If a man finds an item that could change the fate of his family, should he keep it or destroy it? John Steinbeck asks his readers this question in his novel The Pearl. The novel depicts the story of a man named Kino who finds an enormous pearl worth more than he could imagine. The pearl, instead of bringing him good fortune, slowly destroys his life. Kino’s wife, Juana, recognizes the pearl’s evil but fails to save her family from its devastation. Throughout the novel, Juana’s internal conflict is whether she should support her husband’s decisions or take a stand against his pride to protect her family. Juana’s attempts to guide and support Kino triggered terrible events in the novel such as Kino’s quarrels with thieves, the destruction
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After Kino took the pearl from Juana, she realized that “[their] old life was gone forever;” she stopping fighting Kino and let him do what he wished with the pearl (60). After Juana gave up, Kino started to regret his actions. While traveling to the capitol city to sell his pearl, Kino realized he should have heeded Juana warning when he “looked into his pearl [and] … saw Juana with her beaten face crawling home in the night … and … Coyotito’s face, thick and feverish from the medicine” (71). Kino let his lust for money become more important than the safety of his family. But by the time Kino recognized his mistake, he had already lost his old, simple life. He had no choice but to find someone to buy the pearl from …show more content…
Whenever Kino began to lose hope, Juana was there to reinforce it. For example, while Kino nervously observed the pearl buyer examine his pearl, Juana “tugged at [Kino’s] back, and he turned to look into Juana’s eyes, and when he looked away he had renewed strength” (51). Juana’s presence and belief in Kino consolidated his confidence. Juana also aided Kino while he was physically weak. For instance, when Kino stepped out of the house to go on his journey to the capitol, he was attacked by someone. When Juana heard the commotion, she “rushed outside… put her arms around Kino… helped him to his feet and supported him into the house” (56). Juana knew when Kino required her assistance and never hesitated to provide
After Kino took the pearl from Juana, she realized that “[their] old life was gone forever;” she stopping fighting Kino and let him do what he wished with the pearl (60). After Juana gave up, Kino started to regret his actions. While traveling to the capitol city to sell his pearl, Kino realized he should have heeded Juana warning when he “looked into his pearl [and] … saw Juana with her beaten face crawling home in the night … and … Coyotito’s face, thick and feverish from the medicine” (71). Kino let his lust for money become more important than the safety of his family. But by the time Kino recognized his mistake, he had already lost his old, simple life. He had no choice but to find someone to buy the pearl from …show more content…
Whenever Kino began to lose hope, Juana was there to reinforce it. For example, while Kino nervously observed the pearl buyer examine his pearl, Juana “tugged at [Kino’s] back, and he turned to look into Juana’s eyes, and when he looked away he had renewed strength” (51). Juana’s presence and belief in Kino consolidated his confidence. Juana also aided Kino while he was physically weak. For instance, when Kino stepped out of the house to go on his journey to the capitol, he was attacked by someone. When Juana heard the commotion, she “rushed outside… put her arms around Kino… helped him to his feet and supported him into the house” (56). Juana knew when Kino required her assistance and never hesitated to provide