The Pearl, by John Steinbeck, is a story about a Native American Family Living in La Paz, Mexico, and the catastrophe they must endure because of The Pearl of The World. It starts with the Family living life peacefully, with Kino the Father, Juana the Mother, and the Child Coyotito. Coyotito is asleep when a scorpion starts to advance on him. His father notices and tries to kill the scorpion before it stings Coyotito. But, Kino’s too late, and the Scorpion stings Coyotito with the lethal poison. Kino and Juana Attempt to take Coyotito to the Doctor Nearby, but the Doctor is tired of working on Natives with no pay. Kino and Juana decide to search for pearls, in hope that they can sell them to the Pearl vendors in the Market to pay for an operation for Coyotito. While searching for pearls, Kino sees a glint of a pearl that appears to be very large. Upon getting the pearl Kino saw, He realizes just how massive this pearl is. They contemplate what they would use the pearl money on, and are warned that they should be careful, because the amount of money the pearl is worth could easily corrupt someone, or at least put them in danger. The Doctor hears the news about the pearl and decides he will treat Coyotito. The Doctor finds out where the pearl is hidden and attempts to steal it. Kino protects the pearl and later takes it to the market, where he finds out none of the vendors are willing to spend too much on it. Kino and Juana decide to go to the capital to sell the pearl. They decide to leave at night, but Kino is attacked by a stranger in the shadows. And as they’re about to go, they realize someone had destroyed their canoe, leaving them stranded. And when someone burns down their house, they ask Kino’s brother, Juan Tomas, if he will hide them for a day. The next night, Kino, Juana, and Coyotito set out on foot to the capital to make a better life for themselves. On their way, they realize that there are trackers following them. The family hides in a cave near a stream, hoping to evade them when they follow a false path Kino had made. However, the trackers set up camp near the stream, and Kino decides he will attack them. Kino sneaks out to sneak up on the trackers. One of them hears Coyotito crying and shoots into the cave. Kino attacks the trackers, killing them with their own rifle, but Coyotito has been shot. Kino and Juana return to La Paz, and throw the pearl into the sea, removing it from their lives forever.
I believe that the theme of this story is to not let greed guide you in life. At first, Kino was a good, moral man who wanted nothing but for his family to be free from injustice. But when the vendors don’t offer enough money to him, Kino becomes blind and puts his family in danger for more money. He could have just taken 1500 pesos and paid off the doctor and gotten his family some nicer things, but instead he risked the safety and lives of his family by trekking into the Mexican wilderness to the capital to get more money.
Now, I love stuff. I think stuff is great. Money is how you get more stuff. More money equals more stuff. The problem with this is that it can get to your head. You go crazy trying to get more money so you can get more and better stuff. And while nice stuff isn’t bad, it’s not good to let that be your drive. While Kino was concerned about his wife and child, he also wanted a lot of stuff for himself. So, the theme of The Pearl, in my opinion, is that you shouldn’t let the concept of wealth cloud the concept of the welfare of you, your friends, or your family.
I believe that the theme of this story is to not let greed guide you in life. At first, Kino was a good, moral man who wanted nothing but for his family to be free from injustice. But when the vendors don’t offer enough money to him, Kino becomes blind and puts his family in danger for more money. He could have just taken 1500 pesos and paid off the doctor and gotten his family some nicer things, but instead he risked the safety and lives of his family by trekking into the Mexican wilderness to the capital to get more money.
Now, I love stuff. I think stuff is great. Money is how you get more stuff. More money equals more stuff. The problem with this is that it can get to your head. You go crazy trying to get more money so you can get more and better stuff. And while nice stuff isn’t bad, it’s not good to let that be your drive. While Kino was concerned about his wife and child, he also wanted a lot of stuff for himself. So, the theme of The Pearl, in my opinion, is that you shouldn’t let the concept of wealth cloud the concept of the welfare of you, your friends, or your family.