The Pearl by John Steinbeck

THE PEARL BY JOHN STEINBECK

TABLE OF CONTENTS Thesis Statement 1

The Pearl : Plot 1

The Pearl : Character Analysis 2

The Pearl : Symbolism Used 3

The Pearl : Theme Analysis 5

Conclusion 5

THESIS STATEMENT

The book is written by John Steinbeck , a multi-awarded American writer He has a great love for learning which propels him to travel around the globe to study and understand the natural world . But it is in California , his birthplace , that he can write , express and share his experiences

The Pearl , a

sociological novella , revolves around Kino , a native Indian-Mexican pearl diver , who finds a large valuable pearl , and attempts to outwit and to defy all that is traditional to him and to his people with the use of the pearl . The positive and negative effects of acquiring wealth can be observed in the whole society . The evidences of the cruelty and unjust nature of people are very evident in all the social structures they create

THE PEARL : PLOT

In the beginning , a sense of warmth and satisfaction prevailed in Kino 's family , which is evident in the playing of the Song of the Family . His son 's (Coyotito ) scorpion sting foreshadowed the danger and misfortune to befall on Kino 's family because of the possession of the pearl . The people around Kino , which included the doctor , priest , pearl buyers and the poor , grew envious of the promising wealth and they plotted against his family . The tension escalates when Kino showed interplay of both good and evil actions . Although , he is a family and a religious person he was able to beat Juana , his wife and kill a man all to secure the pearl for Coyotito 's future . The family was able to endure the attacks from their enemies except the last blow wherein they were forced to seek refuge in the mountain . They were like hunted animals . The encounter of Kino with the trackers signals the climax of the story . He was able to kill them but it was useless because Coyotito was accidentally shot by one of the trackers . Kino and Juana returned back to town with their dead son . Coyotito 's death mustered Kino 's power to give up the pearl , which according to Wagner-Martin in John Steinbeck The Pearl , he once considered his soul

In the end , Kino lost the battle by losing his son . However , the act of stripping oneself with all possibilities of wealth but with no son to share it with suggests strength in Kino 's character . This also implies his refusal to permit further resurfacing of the evil nature of his society

THE PEARL : CHARACTER ANALYSIS

The major characters of the story include Kino , Juana , his wife , their son Coyotito , the doctor , and the priest . They all play major roles in Kino 's life , influencing him in his plans and actions

Kino is a perfect portrayal of a family man (Johnson 20 throughout the entire story , his family , Juana and Coyotito , their son , are all that is in...