An Introduction to John Steinbeck

THE PEARL

LITERARY FIGURES

CHARACTERES

Kino

The most important character in this novella, Kino is a dignified, hardworking, impoverished native who works as a pearl diver. He is an Indian who lives in a modest house with his wife, Juana, and their dear son, Coyotito, both of whom he loves very much. After Kino finds a great pearl, he becomes increasingly ambitious and desperate in his mission to break free of the oppression of his colonial society. Ultimately, Kino’s material ambition drives him to a state of animalistic violence, and his life is reduced to a basic fight for survival.

Juana

Kino’s wife, after her prayers for good fortune in the form of a giant pearl are answered, Juana slowly becomes convinced that the pearl is in fact an agent of evil. Juana possesses a simple faith in divine powers, but she also thinks for herself. Unfortunately for her and her child, Coyotito, she subjects her desires to those of her dominant husband and allows Kino to hold on to the pearl.

Coyotito 

Kino and Juana’s son, who is injured by a scorpion while resting in a hammock one morning. Coyotito is baby as a result, he is helpless to improve his situation and thus at the mercy of those who provide for him. Kino and Juana’s efforts to save him by finding a big pearl with which they can pay a doctor prove to do more harm than good.

Juan Tomás 

Kino’s older brother. Deeply loyal to his family, Juan Tomás supports Kino in all of his endeavors but warns him of the dangers involved in possessing such a valuable pearl. He is sympathetic to Kino and Juana, however, putting them up when they need to hide and telling no one of their whereabouts.

Apolonia 

Juan Tomás’s like her husband, Apolonia is sympathetic to Kino and Juana’s plight, and she agrees to give them shelter in their time of need.

The doctor

He dreams of returning to a bourgeois European lifestyle. The doctor initially refuses to treat Coyotito but changes his mind after learning that Kino has found a great pearl. He shows us the arrogance, condescension, and greed at the heart of colonial society.

The priest 

The local village priest ostensibly represents moral virtue and goodness, but he is just as interested in exploiting Kino’s wealth as everyone else, hoping that he can find a way to persuade Kino to give him some of the money he will make from the pearl.

The dealers

The extremely well-organized and corrupt pearl dealers in La Paz systematically cheat and exploit the Indian pearl divers who sell them their goods. They desperately long to cheat Kino out of his pearl.

The trackers 

The group of violent and corrupt men that follows Kino and Juana when they leave the village, hoping to waylay Kino and steal his pearl.

SYMBOLISM

Things that we can see but at the same time give us different meanings, we founded the following examples in this interesting Reading.

For us those are the most important SYMBOLISM used across The pearl.

1.     The pearl

We thing that the pearl is the most important SYMBOLISM used because it give us different meanings and also is used to show us how the evil and at the same time good are presents in this history.

GOOD

Coyotito is seen by the doctor and recovers from the scorpion sting after Kino finds the pearl.

Coyotito is to get a good education and a chance to have a better life quality.

  The pearl represents human dreams of comfort and security for the family.

The pearl represents spiritual purity.

The Music of the pearl rises like a chorus of trumpets to Kino’s ears. The music is sweet and lovely.

EVIL

The doctor has not moral scruples, his greed for the pearl makes him poison Coyotito first before offering him the antidote.

The pearl become an instrument of his death Coyotito is accidentally shot by one of the trackers.

In moments of danger, the music becomes distorted and insane. The music is the signal the writer uses to show us that something is happening.

2.     The canoe

Is important because is SYMBOL of the legacy taking about Kino’s father and ancestors.

3.     The scorpion

When this SYMBOL appears all the reading change strongly, here we can see the evil reflected in an animal, in this case a scorpion.

Themes

This reading provide us different themes to be analyzed, in consequence we chose two that for our point of view was really interesting and also gave us other view about author’s point of view talking about political and economical issues.

Greed as a Destructive Force

As Kino seeks to gain wealth and status through the pearl, he transforms from a happy, contented father to a savage criminal, demonstrating the way ambition and greed destroy innocence. Kino’s desire to acquire wealth perverts the pearl’s natural beauty and good luck, transforming it from a symbol of hope to a symbol of human destruction. Furthermore, Kino’s greed leads him to behave violently toward his wife; it also leads to his son’s death and ultimately to Kino’s detachment from his cultural tradition and his society. Kino’s people seem poised for a similar destruction, as the materialism inherent in colonial capitalism implants a love of profit into the simple piety of the native people.

Colonial Society’s Oppression of Native Cultures

The doctor who refuses to save Coyotito’s life at the beginning of the novel because Kino lacks the money to pay him represents colonial arrogance and oppression. Snide and condescending, the doctor displays an appallingly limited and self-centered mind-set that is made frightening by his unshakable belief in his own cultural superiority over Kino, and by the power that he holds to save or destroy lives. Steinbeck implicitly accuses the doctor’s entire colonial society of such destructive arrogance, greed, and ambition. The European colonizers that govern Kino and the native people are shown to bring about the destruction of the native society’s innocence, piety, and purity.

Our conceptions:

We made a couple of meetings to share information about The pearl and sometimes we conclude the same things, now let’s see our conceptions about the amazing story narrated by Jhon Steinbeck in a small vile where kino and his wife lives there without enough benefits as the others members of his community.

First meeting April 11 2012

Today with Patricia talked about some characteristics or topic that we saw in the first and second chapter of this book, indentifying some aspects as the evil and the importance of money in some situations we think necessary to create a little diary to take notes about the most important moments in the reading, so we consider that the most relevant event in the first chapter was when Coyotito was bite by the scorpion who represents the evil in this chapter, also the role of money as important tool to get primary services as medical attention.

Also was interesting for us to analyze different aspect that we think are based fundamental in the plot, so talking about the characters we agree in some cases that Kino represents a paternal image and his wife is an spiritual woman, those facts make Coyotito an important person for them, when the baby is bitten by the scorpion the chapter changes totally.

Second meeting May 02 2012

After finish read the book we decide to make a last meeting to share some aspects and also to discuss our conceptions and make a little debate to know what kind of topic we are going to use in our blog, some of the things that we wrote are perceptions or things that we think relevant, as a result we decide to implement some tools as journal vocabulary, literary figures as characters conflicts and some themes that was interesting and important at the moment of read the book, for us was interesting the context that Steinbeck show us in his readings because allow us to recreate all the atmosphere and in this way the reading activity is like a game or a pleasure.

In general terms we are so glad to have the opportunity to read this book and give us different messages in several ways, take into account that money is only a factor which in some occasion can fix things but sometimes  this resource can be used in bad way giving us consequences sometimes dangerous for us and for our family. 

NEW WORDS

Chapter I

1.      “…her blue head SHAWL over her nose..” Pag. 2

Definition: SHAWL       A piece of fabric worn for women over the                           shoulder           or head or wrapped around the baby

2.     “… a COAL and fanned it alive…”  Pag. 2

Definition: COAL a combustible black rock consisting mainly of carbonized

3.     ….he SQUATTED  down and gathered the blanket…” Pag. 3

Definition: SQUATTED.  Crouch or sit with the knees bent and the heels close to or touching the buttocks.

4.     “…cover his eyes from the GLARE…” Pag.3

Definition: GLARE.  Shine with a strong or dazzling light.

5.     “…the DETACHMENT a god…”  Pag. 3

Definition: DETACHMENT.  The state of being objective or aloof.

6.     “…any FOE in the family….”  Pag. 4

Definition: FOE.  An enemy or opponent.

7.     “…between CLENCHED teeth…” Pag. 4

Definition:  CLENCHED With reference to one's fist or teeth close or                press    together tightly, in response to stress or anger.

8.     The doctor never came to the CLUSTER of brush houses”.  Pag. 4

Definition: CLUSTER. A  group of similar things or people positioned               or occurring closely together

9.     Particularly the BEGGARS from the front of the church.”  Pag. 4

Definition:  BEGGARS  A person who lives by begging for food or                               money

10.  They knew his CLUMSY abortions….” Pag. 6

Definition:  CLUMSY.   Awkward in movement or performance.

11.  “….lifted it with the tips of THUMB” …”  Pag. 6

Definition: THUMB. Press, touch, or indicate with one's thumb.

12.  His eyes rested in puffy little HAMMOCKS.”  Pag. 6

Definition:  HAMMOCKS.   A wide strip of canvas or rope mesh                                    suspended by two ends, used as a bed.

13.  And he SHUT the gate quickly out of shame.” Pag. 7

Definition:  SHUT. Confine or exclude by closing something such as a              door.

14.  “….at his split KNUCKLES and at the blood…..”  Pag.7

Definition: KNUCKLES. A part of a finger at a joint where the bone is               near the surface.

Chapter II

15.  The town lay on a broad ESTUARY.”  Pag. 7

Definition: ESTUARY .The tidal mouth of a large river.

16.  Fiddler crabs bubbled and SPUTTERED in their holes.” Pag. 7

Definition: SPUTTERED . Make a series of soft explosive e sound.

17.  “….disappeared into a SHIMMER that looked like water.” Pag. 7

Definition: SHIMMER shine with a soft tremulous light.

18.  “….blotted out others HUNGOVER the whole Gulf”.  Pag.7

Definition: HUNGOVER A severe headache or other after-effects                                  caused by        drinking an excess of alcohol.

19.  “..one section of MANGROVES stood clear and telescopically defined” Pag.7

Definition:  MANGROVES. A tree or shrub which grows in muddy

20.  “A COPPER haze hung over the water,” Pag. 8.

Definition:  COPPER A red-brown metal.

21. “…his face was PUFFED and feverish.” Pag. 8

Definition: PUFFED . Out of breath.

22. “The water and HISSED with speed.” Pag. 8

Definition: HISSED .A hissing sound.

23. “Some tidal FLURRY or until the oyster. Pag,. 9

Definition: FLURRY . Moved by sudden gusts of wind.

24.”… his right a HUMMOCK of rubbly rock..”  Pag.9

Definition: HUMMOCK . A piece of forested ground rising above a                               marsh

25. “…maybe pearl SHRILLED in his ears.” Pag. 10

Definition: SHRILLED Of a voice or sound, high-pitched and piercing.

Chapter III

26.”… the town of stone and PLASTER.”  Pag. 11

Definition: PLASTER. Brit. an adhesive strip of material for covering                cuts and wounds.

27. “..to manufacture VENOM,..”  Pag. 12

Definition: VENOM .Poisonous fluid secreted by animals such as                                snakes and       scorpions.

28. “…NODDED their heads at his wild imaginings.”Pag. 12

Definition: NODDED .Signify or express in this way: he nodded his                   consent.

29. “Kino looked at his neighbors FIERCELY. Pag. 13

Definition: FIERCELY. Violent or aggressive; ferocious

30. “Thy NAMESAKE tamed the desert” Pag. 13

Definition: NAMESAKE. A person or thing that has the same name                   as another.

31. “Kino SHIVERED a Little…” Pag. 14

Definition: SHIVERED.  A momentary trembling movement.

32. “Kino felt the rage and HATRED melting…” Pag. 15

Definition: HATRED.  Intense dislike.

33. “He was not good at DISSEMBLING…” Pag. 16

Definition: DISSEMBLING. Hide or disguise one's true motives or feelings.

34. “…he watched with FRANTIC interest..”

Definition: FRANTIC.  Distraught with fear, anxiety.

35. “his chocolate and NIBBLED the little fallen pieces…”  Pag. 17

Definition:  NIBBLED. Eat often in small amounts

36. “..of AFOOT on dry earth and the scratch of fingers in the soil.” Pag. 18

Definition: AFOOT . On foot.

37. “His dark eyes SCOWLED into the little fire.  Pag.19

Definition: SCOWLED.  An angry or bad-tempered expression.

Chapter IV

38. “.   does not ENDANGER the ease..” Pag. 19

Definition: ENDANGER. Put at risk or in danger.

39.” his little black VELVET tray,” Pag.19

Definition: VELVET.  Soft downy skin that covers a deer's antler while it is        growing.

40. “…the last day of his RAGGEDNESS..” Pag. 21

Definition: RAGGEDNESS.  Of cloth or clothes, old and torn.

41. “…a SLIGHT slitting of the eyes..” Pag. 22

Definition: SLIGHT . Insult (someone) by treating them without proper   respect or attention.

42.” to steal hats and RUMPLE hair.”  Pag. 22

Definition: RUMPLE:  Give a ruffled or dishevelled appearance to.

43.” Kino stared into the DIMNESS” Pag. 23

Definition: DIMNESS. of a deep or sombre colour.

44.” Maybe Kino is being a PIGHEADED fool.”  Pag. 25

Definition: PIGHEADED.  Stupidly obstinate.

45. “The little FLARE of the twig fire”  Pag. 26

Definition: FLARE:  A sudden brief burst of flame or light.

46.”.. she said HUSKILY,”  Pag. 27

Definition: HUSKILY,  Strongly

Chapter V

47.” he leaped at her and caught her arm and WRENCHED.”  Pag. 27

Definition: WRENCHED.”  A sudden violent twist or pull.

48. “Their eyes GLANCED neither right,” Pag. 40

Definition: GLANCED Take a brief or hurried look.

49. “…her dead BUNDLE over her shoulder, “  Pag. 41

Definition: BUNDLE . A flexible container with an opening at the top.

50.”.. the pearl DRIFTED..”  Pag.41.

Definition DRIFTED. Be carried slowly by a current of air or water

Chapter VII

•          Word: ( Tracked  on page  48 )

Part of Speech: “… Quietly he tracked her”.  

Definition: / Tracked /,   persecution, further action

2. Word: jumped on page 48)

Part of Speech: “He jumped at her and caught her arm and took the pearl”.

Definition: / Jumped/   Launched in attack on someone or something.

3. Word: (   painfully on page 49)

Part of Speech: “… She climbed painfully to her feet …”.

Definition: / painfully /,    feel remorse for something

4. Word: (    Matter on page 51)

Part of Speech: “… Do you thinks tht will matter?..”.

Definition: / Matter /, refers any topics or issue.

5. Word: (    Knocked on page 52)

Part of Speech: “… And then he saw a great hole knocked in the bottom..”.

Definition: / Knocked /,    remove or separate.

6. Word: (closely on page 54)

Part of Speech: “… Kino, looking closely, saw deep worry come into his brother’s eyes..”.

Definition: / closely /, next, immediate in the time or space.

7. Word: (   sadness on page 54)

Part of Speech: “  Apolonia is sick with sadness..”.

Definition: / sadness /, state mood of affliction.