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Essay Samples on The Pearl

Imagery and character analysis in the pearl.

In the very beginning of the book, Kino watches as his son, Coyotio sleeps. While he is sleeping, Coyotito is stung by a scorpion despite Kino’s efforts to catch it and kill it. They go to the doctor to get Kino treated for the sting...

Character Analysis
Imagery in Literature

The Theme Of Group Behavior In The Pearl By John Steinbeck

The article is a study exploring the pattern of group activity in John The Pearl's novel. There's a major influence on other individuals from Stein show group behavior. We are the long-term basis of human life. Steinbeck's group-man theory is based on Darwinian interpretation of...

John Steinbeck

Theme of Greed in John Steinbeck’s Novel The Pearl and Jack London's Story A Piece of Steak

In John Steinbeck’s realistic fiction novel, The Pearl, Kino drastically changes his life when he finds a pearl of great value. Local authors, Jack London and John Steinbeck, both use greed, murder, and poverty in different ways to express their themes. Greed is a theme...

John Steinbeck's The Pearl Through the Prism of New Formalism

Using the New Formalism as a lens to analyze Pearls, the reader can see that Steinbeck uses images, symbols and music to develop a theme according to which luck can lead people with good intentions to the path of evil and negative. In modern society,...

The New Deal

John Steinbeck: Literary Works, Life and People Who Inspired Him

Recurring Ideas in Of Mice and Men, Travels With Charley, and The Pearl The Desire to Escape One recurring theme that is displayed in Of Mice and Men, Travels With Charley, and The Pearl is the desire to escape, which causes the characters to venture...

Literature Review

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Best topics on The Pearl

1. Imagery And Character Analysis In The Pearl

2. The Theme Of Group Behavior In The Pearl By John Steinbeck

3. Theme of Greed in John Steinbeck’s Novel The Pearl and Jack London’s Story A Piece of Steak

4. John Steinbeck’s The Pearl Through the Prism of New Formalism

5. John Steinbeck: Literary Works, Life and People Who Inspired Him

Hidden Intellectualism
Sonny's Blues
William Shakespeare
A Raisin in The Sun
A Christmas Carol
A Long Way Gone
All My Sons
A Farewell to Arms
A Good Man Is Hard to Find

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74 The Pearl Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best the pearl topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 most interesting the pearl topics to write about, 👍 good research topics about the pearl, ❓ the pearl essays questions.

John Steinbeck’s The Pearl As the title of the book suggests, the story is based on the enormous pearl Kino finds, and the events that took place as people tried to hunt Kino for possessing the pearl.
The Pearl by John Steinbeck Kino plans to travel to another city to sell this pearl, but his brother warns that the pearl is evil and he should just sell it. We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
Love and Death in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck He shouts his good fortune to his fellow divers, and before he reaches home, the news is already known to the inhabitants of the village and the town, including the priest and the doctor.
The Support of Symbolism, Plot, and Characterization to the Theme in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
An Analysis of the Setting in the Novel “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
Loyalty Demonstration in “The Odyssey” and “The Pearl”
Comparing Characterization in Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” and “The Pearl”
An Analysis of Virtue in “The Pearl” and “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck
The Symbolism of the Pearl in the Novel “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
The Value of the Pearl in John Steinbeck’s “The Pearl”
An Examination of the Configuration in John Steinbeck’s Novel “The Pearl”
Constant Struggle Between the Morally Opposite Forces of Good and Evil in “The Pearl”
Kino and Juana’s Racial Heritage, Tradition, and Oppression in Steinbeck’s “The Pearl”
The Importance of the Writing Style in John Steinbeck’s “The Pearl”
A Story of Man’s Self-Destruction in Steinbeck’s “The Pearl”
Transformation Due to Money in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
The Deterioration of Kino’s Character Due to Greed in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
The Dramatic Changes in the Life of Kino in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
Humanity’s Struggle With Greed Depicted in John Steinbeck’s “The Pearl”
The Theme of Obsession in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
The Tale of the Pearl as Told by Juana, a Character in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
An Analysis of the Theme of Selfishness in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
The Influence of Power and Authority on the Main Character’s Lifestyle in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
Disclosure of the Theme of Class Struggle in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
The Role of Ignorance in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
Financial Gaps in Mexico and “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
The Role of Economic and Social Oppression in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
The Destructive Influence of Materialism in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
Nature in Crucial Plot-Points in Steinbeck’s “The Pearl”
The Value and Evaluation of Material Entities as a Central Theme in “The Pearl”
The Influence of the Social and Cultural Context on the Life of the Protagonist in “The Pearl”
Differences Between Kino’s People and the Doctor in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
The Portrayal of Verism Through “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
The Pursuit of Material Wealth and Happiness in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
Modern Interpretation of “The Pearl” From a Personal Point of View
Disappointment in Steinbeck’s “The Pearl”
Evaluating Very Simplistic View in Great Depth in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
“The Pearl” by John Steinbeck Movie Versus Novel
The Use of Vivid Description in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
The Moral Values in Life in “A Raisin in the Sun”, “Almost a Woman”, and “The Pearl”
The Use of Imagery and Mood in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
The Relationship Between Juan and Coyotito in the Creative Story of “The Pearl”
Common Problems in the 1940s in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
Relationship Between the Life of John Steinbeck and His Characters in the Novel “The Pearl”
How Does Steinbeck Present Race in “The Pearl”?
What Does “The Pearl” Symbolize?
How Power and Authority Affect the Main Character’s Lifestyle in “The Pearl”?
How Is Poverty Dehumanizing in “The Pearl”?
What Is the Moral Lesson of “The Pearl”?
How Is Ambition Shown in “The Pearl”?
Why Are the “Dark Ones” and the Trackers Never Identified in “The Pearl”?
Is “The Pearl” a Parable or Allegory?
What Is the Personification in “The Pearl”?
How Does the Pearl Impact Kino and Juana Relationship?
What Do the Beggars Symbolize in “The Pearl”?
What Does Coyotito Symbolize in “The Pearl”?
What Does Kino’s Canoe Symbolize in “The Pearl”?
How Does Steinbeck Characterize the Doctor in “The Pearl”?
What Is the Main Theme of “The Pearl”?
What Is the Function of the Many Songs That Kino Hears During “The Pearl”?
Who Is the Antagonist of “The Pearl”?
Are Kino and Juana Defeated or Triumphant at the End of “The Pearl”?
What Is the Mood of “The Pearl”?
What Is the Social Criticism in “The Pearl”?
How Does “The Pearl” Conclusion Complete Steinbeck’s Moral Argument?
What Role Does Family Play in “The Pearl”?
Was “The Pearl” Evil or Honest?
Why Is the Scorpion Important in “The Pearl”?
What Is the Main Conflict in the Story “The Pearl”?
How Greed Is Portrayed in “The Pearl”?
What Is the Conclusion of “The Pearl”?
How Does Steinbeck Combine Naturalistic and Symbolic Elements in “The Pearl”?
How Is Irony Used in “The Pearl”?
What Does the Water Symbolize in “The Pearl”?
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Introduction to The Pearl

A short novelette, The Pearl , is considered a masterpiece of the phrase -coiner, John Steinbeck . The story was published in 1947. The story explores man’s defiant behavior against accepted social conventions. It also is a perfect example of greed in human nature and the consequences. The story revolves around a Mexican-Indian fisherman, who finds the biggest pearl, and wants to sell it in the capital city to get a huge amount in return to pay his debts and become a rich man in La Paz, the Mexican town. The story is stated to have originated from Mexican folk tales and was also set as a popular movie, La Perla in 1947.

Summary of The Pearl

The story is set in La Paz, Mexico. Kino, his wife Juana, and their infant son, Coyotito. They live in a simple and peaceful life in a hut by the seashore. Kino is involved in diving and angling, which is his source of livelihood. One day, Kino is watching while Coyotito is asleep. He sees the scorpion and tries to catch it. Unfortunately, the scorpion falls on him. Kino kills the scorpion, but it stings the baby. Juana and Kino go to see the local doctor. The doctor is a greedy man and refuses to treat Coyotito because Kino cannot pay his fee.

Disappointed Kino and Juana take Coyotito to the seashore. Juana prepares a poultice from seaweeds. The baby’s condition continues to become worse. Kino dives for searching for oysters and hopes to find pearls. After a long search, he finds a very large oyster. Surprisingly when Kino opens the oyster, he finds a large pearl. Kino can’t contain his happiness and howls like a wolf with joy. This reaction grabs the attention of other divers and they gather around Kino.

Once the news of Kino’s find travels throughout the town. The greedy doctor who had sent them away without treating Coyotito visit Kino after knowing about the pearl. On another side, Kino’s neighbors are jealous of his fortune. Sadly, Kino and Juana are not aware of the neighbors and the possible danger to their peaceful life. Juan Tomas, Kino’s brother asks him about his plan with the money he would get from the pearl.

Kino dreams about getting married to Juana in a church. While the ceremony is going on, Coyotito is cutely dressed in a yachting cap and sailor suit. Kino hopes to send Coyotito to school and also purchase a rifle for himself. One day, the local priest visits Kino and tells him to offer his thanks and ask God for guidance. The greedy doctor also continues to visit using Coyotito as an excuse. The baby keeps getting better but the doctor insists that Coyotito is in danger and needs treatment. Kino agrees and informs the doctor that he can only pay after he sells the pearl. The doctor tries to get the hints and look for the pearl in Kino’s house. He is not aware that Kino has buried it in the corner of his hut. On the same night , a thief enters Kino’s hut. Kino is able to drive him away. Juana who is shaken by the entire experience, warns Kino that the pearl is not meant to be with them. She believes it will destroy them, but Kino convinces her that the pearl is their one chance. He promises to sell it the next day.

Kino’s neighbors are jealous and they are eager to know about the pearl and Kino’s plans. They tell him to give the pearl to the Pope as a gift, including conducting the prayers for his family’s souls and sharing the amount with the needy people of La Paz. Kino takes his neighbors along with him to sell his pearl. However, when the dealer offers a thousand pesos, Kino thinks the pearl is much more valuable and should get at least fifty thousand pesos. Most dealers check the pearl and quote a similar rate. Hence, Kino doesn’t take their offer. Then he decides to go to the capital city to sell the pearl. That same night, Kino is attacked by thieves once again. Juana begs Kino to see that the pearl is an evil thing and is putting them in danger. Sadly, Kino refuses to listen to her and tells her that he would not let people cheat him.

The same night, Juana takes the pearl and tries to throw it into the ocean. Kino catches her before she can do that and punishes her. After a while, few men attack Kino, knocking the pearl from his hand. Kino kills one of the men as Juana watches from a distance. He tells her that they must leave their home. While the murder was an act of self-defense, Kino believes that he will be charged for it. Their escape plan is jeopardized as his canoe is damaged. To their shock, Kino’s house destroyed and set on fire. Kino and Juana hide at Juan Tomas and his wife, Apolonia’s home. The next night, they leave for the capital city.

Kino and Juana continue to hide during the day, escaping attention and travel night. They hide in a cave after seeing a group of sheep trackers. To avoid further attention, Kino removes his clothing too. In the cave, the trackers imagine that they hear a coyote pup. They shoot in that direction. Kino finds the three trackers and kills them too. When Kino returns he doesn’t hear Coyotito’s voice or cry. Instead, he hears Juana’s cry of death. Kino realizes that Coyotito has died from one of the shots of the trackers. Heartbroken, Juana and Kino return to La Paz. Kino takes a rifle from one of the dead trackers as Juana is holding Coyotito’s lifeless body. When they are near the gulf, Kino Coyotito’s head blown away like a pearl. Finally, Kino comes to know that the pearl was indeed evil and throws it into the ocean and sigh in relief.

Major Themes in The Pearl

Family: Family and man’s efforts for its preservation is the major theme of the novel , The Pearl. Kino and Juana want their son to recover from the scorpion’s sting and want to pay everything they had to the physician. When they find the large pearl, they plan most about their son and the preservation of the family. Hence, Kino takes risks in getting more money, than he is offered in the town. Even the murders of the trackers, prove his desire of keeping his family safe and keep his son’s welfare at the top.
Wealth as a Bad Omen: When Kino does not have wealth, he lives a happy life with his wife and son, Coyotito. However, as soon as he gets the pearl, he starts facing trouble such as getting nearly robbed and killed until he decides to throw the pearl in the same place he had found it. Thus hoping for the same satisfaction and peace of mind he used to live with before finding the pearl. Therefore, according to Juana, the pearl is a symbol of the arrival of wealth which is has been painted as a bad omen or a sign of bad luck.
Paradox : This thematic strand appears when Kino finds a pearl through his hard work and thinks that it would bring good luck. Instead, it brings destruction and bad luck for him. Death is lurking everywhere while robbers are on the lookout of his pearl. This proves rather a paradox that instead of resolving his issues, it has created more troubles for him.
Perseverance : Several characters in The Pearl demonstrate the theme of perseverance. For example, Kino displays it in keeping the pearl with him waiting for a better price, while his wife has had to fight with him to throw it away to escape the bad luck chasing them. The trackers, too, show perseverance in chasing them unless they get killed.
Greed : The novel also sheds light on the theme of human greed through the character of Kino as well as the physician who asks for more money to treat Coyotito, while Kino asks for more price of the pearl to fulfill his dreams. Despite repeatedly occurring incidents demonstrating their bad luck after he finds the pearl, Kino refuses to listen to his wife or abandon the pearl. It is because of his greed that he does not want to give it up and loses his son on that journey.
Gender : The significance of gender in the Mexican coastal regions is another thematic strand that runs parallel to several other themes in the novel . There are just a couple of female characters; Juana, his wife, and Apolonia, the wife of his neighbor. However, both of these characters are secondary. Here, Juana fails to convince Kino to throw away the pearl, while Apolonia’s character, too, is subservient to her husband, Juan Tomas.
Primitivity : The Pearl also shows the primitivity of human nature in that despite having learned things, man is still prone to follow his primitive nature of saving himself and his progeny. Kino tries his best to benefit from the pearl in terms of making others be at his beck and call but fails.
Power : Kino is aware that with money comes power , he also knows that others will try to snatch away his power. This is transformed into bad luck. Hence, Juana asks him to abandon the search for power by throwing the pearl back into the sea. However, Kino knows that with the pearl gone, he would not have any power left to do anything. When his son dies, he abandons the pearl and relinquishes the power, which could not save his son.
Man and Nature : The Pearl also sheds light on the nature of man and his importance in the world of nature. Kino fails to fight against all the forces of nature. Despite his stubborn nature and persistence, including refusal to his wife’s plea, Kino has to learn that man can never win against nature.

Major Characters in The Pearl

Kino: Kino is the protagonist and the central character of the novel, The Pearl. He is a Mexican-Indian and a professional pearl diver who works for others and owns a canoe. When his son, Coyotito, suffers scorpion stinging, he does everything to save him from the pain and torture, but cannot afford to pay the town physician for his son’s treatment. When he fishes out a large pearl, he begins to face troubles. In the end, he has to throw the pearl after losing his son, becoming a criminal for murdering robbers and the trackers.
Juana : Juana is Kino’s wife and stays with him. She stands by Kino until the end despite losing her son, Coyotito. After the first robbery, she suggests Kino sell the pearl as soon as possible and also believes that the pearl will bring evil. She tries her best to save her son and her husband. However, Kino accepts her suggestion and throws the pearl back into the ocean, but it is already too late.
Coyotito : He is a young child of Kino and Juana. A scorpion stings him and he is taken to the doctor. However, the greedy doctor refuses to treat him as Kino may not be able to afford his fees. Later Juana’s home remedy helps Coyotito heal from the sting. When Kino and Juana are on the run, the story takes a tragic turn. He is killed when the trackers fire shots in the air to scare Kino.
The Doctor : The doctor is greedy and a shame to his profession. He refuses to treat Coyotito when a scorpion stings him. However, when he comes to know about the biggest pearl, he reaches their home, treats the boy, and promises to return shortly after demanding his heavy fees. Here the doctor must be a Caucasian. The doctor occasionally expresses his desire to leave for Paris with the heavy fees he tries to collect from his patients.
Juan Tomas: He is the brother of Kino, who warns Kino that the pearl might bring serious repercussions on their simple lifestyle. He, along with his wife, hides the couple, when Kino kills one of the robbers.
Apolonia: She is Juan Tomas’s wife. A kind woman, who along with her husband extends shelter to Kino and his wife when both of them confront robbers after Kino kills one of them.
Pearl Dealers: Most of them are locals and have conspired to purchase Kino’s biggest pearl at the least price. When he brings his pearl to them, they only offer him 1,000 pesos to which he refuses.
Robbers and Trackers: There are several anonymous robbers and trackers in the novel who occasionally appear to harass and snatch the pearl from Kino. One of them is killed during the first scuffle at home. Kino also kills three trackers on their way to the capital.

Writing Style of The Pearl‎

The language of the novel, The Pearl, is not only simple but also straightforward. John Steinbeck has used narrative to show the characters and their motives, keeping dialogs minimum. It could be called a fabular style , for he has adopted this fable to transform it into a novella in which he has succeeded.

Analysis of Literary Devices in The Pearl

Action: The main action of the novel comprises Kino’s finding of the Pearl of the World. The rising action occurs when he faces robbers and kills one of them. The falling action occurs when he kills three of the trackers, finds his son Coyotito dead, and returns home resigned at the fate with the resolution of throwing away the pearl.
Allegory : The Pearl shows the use of allegory in the novel through its characters in that Kino is a symbol of independence, while the doctor represents rapacity and greed. The dealers are blackmailers of the society, while Juan Tomas shows the ancient wisdom, and Kino and his wife also shows the spirit of the story of the human being: Adam and Eve.
Antagonist : Although it seems that the robbers and trackers are the main antagonists of The Pearl, it is the Pearl of the Wisdom that becomes the antagonist for Kino, as it shows how it has bred greed and hostility among others when they see Kino getting tons of wealth.
Allusion : There are various examples of allusions given in the novel, The Pearl. The first allusion is of the Gospel of Matthew as the storyline resembles the parable of the pearl. The second allusion of the storyline resembles the story of Adam and Eve. Kino’s love for the pearl and resulting money is also a reference to Timothy 6:1. It means that The Pearl has various Biblical allusions.
Conflict : The are two types of conflicts in the novel, The Pearl. The first one is the external conflict that starts between Kino and the people who are against his getting the wealth. The second conflict is in his mind about its being evil that Kino’s wife has stated, and it resolves when he finally throws it in the sea.
Characters: The Pearl presents both static as well as dynamic characters or round ones. Kino, though, seems the protagonist, is not the dynamic character ; his brother, Juan Tomas, is rather the dynamic character, while all others are static or flat including Kino, as they do not change themselves in the contexts . Only Juan proves unpredictable.
Climax : The climax takes place when Kino kills one of the robbers after they attack him. This climax again appears when he kills all the trackers and subsides after he decides to return home when he sees that his only son is dead.
Foreshadowing : There are various examples of foreshadowing in the novel. For example, i. “Hush,” said Kino. “Do not speak any more. In the morning we will sell the pearl, and then the evil will be gone, and only the good remain. Now hush, my wife.” His dark eyes scowled into the little fire, and for the first time he knew that his knife was still in his hands, and he raised the blade and looked at it and saw a little line of blood on the steel. (Chapter-III) ii. Coyotito: The very name of their son is a use of a good foreshadowing which alludes to coyote. iii. Song: Whenever Kino hears some song, he senses that something bad is going to happen to his family. iv. Juana’s realization of the pearl as a bad omen for the family.
Hyperbole : Hyperbole or exaggeration occurs in the novel at different places. For example, i. She froze with terror for a moment, and then her lips drew back from her teeth like a cat’s lips. (Chapter-IV) ii. His heart thundered in his chest and his hands and face were wet with sweat. (Chapter-VI) Both of these examples show how emotions have been exaggerated.
Imagery : The novel shows very good examples of imagery . For example, i. Kino awakened in the near dark. The stars still shone and the day had drawn only a pale wash of light in the lower sky to the east. The roosters had been crowing for some time, and the early pigs were already beginning their ceaseless turning of twigs and bits of wood to see whether anything to eat had been overlooked. Outside the brush house in the tuna clump, a covey of little birds chittered and flurried with their wings. (Chapter-1) ii. Kino lifted the flesh, and there it lay, the great pearl, perfect as the moon. It captured the light and refined it and gave it back in silver incandescence. It was as large as a sea-gull’s egg. It was the greatest pearl in the world. (Chapter-II) The first example shows images of color, sound, and sight, while the second shows the images of touch as well as sight.
Metaphor : The Pearl shows good use of various metaphors . For example, i. The dawn came quickly now, a wash, a glow, a lightness, and then an explosion of fire as the sun arose out of the Gulf۔ (Chapter-1) ii. A town is a thing like a colonial animal . A town has a nervous system and a head and shoulders and feet. A town is a thing separate from all other towns, so that there are no two towns alike. (Chapter-II) iii. All manner of people grew interested in Kino. (Chapter-III) These three short examples of metaphors show John Steinbeck comparing the dawn with an explosion, the town with the animal, and manners with human beings.
Motif : The most important motifs of the novel, The Pearl, are the pearl, the canoe, and Kino as an individual struggling against the social norms of the town.
Narrator : The novel is narrated by a third-person narrator . It is also called an omniscient narrator who happens to be the author himself as he can see things from all perspectives . Here John Steinbeck Austen herself is the narrator.
Personification : Personification means to attribute human acts and emotions to non-living objects . For example, i. The brown algae waved in the gentle currents and the green eel grass swayed and little sea horses clung to its stems. (Chapter-II) ii. And a town has a whole emotion. (Chapter-II) iii. And the beauty of the pearl, winking and glimmering in the light of the little candle, cozened his brain with its beauty. (Chapter-III) Both of these examples show algae, town, and beauty personified.
Protagonist : Kino is the protagonist of the novel. He appears in the novel from the very start and captures the interest of the readers until the last page when he comes back to throw the pearl in the sea.
Paradox : The Pearl shows the implicit use of paradox in that both Juana and Kino knows that the pearl is proving a bad fortune for them, yet they want the good fortune to sprout from it.
Rhetorical Questions : The novel shows good use of rhetorical questions at several places. For example, i. Why should he, when he had more than he could do to take care of the rich people who lived in the stone and plaster houses of the town? (Chapter-I) ii. “That is true,” said Kino, “but how can we know? We are here, we are not there. (Chapter-IV) Price in capital iii. I found it in the path. Can you hear me now? Here is your pearl. Can you understand? You have killed a man. We must go away. They will come for us, can you understand? We must be gone before the daylight comes.” (Chapter-V) These examples show the use of rhetorical questions posed by different characters such as first by Kino, second by his brother Juan and third by his wife Juana.
Theme : A theme is a central idea that the novelist or the writer wants to stress upon. The novel, The Pearl, not only shows the titular thematic strands of The Pearl, but also life, struggle, racial discrimination, gender parity, and human luck.
Setting : The setting of the novel is the town of La Paz, Mexico, where Kino and his family relations live, including the coastal area and the way to the capital city.
Simile : The novel shows good use of various similes. For example, i. In the canoe she was like a strong man. (Chapter-1) ii. A town is a thing like a colonial animal, (Chapter-III) iii. The news stirred up something infinitely black and evil in the town; the black distillate was like the scorpion, or like hunger in the smell of food, or like loneliness when love is withheld. (Chapter-III) The first simile compares Juana to a man, the second the town to an animal, and the third compares the news to several different things simultaneously.

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Themes and Analysis

By john steinbeck.

'The Pearl' by John Steinbeck is a short novel beautifully told in oratory style and laced with many lessons for readers and topics for critics.

About the Book

Article written by Israel Njoku

Degree in M.C.M with focus on Literature from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

‘ The Pearl ‘ by John Steinbeck explores themes like greed and exploitation to give insight into ethical issues facing humanity in the context of ethnic and economic divisions. It also has symbols that further drive the themes of the story and is written with a lyrical flow that makes it a delight to readers .

Some of the themes in ‘ The Pearl ‘ by John Steinbeck are greed, exploitation, and fate. And these are discussed here.

The discovery of the pearl triggered greed in Kino. He used to be a contented family man, totally loving of his wife Juana and his son Coyotito and would do anything to protect and provide for them. But as he discovers the pearl, it rouses a desire in him for money and status. All of a sudden, everything becomes subverted to this new-found desire for money and status, including his family’s safety.

This driving greed almost magically transmutes him into a brute and a criminal, capable of manslaughter. As a result, he becomes a wanted man and is on the run for his life, dragging his family along, whose prior simple and quiet life he had upset by his implacable ambition and greed. It is also on account of the pearl that he has the course to abuse his wife for the first time. And all because his wife had seen the destructive potential of the pearl and attempted to get rid of it so that she could have her once peaceful and quiet life back.

In a way, it is not so much that the pearl is innately a destructive influence. Rather, it is Kino’s greed that perverts what might easily have been the natural salutary utility of the pearl, corrupting it into something ugly and malevolent. He had the opportunity to exchange the pearl for a modest price and continue his simple life with his wife, but his ambition was beyond what the buyers offered. In the upshot, he loses his only son and is constrained to get rid of the pearl as his wife had earlier suggested.

We also see greed in other characters , like the doctor and the priest, who suddenly begin to give Kino attention because of what they stand to gain from the acquisition of the pearl.

Another theme that runs through the novella is the working of fate in the affairs of humans. In the story, the human beings are seen to be initially taking charge of their own lives and destiny, and negotiating their daily survival and sustenance as best they can. But on the other hand, some other equally key aspects of their lives are not strictly within their power to control.

Take the sea, for example. The lowly pearl divers and fishermen depend solely on the sea to be able to eke out their daily living and be able to provide for their families. But what each passing day will bring and whether the sea will yield them anything worthwhile for all their striving and effort is entirely out of the purview of their power to control.

It may happen that after a long day of strenuous striving, the sea yields nothing, or it may yield something utterly not commensurate to the effort that one had invested. And even when fate seems to be favourable and yields a fortune, as in Kino’s finding a huge pearl, there is still no guarantee that this fortune will not be, in turn, fated to ruin the life of the character who has found it in other unforeseen ways.

Exploitation

The theme of oppression and exploitation is the other key theme in the story. This manifests in several ways, for example, in the career of the doctor. His relationship with Kino and his kind is purely exploitative and predatory. It is for this reason that he refuses to treat Coyotito even though he can see that the poor child is in danger of death from a scorpion’s venom. And all because Kino cannot afford to pay for the medical treatment the boy so urgently requires. But the moment Kino finds the pearl, the doctor quickly switches and declares the sick boy his patient, and visits Kino’s brush house himself to treat him.

However, his real interest is not really in treating the boy but in the possibility of getting a share of the money that Kino’s pearl promises to bring. The same thing applies to the priest as well as the pearl dealers and all the attackers who try to steal the pearl from Kino.

Analysis of Key Moments

Kino enjoys a peaceful morning with the monotonous routine of his family as his wife Juana prepares breakfast and his child Coyotito rocks in his crib. But the peaceful morning is disrupted as a spider stings Coyotito.
Juana tries to suck the venom from the scorpion sting as neighbours gather around them while Kino crushes the Scorpion in rage.
Juana decides that they must take Coyotito to the doctor, and all the neighbours and beggars in the town join them as they walk to the doctor’s house. But on getting there, the doctor refuses to treat Coyotito because Kino does not have any money to pay him.
Kino and his family return home, and as they take their boat out to hunt for pearls, Juana gets some medicinal seaweed and places it on Coyotito’s wound while she prays that Kino would find a pearl that would make them rich enough to afford the doctor’s services.
Kino’s venture yields a big beautiful pearl, and they are happy. The news of Kino’s pearl travel across town, neighbours troop in to visit him, and he shares his grand plans about what he will do with the fortune he makes from the pearl.
The doctor, who had hitherto refused to treat Coyotito, visits Kino’s home and offers his services without any prompting from Kino. Even the priest visits Kino and urges them to bring gifts of thanks to the church.
Kino’s home is attacked by a thief that night, but Kino, in his alertness, strikes the thief with his knife, and the thief flees.
The next morning, Kino goes to sell the pearl, but the pearl dealers offer him a price that is far less than what it is worth. Sensing that he is being cheated, Kino refuses to sell the pearl and returns home with it.
That night, Juana tries to throw the pearl back into the sea because she believes it will bring an evil that will destroy their family. But Kino gets to her before she completes the task and beats her viciously.
Another set of thieves attacked Kino’s home again. Kino kills one of them and tries to escape with his family, but they realize that their boat has been destroyed. The thieves set Kino’s home ablaze, and Kino hides with his family at his brother’s house.
At night, Kino flees with his family with hopes of getting to the capital, selling the pearl at a profitable rate, and beginning a new life.
But enemies follow Kino’s tracks and try to hunt him down. The trackers set up camp at some point, and Kino decides to attack them. But before Kino can strike, Coyotito cries in the distance, and the trackers shoot at him thinking it is a Coyote.
Kino kills the trackers but is left with his wailing wife and his dead child.
Defeated, Kino and Juana, return to their small town, and Kino casts the pearl back into the ocean.

Style, Tone, and Figurative Language

John Steinbeck’s style of writing in ‘The Pearl’ is rather oratorical. That is to say that the general rhythm of the narrative makes it sound as if the story is being told orally. This is probably not surprising since, as has been observed, the story is modelled after an ancient Mexican parable, and a parable originally is a short didactic tale passed down by word of mouth from one generation to another. It is this oral feature that the novella imbibes. As a result, its style is conversational, the flow repetitious with a certain monotony of rhythm, giving the general aura of a tale being told around a campfire.

One way in which this writing style is observed is in the frequent occurrence of the conjunction ‘and’ in the course of the narration. For example: ‘Kino held the great pearl in his hand, and it was warm and alive . . .’ ‘Kino looked into his pearl, and Juana cast her eyelashes down…’ and so on. In this way, the author cuts down on the use of the gerund form, colons, and lengthy sentences in general, thereby retaining the ordinary repetitive style of a parable. Also, the relatively short length of the novella rebounds to the general oral bent of the narrative. But it is altogether a simple and unambiguous style.

The tone is moralistic as there is that overriding sense of a repudiation of greed and all the ills that come with it by the narrative voice. And by that same token, a reader is sucked into that same mood whereby he perceives the unfolding sequence from the narrator’s general point of view. The tone also gets despondent, particularly when it dawns on the characters that all the pearl can ever breed is evil, strife, envy, and avarice of murderous dimensions. It is probably in such a state of mind that Juana implores Kino to get rid of the pearl.

One of the dominant figurative languages in the novella includes personification. For example, the narrator uses the expression ‘the wind cried’ at one point, thereby infusing the wind, which is ordinarily a non-sentient entity with a capacity for feeling and emotiveness.

Imagery is another figurative language that features in the novella. This is seen, for example, in the manner in which the narrator captures Kino’s reaction when he is roused from sleep to discover that his wife Juana is sneaking out of their brush house with an end to going to the sea to get rid of the pearl since he has refused her plea to get rid of it. This is how it reads:

And rage surged in Kino. He rolled up to his feet and followed her as silently as she had gone, and he could hear her quick footsteps going toward the shore. Quietly he tracked her, and his brain was red with anger. Chapter V, pp 31

In the quote above , In one breath, the reader perceives Kino’s anger as a rage surging and a substance that gives a certain touch of redness to his brain.

Analysis of Symbols

The pearl itself is easily the single important symbol in the novella. It is difficult to delimit its meaning and significance to just one thing only. When it is first discovered by Kino, it is clearly considered to be a fortune. To that extent, therefore, it is a representation of divine providence in the life of Kino and his family. And going by the order of the incidents in the novella, it, in a way, also represents a divine compensation to Kino for the misfortune of the scorpion sting which had befallen his child, Coyotito, prior to the discovery of the pearl.

But on the other hand, the pearl becomes a corrupting influence, infecting the owner, as well as all the other people who hope to gain something out of it, with murderous greed. Thus, it is as much a symbol of good fortune as it is a symbol of a fall from a state of innocence to decadence.

The Scorpion

The scorpion in the story is a symbol of arbitrary misfortune and evil. Coyotito is a mere baby when the scorpion stings him, and it is significant that while the scorpion crawls up towards the child, he innocently giggles at it and reaches out to grab it. In other words, the child’s innocence and seeming gesture of cordiality towards the scorpion does not stop it from stinging him and leaving him poisoned with its lethal venom.

That is a veritable image of the relationship between good and evil. It evokes the old problem of what exactly might be the trigger or rationale of evil in the order of things in the first place. Evil seems to be an irruptive phenomenon, without any real reason or motivation, something commonly explored in the tragic sequence in art.

The boat in ‘ The Pearl ‘ symbolizes a cultural essence and a delicate heritage to be preserved. Kino’s boat was passed down from generation to generation until it got to him, and he cared for it with utmost care and pride. The destruction of the boat is seen as a worse evil than the killing of a man because a boat cannot protect itself, and a wounded boat cannot heal.

Why did Juana want to throw away the pearl?

Juana wanted to throw away the pearl because she believed that the pearl had an inherent evil that would upset the peaceful order of their family life and destroy them all.

What is the climax of ‘ The Pearl ‘?

A climax is the highest point of tension in a story. The climax of ‘ The Pearl’ by John Steinbeck is the shooting of Coyotito by the trackers and Kino’s subsequent attack on them.

What does the doctor symbolize in ‘ The Pearl ‘?

In John Steinbeck’s ‘ The Pearl,’ the doctor is both a character and a symbol. The doctor symbolizes, decadence, imperialism, greed, and wickedness. He is also a symbol of the exploitation of the colonialists.

What is the moral of the story of ‘The Pearl’ ?

One of the morals of the story is the dangers of greed. There are also lessons about injustice, luck, and exploitation. However, the author expressly states at the beginning of the narration that it is at the discretion of the reader to draw their own morals from the story.

What does the rifle symbolize in ‘The Pearl’ ?

The rifle symbolizes power in the story. The use of the rifle and the application of the power it symbolizes changes with whoever possesses it. For Kino’s neighbours and kinsmen, they perceive the rifle as a tool of oppression which the colonialists used to subdue them. For Kino, when he began to have grand designs for himself and his family, he began to perceive the rifle as a symbol of protection and luxury.

About Israel Njoku

Israel loves to delve into rigorous analysis of themes with broader implications. As a passionate book lover and reviewer, Israel aims to contribute meaningful insights into broader discussions.

Cite This Page

Njoku, Israel " The Pearl Themes and Analysis 📖 " Book Analysis , https://bookanalysis.com/john-steinbeck/the-pearl/themes-analysis/ . Accessed 17 April 2024.

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A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Chapter 2

Chapters 3-4

Chapters 5-6

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Consider the priest and the doctor as foil characters. How do their characteristics and roles overlap, and how do they differ?

The narrator says that The Pearl is a parable, which is a simple story that teaches a moral or lesson. What morals or lessons might Kino’s people derive from the story? Do those morals and lessons differ from the ones Steinbeck intends readers to take from it?

Consider dialogue within The Pearl . Though Kino and his people speak an unidentified “old language,” the dialogue is recorded in English. What tone and style does Steinbeck adopt for the dialogue, and how does it influence your perception of the characters and events?