The Pearl (novel)
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| Author | John Steinbeck |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publisher | The Viking Press & William Heinemann |
| Released | 1947 |
| Media Type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| ISBN | NA |
- This article is about the 1947 novel. For the 1948 Spanish language film, see La perla.
The Pearl is a 1947 novella by John Steinbeck. It tells the story of a poor Mexican who finds a magnificent pearl which he hopes will improve his family's life; however, he finds that his new wealth brings only corruption of the soul and the blinding luxuries of 'civilized' life. Like many of Steinbeck's works, the book primarily addresses the issues of poverty, wealth, and an unjust society, particularly focusing on wealth's corrupting effect on relationships and its connection with happiness.
La perla (The Pearl), a 1948 Spanish language motion picture, is based on the book.
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[edit] Plot summary
Kino, Juana, and their infant son, Coyotito, live in a modest brush house by the sea. One morning, calamity strikes when a scorpion stings Coyotito. Hoping to protect their son, Kino and Juana rush him to the doctor in town. When they arrive at the doctor’s gate, they are turned away because they are poor natives who cannot pay enough. (This prejudice is not so much based on their race as based upon their economic standing in society.) Later that same morning, Kino and Juana take their family canoe, an heirloom, out to the estuary to go diving for pearls. Juana makes a poultice for Coyotito’s wound, while Kino searches the sea bottom. Juana’s prayers for a large pearl are answered when Kino surfaces with the largest pearl either of them has ever seen, which he dubs "The Pearl of the World." At the same time, the poison leaves Coyotito's body. Kino lets out a triumphant yell at his great fortune, prompting the surrounding boats to circle in and examine the treasure.
In the afternoon, the whole neighborhood gathers at Kino’s brush house to look at his find. Kino names a list of things that he will secure for his family with his newfound wealth, including an official church wedding, a rifle, and an education for his son. The neighbors marvel at Kino’s boldness and wonder if he is foolish or wise to harbor such ambitions. Kino and Juana believe that the people who have come are happy for them, when really they are looking at the pearl and imagining what they could do with the money from selling the pearl.
Toward evening, the local priest, knowing that Kino has the pearl, visits Kino to bless him in his good fortune and to remind him of his place within the church. Shortly thereafter, the doctor arrives (also knowing about the pearl), explaining that he was out in the morning treating a serious case but has come now to cure Coyotito (even though he knows very well that Coyotito needs no healing). He administers a powdered capsule and promises to return in an hour.
In the intervening period, Coyotito grows violently ill. Kino decides to bury the pearl under the floor in a corner of the brush house. The doctor returns and feeds Coyotito a potion to quiet his spasms. When the doctor inquires about payment, Kino explains that soon he will sell his large pearl and inadvertently glances toward the corner where he has hidden the pearl. The doctor pretends that the doesn't know anything about the pearl and acts surprised when he mentions it. Kino is left with an uneasy feeling.
When Kino tries to sell the pearl in La Paz, he is cheated by the pearl buyer and his comrades. The first pearl buyer offers 1000 pesos, two others don't want it, and the last one offers 500 to 600 pesos. Kino knows that he has been cheated and decides to go to capital to sell the pearl there. Witnessing the greed growing in Kino, Juana realizes that the pearl is bringing great evil into their lives. Juana attempts to throw the pearl back into the ocean the next morning. Kino is able to find her at the last second and takes the pearl back before striking Juana in the face.
Kino walks off and is attacked by a mysterious man. He stabs back with his knife, killing the man in self defense. Juana finds the pearl and gives it back to Kino. They realize that peace is behind them forever and they try to get away to a town in the north. At first they plan to canoe over over the Gulf to the capital but find out that their canoe is broken (which is much worse than killing a man in their culture). When they return, they find out that their house is burned down. They hide out in Kino's brother, Juan Tomas's house for protection.
The next day, they leave for Lareto in the north. After narrowly dodging trackers during the day on the main trail, they decide to diverge from the trail and take a more difficult climb over the mountains in an attempt to delay their followers. Upon reaching the other side, Kino spots their enemies and takes shelter with Juana and Coyotito in a small cave in the cliff face. At dusk, the trackers make camp at the base of the very cliff where the family is hiding. Kino strips naked for camouflage and prepares for an attack in the night, climbing down the face with nothing but his large knife and waiting for the opportune moment. Suddenly, one of the trackers hears Coyotito's cry. Thinking it is a coyote pup, one of the trackers takes his gun and shoots into the cave where Juana and Coyotito are hiding. The bullet ricochets and hits Coyotito in the head, killing the infant. Kino in his fury attacks and kills all three trackers.
They return to their village, Juana carrying her dead son in a shawl over her shoulder. Heartsick with grief and anger, Kino throws the pearl back into the sea.
[edit] Characters in "The Pearl"
Kino, a poor diver who makes his living searching for pearls. His character is one with a great deal of pride and stubbornness. This ultimately leads to the downfall of not only him, but his entire family. He died sometime after his son's death in an unfourtunate fishing incident.
Juana, Kino's wife, serves as a contrast to Kino himself. She is thoughtful and is adept at seeing the warning signs that Kino refuses to acknowledge. Although she can see these signs, she is unable to take a true dominate position in the relationship because of her ingrained subordination. Juana commited suicide by hanging herself from a tree over coyotito's and Kino's grave a few weeks after Kino died.
Coyotito, the son of Kino and Juana, is just an infant, unaware of the world. During the novella, he is stung by a scorpion and in desperate need of the local doctor’s help. However, this is not easily obtainable.
Juan Tómas, the brother to Kino is consistently loyal to his family. One can see his concern for Kino and his pearl. Even though Kino refuses to listen to his concerns, Juan still agrees to help him escape from the people who are after him.
Doctor is known simply as “the doctor”. He is portrayed as a man who many would say is lacking in moral values. He bluntly refuses to help the Kino family due to the fact that they are Indians, not worthy of helping unless they had the money to compensate for their race. His interest in the family only occurs after he hears of Kino’s find.
Apolonia, is the fat wife of Juan Tomás and Kino's sister-in-law. She later helps Kino (together with Juan Tomás) and Juana to escape because of what Kino has done to one of the thiefs.
[edit] Major themes
One of the many motifs of this novella is the idea that longing for money and/or power will corrupt all that is good or pure in one's life. The doctor is an obvious example of this. His desire for money keeps him from doing his civil duty. When one thinks of a doctor, he or she often thinks of someone who is looking out for mankind, someone who wants to help heal people. The doctor in this novella serves as a direct contrast to this idea.
“‘Have I nothing better to do than cure insect bites for ‘little Indians’? I am a doctor, not a veterinary.’… ‘Has he any money?’ the doctor demanded. ‘No, they never have any money. I, I alone in the world am supposed to work for nothing—and I’m tired of it. See if he has any money.’”
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- Steinbeck, John (1992). The Pearl New York: Penguin (Non-Classics); 1 edition (April 6, 2000) ISBN 0-14-017737-X. pp 11.
The doctor agrees to help the Kino family once he learns of the pearl the Kino found. Even then, his intentions are far from pure. While at the house with Kino, he is intently watching to see if he can figure out where the pearl is in order to steal it from the family. Steinbeck uses the doctor’s not so subtle obsession with money to show just how corruptible money truly is.
Another man who people would think of as righteous and good is the priest. In this novella, Steinbeck makes it clear that the priest is also to serve as a contrast to what one would consider the norm. The priest even goes as far as to say that he refers to the Indians as “children”, not children of God as one would expect, but juveniles who need to be talked down to. The pearl is the reason for his appearance to the Kino residence. One can see that his intentions are not as pure as he tries to make them appear. Throughout the novella, Kino is constantly hearing different songs in his head; these songs serve as warning to him. However, he often cannot put the meaning behind them together, such as with the priest.
“The music had gone out of Kino’s head, but now, thinly, slowly, the melody of the morning, the music of evil, of the enemy sounded, but it was faint and weak…the evil song was in his ears, shrilling against the music of the pearl."
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- Ibid pp 27-28
Kino looks around suspiciously for the bearer of this song, but is unable to relate it to the priest, for the song began when the priest arrived and got unbearably loud when the priest saw the pearl. The priest’s greed was what caused the song to be resonating in Kino’s mind.
[edit] Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
The movie, La perla, set in Mexico and closely following Steinbeck's storyline, was adapted by Emilio Fernández, John Steinbeck and Jack Wagner from the novella and stars Pedro Armendáriz and María Elena Marqués. It was directed by Fernández.
