The Pearl (novella)
| First edition cover First edition cover | |
| Author | John Steinbeck |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Novella |
| Publisher | The Viking Press & William Heinemann |
Publication date | 1947 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| ISBN | NA Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character |
The Pearl is a 1947 novella by John Steinbeck. It tells the story of a poor Mexican diver 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.
Summary
1.Chapter I
Kino, Juana, and their infant son, Coyotito, live in a modest brush house by the sea. Kino wakes up in the morning hearing the "Song of the Family" (meaning evil is approaching). Juana also wakes up and says "I Love You" to Coyotito (who sleeps in a hanged box). Juana tends to breakfast. Then a scorpion, hanging in the ropes, drops to the shoulder of Coyotito and stings him. Kino then hears "The Song of Evil" (meaning he is very miserable). The whole village hears the cry of Coyotito and offers to help. 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.)
2.Chapter II
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 (made of seaweed) 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, Juana sucks the poison and it 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.
4.Chapter IV
When Kino tries to sell the pearl in La Paz, Baja California Sur, 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.He was dissapointed because he expected the pearl's price to be 50,000 pesos. Kino knows that he has been cheated and decides to go to the capital to sell the pearl there.
5.Chapter V
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 the Gulf to the capital but find out that their canoe is broken (which the narrator considered more disrespectful than killing a man in this society, yet is only a metaphor, and shouldn't be taken literally in the broader scope of the story). 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 Loreto 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.
6.Chapter VI
Upon reaching the other side, Kino spots their enemies and takes shelter with Juana and Coyotito in a small cave in the cliff face.They sleep through the night. 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. Kino quickly spears toward and murders all three of the trackers, two by slashing them, then by shooting the third while he attempts to escape. Kino has now gone from good man to greedy psychopath. His thoughts are then broken by a hysterical cry in the cave from Juana's hiding place. The cry turns out to be from either the baby, himself, or by Juana, as the former was shot in the head from the tracker's bullet.They return to their village, Juana carrying a blood stained bundle in a shawl over her shoulder. Heartsick with grief and anger, Kino throws the pearl back into the sea, and dismisses all hope of wealth and fortune.
Characters in "The Pearl"
Main Characters
- Kino, an honest, dignified, poor fisherman and pearl diver who works to support his family and with a great deal of pride and stubbornness. This ultimately leads to the downfall of not only him, but his entire family.He is a simple and natural being who functions well in the traditional ways of the village. In the novel he turns from a honest and dignified poor man to a greedy sociopath.
2.Juana, Kino's wife,a strong and fast-decision maker, serves as a contrast to Kino himself. She is thoughtful and is adept at seeing the warning signs that Kino refuses to acknowledge.She is also very close to Kino as she can sense his thoughts without Kino telling her what he is thinking. Although she can see these signs, she is unable to take a true dominate position in the relationship because of her ingrained subordination.
3.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.Unfortunately, Coyotito is killed in the end by a bullet that ricochets off the walls of a cave. His dead body is later carried back to the village in a shawl on his mother's back. Coyotito in spanish means "Little Coyote".
Other Characters
- Juan Tomás, the older and wiser 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. He and Kino share simple, unaffected love even in his most difficult times.
2.Apolonia, is the matronly 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 thieves.
3.The Priest is an undeveloped character. When he hears news of the discovery of the Pearl, he suggests giving the pearl or the money to the Pope or the church. He later makes claim to part of the pearl.
Enemies
- The Doctor is known simply as "the doctor." The village doctor seeming to be the perfect villain .He is someone to be blamed and hated,especially when refusing to treat Coyotito and even makes him ill. 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.
2.The Trackers a group of men trying to get the Pearl of Kino.They shoot Coyotito because his cry was like a coyote pup.In the end ,they all die in the hands of Kino.
Film, TV, Musical, or Theatrical adaptations
1.) 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.
2.) The Musical duo Fleming and John recorded a song called "The Pearl" which is based on the novel. It appears on their 1994 album Delusions of Grandeur.