Coyotito.

Juana and Kino return heartbroken to the city of La Paz. Kino is carrying the rifle taken from one of the thieves he killed, while Juana carries the dead Coyotito in her shawl on her back. The two approach the Gulf, and Kino looks at the pearl for the last time and sees in it an image of Coyotito with his head shot away . In anguish, Kino hurls the pearl into the ocean.

It sinks to the bottom and is soon buried in the sand.

Setting[edit]

The pearl novel by john steinbeck pdf

Steinbeck began writing the story as a movie script[3] in 1944, and first published it as a short story called 'The Pearl of the World' in Woman's Home Companion in December 1945.[4] The original publication is also sometimes listed as 'The Pearl of La Paz'.[5] He expanded it to novella length and published it under the name The Pearl by Viking Press in 1947.[4] As he was writing the novella version, he was frequently travelling to Mexico where the film version,[6] co-written with Jack Wagner,[4] was being filmed. The film was also released by RKO in 1947 as a co-promotion with the book.[6]

The Pearl was loosely adapted in 2001 for a film directed by Alfredo Zacharias and starring Lukas Haas and Richard Harris which was released directly to video in 2005.[4]

Themes[edit]

Family-One of the major themes in the novel is family. Throughout the novel, the plot discusses how the family lives before and after the pearl. It is constantly the focus of the plot and many of the decisions are based on what would be best for the family. For example, the first thing that Kino desires to do with the money from the pearl is to give his wife and Coyotito a better life.[7] This money would pay for Coyotito’s education, better clothes, and better protection. Later, Kino also demonstrates devotion to his family by not selling to the pearl dealer. The second buyer was trying to get the pearl for less than it was worth, but Kino, with his family in mind, declined to search for a better deal. He always has his family in mind, whether it leads to warmth and happiness or destruction. It was the reason Kino got the pearl and, eventually, the reason why he threw it back into the ocean.

Good and Evil -One of the biggest themes in this novel is the one between good and evil. This theme is displayed in other themes as well and it is shown from the beginning to the end. In the beginning, Kino lives a life of simplicity and happiness but when he discovers the pearl, he believes that good will come from it. However, a sense of evil accompanies it. After that, Kino and his family were in a constant battle against evil to preserve the good that they enjoyed before.

Paradox -The theme of paradoxes is displayed through Kino’s desires. Once Kino discovers the pearl, he begins to dream about what could come from this fortune as greed fills his head, but as he tries to carry out this plan, the good wealth also brings destruction to his family as he treats Juana poorly and is abusive. Though Kino desires good for his family, there is a paradox of an evil reality that he does not want. Kino tries to “avoid life’s inevitable tension” between these two but he finds that he cannot separate the good and the evil. In the end, the finding of the great prize causes him to lose another, his son.[8]

Perseverance -The theme of perseverance is demonstrated by many characters, but mainly Kino. Before he found the pearl, he was a noble and a very determined person who sought fortune for his family.[9] After he finds it, he is hoping to find it in a different way. Because Kino believes that this would save his family, he persists “though many obstacles”[7] that accompany the pearl. He perseveres to keep the pearl but, in the end, it was not worth keeping

Characters[edit]

Kino is the protagonist, and begins as a hard-working pearl diver. He has a wife, Juana, and a son, Coyotito. He is content with his life-style as a diver but is not wealthy until he discovers the pearl. After discovering the pearl, Kino gradually changes to become a completely different man. Though his family is still the center of his actions, he is also driven by his dreams of an escape from their poverty and desire give his son a better future. He quickly becomes obsessed with the material things that the pearl could bring. He is no longer content with his son being uneducated, or his family not being well-dressed. Instead of enjoying his family and their company, as he did in the beginning, he becomes discontent and always seeks more.[10] He is also driven by his desire not to be cheated or slighted. Kino is named for the missionary Eusebio Kino.[11]

Juana, Kino’s wife, is a secondary character. She is a loving woman who cares for her husband and son. Throughout the experience, she remains loyal to her family but also perceives the evil forces that the valuable pearl unleashes. For example, one night, she attempts to throw the pearl back into the ocean to bring back peace and happiness to her family, .[9]

Coyotito is Juana and Kino’s infant son. He is their only child, so his parents do everything they can to protect him. Despite his parents’ love and effort, he is subject to much harm, both before and after the pearl is found.

The Doctor is an unnamed character who symbolizes wealth, greed and manipulation. Before the pearl is found, he refused to heal Coyotito because the family was poor, though it would have been easy for him to do so. However, after the family have found the pearl, he personally visits them at home and acts in a much friendlier manner to them than at their first meeting. This is all down to his greed and his anticipation of a large fee. He uses the natives ignorance to his advantage by lying about how to treat Coyotito. He uses his visit to try to discern from Kino's glances where in the house the pearl may be hidden. The doctor is in stark contrast to the family and is the beginning of the evil that will be unleashed by the pearl.

Juan Tomas, Kino’s brother, is wise and loyal. In the beginning, Juan Tomas warns Kino of the destruction that wealth may bring,[9] demonstrating his love for his brother. When destruction does come, however, Juan Tomas does not turn away his brother but, instead, welcomes him in and protects him. He is one of the few characters that does not seek to gain from the pearl and shows he values the importance of family ties.

The pearl dealers also demonstrate greed and manipulation. This time in an organised way from the cartel for which they work. When Kino tries to sell the pearl, the pearl dealers conspire to refuse to take the pearl for its actual price. Instead, they say it is almost worthless. They heighten the difference between what Kino wants from the pearl and what it actually brings.[12] They force Kino to make the hazardous journey to the captal city to try and get a fair price for the pearl.

The thieves, are shadowy figures who attack Kino from the moment it becomes widely known he has a precious object. Kino never recognizes who they are. They harass and then follow the family right to the end of the story. They force Kino to fight and kill to defend himself and his family and keep the pearl his own. 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.

Reception and analysis[edit]

These publications praised the novel as a 'major artistic triumph' and emphasizes how Steinbeck understands 'the universal significance of life.' This novel did not have as great of a review later on. Though many still believe that Steinbeck's work was a unique reflection on 'the human experience,' there are others who disagreed. Now, people like Warren French criticize the novel for 'lacking both insight and worth.'[13]

It is not only used to teach students about literature, but it is also used to discuss important lessons about life. Many believe that the book is the easiest of Steinbeck's books to teach because the lessons are simple, yet significant,[12] so, generally, students that are in middle school or early high school study this novel.[14] Teachers intend to teach their students to go deeper than surface level to learn about both the simplicity and complexity of the novel. They emphasize the themes of the book to allow the student to learn more than just literacy.

Jackson Benson writes that The Pearl was heavily influenced by Steinbeck's interest in the philosophy of Carl Jung.[5] Steinbeck wrote that he created the story of The Pearl to address the themes of 'human greed, materialism, and the inherent worth of a thing.'[3]

The Fleming & John song 'The Pearl' was based on this story.

The American composer Andrew Boysen's Concerto for Trombone and Wind Symphony (2004) was inspired by The Pearl.[15]

References[edit]

  1. ^The Pearls of La Paz, Kristian Beadle, Pacific Standard magazine, July 6, 2010
  2. ^Simmonds, Roy S. 'Steinbeck's The Pearl: A Preliminary Textual Study. ', Steinbeck Quarterly 22.01-02 (Winter/Spring 1989): 16–34.
  3. ^ abHayashi, Tetsumaro (1993). A New Study Guide to Steinbeck's Major Works With Critical Explications. Scarecrow Press. pp. 174–. ISBN9780810826113. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  4. ^ abcdRailsback, Brian E.; Meyer, Michael J. (2006). A John Steinbeck Encyclopedia. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 284–. ISBN9780313296697. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  5. ^ abBenson, Jackson J. (1990). The Short Novels of John Steinbeck: Critical Essays With a Checklist to Steinbeck Criticism. Duke University Press. pp. 143–. ISBN9780822309949. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  6. ^ ab'Steinbeck Quarterly 1989, Vol. 22, No. 01-02'. Ball State University. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  7. ^ abCaswell, Roger (September 2005). 'A Musical Journey through John Steinbeck's The Pearl: Emotion, Engagement, and Comprehension'. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy. 49 (1): 62–67. doi:10.1598/JAAL.49.1.7. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  8. ^Gladstein, Mimi (4 December 2009). 'Fish Stories: Santiago and Kino in Text and Film'. Wiley Online Library
  9. ^ abcSteinbeck, John, and JoseÌ Clemente Orozco. The Pearl. Penguin Books, 2017
  10. ^Meyers, Michael (1 March 2004). 'Wavering Shadows: A New Jungian Perspective in Steinbeck's the Pearl'. Steinbeck Review.1: 132.
  11. ^Schultz, Jeffrey D.; Li, Luchen “Critical companion to John Steinbeck” (2009-01-01)
  12. ^ abReed, Arthea J.S. 'A Teacher's Guide to the Penguin Edition of John Steinbeck 'The Pearl'. Penguin: 1-5
  13. ^'Schultz, Jeffery D. (1 January 2009). Critical companion to John Steinbeck.
  14. ^Meyers, Michael (2005). 'Diamond in the Rough: Steinbeck's Multifaceted Pearl'. Steinbeck Review. 2 (2): 42–56.
  15. ^Boysen Jr., Andrew (2008). Concerto for Trombone and Wind Symphony (Liner Notes). Nic Orovich, University of New Hampshire Wind Symphony. Belchertown, MA: Harrison Digital Productions. p. 1. OCLC315826087.

Further reading[edit]

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