5. Parable :
A brief story, usually with
human characters, that is told to
teach a lesson.
6. Steinbeck wrote: “If this story is a
parable, perhaps everyone takes his own
meaning from it and reads his own life
into it.”
In other words, “The Pearl” will mean
something different to each of you.
7. The symbolic meaning of the story may
differ from reader to reader.
The story is more than just a plot (this
happened and this and then this).
The reader needs to understand that
there is meaning below the surface of
the story.
8. Steinbeck and the Parable
Steinbeck hinted that “The Pearl”
is both symbolic and literal.
In other words, the story can be
about the struggles of the poor or
how sudden wealth can change
everything for any family.
It is can also be seen as simply the
story about one family.
9. History
In the 16th century the Spanish landed in
Mexico and overthrew the Aztecs.
The Spaniards enslaved the native people of
the area.
Today, these people are not slaves but they
make up the underclass of Mexican society.
The descendants of the Spanish conquerors
are still richer and more powerful than the
rest of the population. They make up the
ruling class of Mexico.
10. Social Classes of Mexican Culture
The doctor, the priest, and the pearl buyers are all of
Spanish descent (upper class).
Kino and his family practice the Catholic religion, but
still hold onto their belief in the pagan gods.
The upper class looks down on the poor native people
because of their beliefs, their race, and their poverty.
11. Characters and Objects
The characters are also symbols used to show
meaning and teach a lesson.
Kino
Juana
Coyotito
the doctor
the pearl-buyers
the priest
12. Themes
Good versus Evil
The most prominent theme in the parable of the pearl is
that of the struggle between good and evil. In parables
everything is generally black and white. Characters are
almost always one thing or Throughout the story the
songs that Kino hears in his head tells him on an
instinctual level the true nature of someone or some
thing (think of Peter Parker’s spider-sense). person true
nature. Thus, the song of evil accompanies the Priest
who treats the Indians like children and the doctor who
regards them as animals.
13. Themes
Good versus Evil
(continued)
The song of the family accompanies the life-
sustaining morning activities and later on as the
family flees from their pursuers. To Kino
anything that threatens the family is evil. Thus
the song of evil can also accompany natural
things like the scorpion which stings Coyotito.
The pearl, also a product of nature, is never
clearly defined as inherently good or evil. Rather
its effect upon the family is shown to be evil
once it has proven to be a treacherous holder of
Kino’s dreams.
.
14. Themes
Poverty versus Wealth
The pearl’s immediate and lasting effect upon
Kino is to cause him to dream of better things for
himself and for his family. Although the pearl
attracts attackers and pursuers, Kino is
determined that it shall be the means by which
his family rises above their station and, most
importantly, his son achieves an education.
15. Themes
Poverty versus Wealth
In this way the story is a political one. The story
shows and draws moral conclusions about the
differences between early nineteenth century
Mexico’s poor, characterized by the sympathetic
characters such as Kino and Juana and the
country’s rich portrayed using unsympathetic
characters like the doctor.
16. Themes
Family
Although Kino begins the story with the “song of
the family” running through his head, he is soon
sidetracked by the desires generated by the
pearl. Though these desires are for things that
Kino believes will make the family stronger – a
rifle, a marriage, education – It is Juana who
struggles to maintain the family as it once was.
17. Themes
Family
Significantly, it is Juana who first suggests
destroying the peal between two stones and
actually attempts to free her family of its
influence by throwing it back into the sea. She
realizes that the family would have no meaning
without Kino and give in to his desire to sell the
pearl in the city..
18. Themes
Family
Just as the family is what drives Kino’s desires, so
does the sense of family bind Juana to his side
when she refuses to part with him during their
flight into the mountains. Once Coyotito has
been killed, however, the family has ceased to
exist and Kino can see that the pearl, contrary to
his initial belief, has brought nothing but bad
fortune.
19. Themes
Fortune
The operations of chance and the effort to tell
good luck from bad luck in an underlying theme
in the story. The pearl itself is the byproduct of a
chance grain of sand embedding in an oyster.
20. Themes
Fortune
Additionally, Kino’s finding of the pearl is
depicted as the lucky moment of collusion of
being in the right place at the right time with the
right need. The luck that that the pearl brings
Kino’s family, however, is revealed to be bad luck
when his attempt to sell it at a fair price leads to
the death of his only son.
21. Other Themes
The struggle for survival is shown in two
different ways:
The struggle of the poor to survive
The conflict between good and evil
22. Other Themes
Free will vs. determination (everything is fixed
and you can’t change it)
Oppression by the rich and powerful on the
poor.
How wealth and possessions can corrupt people
The relationship of human beings to nature
23. Characters and Objects
The Pearl
At first the pearl is a wonderful thing. It
represents an escape from poverty and a chance
for the Indians to eventually become free of the
domination of the Spanish. It is wonderful luck,
an accident, something sent by God.
Eventually, the pearl begins to corrupt everyone it
touches, even seemingly innocent people such as
Kino. He begins to think more about the pearl
than about his family. Almost everyone seeing the
pearl falls under its spell and will do anything to
get it.
24. Characters and Objects
The Pearl
Eventually, the pearl begins to corrupt everyone it
touches, even seemingly innocent people such as
Kino. He begins to think more about the pearl
than about his family. Almost everyone seeing the
pearl falls under its spell and will do anything to
get it.
Think of the ring in “Lord of the Rings”
25. Setting
Steinbeck believed that there was a bond
between man and the land in which he lives,
that each is somehow special to the other.
26. Setting
Mi tierra concept - my land
The Indians believed the place of their birth to
be important and believed that they should
remain in their birthplace.
27. Chapter 1
Setting: Before finding the pearl, Kino and his family
living in harmony with nature
Songs and what they mean (the Song of the Family, the
Song of Evil, etc.)
28. Chapter 1
Imagery of music and songs, harmony and peace
Story begins at dawning of a new day
29. Chapter 1
Songs can show the world at peace or out of control.
Kino is living the way he is supposed to do.
Kino and Juana have a harmonious relationship
The man is clearly the head of the family.
30. Chapter 1
Struggle for survival (life is a constant one)
Complication – intruder – the scorpion
Kino reacts; emotional (smashing the scorpion)
Juana – thinks and uses logic (draws out the poison,
takes the baby to the doctor, etc.)
31. Chapter 1
Doctor will only treat the baby if he is paid. He refuses
the first time when he sees that Kino has only the poor
seed pearls.
The servant tells Kino the doctor has gone.
32. Chapter 2
Kino must find a way to pay for medical treatment so
he goes diving for pearls.
Juana uses traditional ways to fight the poison (first,
sucking the poison out; later making a seaweed
poultice)
Song of the Pearl That Might Be
Kino finds a huge pearl
33. The Pearl of the World
Chapter 3
Now that Kino has the pearl, people treat him
differently
The priest, the doctor and the pearl buyers all
make plans because of the pearl. All seem
motivated by greed.
Later, Juana tells Kino the pearl is evil and will
destroy them, but Kino says the pearl is the key
to the family’s future and a symbol of hope for all
of his people.
34. Chapter 3can get married in the church.
– Kino’s dreams
With the pearl, the baby can be cured.
Kino and Juana
They can all buy new clothes.
Kino can buy a rifle.
35. Chapter 3
Coyotito can get an education and all Kino’s people:
“My son will make numbers, and these things will
make us free because he will know and through him
we will know."
After the doctor’s visit, Kino hides the pearl. The
doctor tricks Kino into showing where it is.
36. Chapter 3
That night, someone tries to steal the pearl. Kino
attacks the person with his knife.
Juana tells Kino the pearl is evil and to throw it away.
Kino says the pearl is there one chance and he will sell
it the next day.
37. Chapter 4
Everyone in La Paz knows that Kino is going to sell the
pearl that day.
Some say he will give it to the Pope or buy Masses for
the souls of his family for a thousand years.
Others say he will give the money to the poor.
Everyone worries that the pearl will destroy Kino and
his family.
38. Chapter 4
The people’s plans for charity are opposite of what
Kino plans for his family.
Good and charitable ideas are easier when it is
someone else’s money being spent.
Kino and Juana have hard decisions to make, not
matter what they do.
39. Juan Tomas (Kino’s brother) warns him to get
Chapter 4
the best price for the pearl.
Once the Indians hired an agent to negotiate
for them and take the pearls to Mexico City,
but the agents were never seen again. Some
say they were stolen by the agents; others
think that the agents were murdered and the
pearls stolen from them. In any event, the
pearls are never seen again.
The priest tells the Indians that this is a
warning from God not to try and change
their place in the world.
40. Pearl buyer tells Kino the pearl is like fool’s gold:
Chapter not valuable
too large and 4
He is offered 1,000 pesos; Kino says it is worth
50,000 pesos.
The buyer seems to be trying to cheat Kino.
Kino can feel evil around him as the other buyers
inspect the pearl.
41. The pearl dealer, like the priest and the
Chapterto4
doctor, tries manipulate Kino.
He tries to cheat Kino out of his money.
No other pearl dealer will pay more.
By refusing to sell the pearl, Kino is taking on
the entire power structure of his society. This
could be very dangerous.
42. Chapter 4
Kino says he will go to the capital (Mexico City)
to sell the pearl.
The townspeople argue about whether Kino
should have taken the money.
Kino buries the pearl again and is angry and
terrified.
Juan Tomas says that Kino is challenging the
people in power. He could change everything.
43. Chapter 4
Juan Tomas says his friends will only protect him
if he is not in danger. They will not do anything
to jeopardize their own safety.
That night, Kino is attacked again when he tries
to protect the pearl.
Juana says the pearl is evil and must be
destroyed. Kino says he is a man and will not be
cheated by anyone.
44. Chapter 4
Kino is willing to fight for the pearl.
Kino is demanding just and respectful
treatment.
Juana is the voice of reason. She warns Kino
about what could happen. She thinks the pearl is
evil.
Finding the pearl should have meant security
and prosperity. Instead, it seems to offer only
pain and danger.
45. Chapter 5
Juana takes the pearl and goes to throw it in the
ocean.
Kino stops her and punches and kicks her.
Kino says he is a man; Juana knows this means
that he is half insane and half a god.
46. Chapter 5
Kino is again attacked by strangers and kills one
of them.
He loses the pearl in the fight but Juana finds it
later.
47. Chapter 5
Kino knows that they must run away from the
village to save their lives.
Kino finds that someone has put a hole in his
canoe. To Kino this is worse than killing a man
because a canoe does not have sons who can seek
revenge. Kino does not even think of stealing
another canoe, which would mean starvation for
the other canoe’s owner.
48. Chapter 5
Juana tells him that their hut has been searched and
set on fire.
Kino hides at his brother’s house. His brother lets him
stay but only reluctantly.
His brother says that the pearl is the cause of all the
trouble.
49. Chapter 5
Juan Tomas says that perhaps Kino should
have sold the pearl, but now it is too late.
Kino says that to give up the pearl would be
the same thing as giving up his soul.
Kino says that he will head north in the
morning and head to the capital, Mexico
City.
Kino finds that he is willing to kill to keep
the pearl.
Juana begins to realize that Kino cannot win
and may end up destroying himself.
50. Chapter 6
While on the journey, Kino finds himself both
excited and afraid.
Kino tells Juana that anyone who finds them will
take the pearl.
51. Chapter 6
Juana wonders if maybe the pearl really was
worthless, but Kino says no one would be trying
so hard to steal a worthless pearl.
Kino again imagines all of the things he will do
with the pearl if he sells it, but everything he
sees in the pearl now seems evil and twisted.
52. Chapter 6
They are being followed by three trackers, one
on horse with a rifle.
Kino and Juana realize they will be killed if they
are found.
Kino realizes he must kill the man on horseback
and get his rifle.
Kino tells Juana to take the baby and leave him
but she refuses.
53. Chapter 6
Juana hides in a cave with Coyotito.
Kino takes off his white clothing so he can be
less visible.
The family is being hunted like animals. Kino
especially becomes like an animal.
Juana retains her human qualities.
54. Chapter 6
Kino kills all three attackers, but the baby is also
killed.
When Kino and Juana return to La Paz, he
throws the pearl back into the sea.
When he does this, he throws away his pain
along with his dreams of wealth.
55. Many song writers were
inspired by the artist’s reading
of the classic work
56. Some of the songs inspired by
The Pearl…
"Colored People" Dc talk
"Colors of the Wind" Vanessa Williams
"Half-Breed" Cher
"How Can I Keep from
Eva Cassidy
Singing"
"I am Woman" Helen Reddy
"I Got a Name" Jim Croce
"I Write the Songs" Barry Manilow
"Reach" Gloria Estafan
"Songs" Joan Armatrading
"Sunshine on My Shoulders" John Denver
"To Have and Not to Hold" Madonna
