Literature Analysis #3-The Pearl

1. Setting: The book takes place in a small town named La Paz, which is located in Mexico on the Baja Peninsula.

Exposition: The story is set of a poor Native American family, couple who have a young a baby. The father is named Kino, the mother named Juana, and the baby boy is named Coyotito. They have almost the same routine every day, however one day everything changes.

Inciting incident: Coyotito is playing in his crib and is stung by a scorpion. Kino tries to prevent it, but is too late. Juana tries to suck the venom out, which is unsuccessful. Kino and Juana try to take Coyotito to the doctor, however during that time the doctor saw the Native Americans, and didn't want to treat them because they didn't have enough money, and they were Native Americans. 

Kino goes back to the ocean shore, and dives in. After awhile he comes back with a marvelous and enormous pearl. The whole village is an awe of Kino's new pearl, and that night the doctor comes back and gives Coyotito medicine, and Kino promises to pay 

him as soon as he gets money for his pearl. 

That night someone tries to take the pearl, but Kino he isn't successful. The next day he tries to sell it, but he's unsuccessful. Then Kino wakes up seeing Juana close to throwing the pearl back into the ocean. He beats her, than kills another man who burned their hut down and tried to take the pearl. Scared, he and his family flee to the capital to sell the pearl, but then discover people following them. After awhile, Kino tells Juana to take care of Coyotito, as Kino approaches the men who were following them. Coyotito cries and the men shoot a rifle in the direction of where they hear the cry. Then Kino attacks them and kills all three of the men, but only returns to see Coyotito dead. The next day Kino and Juana return to their village where Kino throws the pearl back into the ocean. 

2. The main theme of the novel is that your personal greed and pride can lead to your downfall. 

3. The tone of the book is a melancholy one, but is also belligerent. 

"They came to the place where the brush houses stopped and the city of stone and plaster began, the city of harsh outer walls and inner cool gardens where a little water played and the bougainvillea crusted the walls with purple and brick-red and white."

"He struck her in the face with his clients fist and she fell among the boulders, and he kicked her in the side. In the pale light he could see the little waves break over her, and her skirt floated about and clung to her legs as the water receded. Kino looked down at her and his teeth were bared. He hissed at her like a snake"

"He was an animal for now, for hiding, for attacking, and he lived only to preserve himself and his family." 

4. Symbolism: The pearl symbolizes hope when Kino first discovers it, but then towards the end after all his bad events with the pearl, it symbolizes evil.

Irony: When Kino discovered the pearl, I thought that Coyotito was going to be healed, and that it would bring great fortune to their family, however the exact opposite happened. 

Simile: “And the music of the pearl rose like a chorus of trumpets in his ears.”

Imagery: Steinbeck uses imagery throughout the book, describing the pearl that Kino discovered, and the mountainous regions. 

Personifaction: "The nerves of the town were pulsing and vibrating with the news.”

Foreshadowing: Coyotito being stuck by the scorpion was a sign that his death was eminent. 

Metaphor: "He was an animal now, for hiding, for attacking, and he lived only to preserve himself and his family." 

Allusion: The spirituality used in the story alludes to those used by Native Americans during the time when America was being colonized. 

Characterization: 

1. Direct Characterization: Kino and his family are all described with physical qualities. In the  first few pages it describes them and the house they live in. It is also used to describe the doctor and the people who live in the village. 

Indirect Characterization: Kino's true character is revealed as the story continues. His struggle with the pearl, and willingness to not give it up showed that he was persistent. It also showed that even though it looked like he was putting the pearl before his family, he was only doing it to make money to take care of his family. 

2. When the author is using dialogue, the characters speak in a more direct and simplified dictionary and syntax. However, when Steinbeck is describing places, or describing the scenery, he tends to use more of a figurative language. 

3. The protagonist is dynamic and round. When he discovers his fortune, he is very stingy and greedy. However towards the end when his son dies he changes. He listens to Juana throws the pearl in the ocean. It is just sad that it took the death of his son for him to realize that. 

4. After coming away from the book, I felt like I had met Kino. I admire his ambition and his desire to take care of his family. He was also relentless in the pursuit of trying to sell his pearl. I was saddened of the loss of his son, however I still admired his character throughout the book.