In the riveting novel, The Pearl, John Steinbeck introduces us to a character, Kino, who faces rigorous attempts to provide for his family with materialist items with the discovery of the
Pearl. Throughout the novel, Kino has had multiple opportunities to rid himself of the Pearl and ultimately defeat his obsession yet fails in each attempt. Being encouraged by those around him who see this strain it’s having on himself as a person, as well as the multiple environmental disturbances (like songs of evil becoming increasingly common) he continues to hold on to this unrealistic idea that this Pearl will be or some value to him and his family. As a result of each of these factors Kino ultimately leads himself and his family to extreme poverty and …show more content…
This in turn ties into his constant seeking of this greater price for the Pearl, something for his “family” then forming it into his obsession. Before the obsession shaped Kino into the
Perry 5 man in which he is at the end of the novel, he states “It is said that humans are never satisfied, that you give them one thing and they want something more,” (Steinbeck 32) which is completely ironic in the given situation. Not only does Kino himself lose his way because of his desire to want something more, but Juana, the one who keeps him relatively sane during the entire process losses her sense of hope in the man she believed him to be. Viewing him as a type of unbreakable force, god like even, and unintentionally predicts their demise on the mountain,
“There was no anger in her for Kino. He had said, ‘I am a man,’ and that meant certain things to Juana. It meant that he was half insane and half god. It meant that Kino would drive his strength against a mountain and plunge his strength against the sea. Juana, in her woman’s soul, knew that the mountain would stand while the man broke himself; that the sea would surge while the man drowned in it” (Steinbeck 59-60).
Juana knows that Kino is only a man, with or without the Pearl, he is nothing but a man who
Pearl. Throughout the novel, Kino has had multiple opportunities to rid himself of the Pearl and ultimately defeat his obsession yet fails in each attempt. Being encouraged by those around him who see this strain it’s having on himself as a person, as well as the multiple environmental disturbances (like songs of evil becoming increasingly common) he continues to hold on to this unrealistic idea that this Pearl will be or some value to him and his family. As a result of each of these factors Kino ultimately leads himself and his family to extreme poverty and …show more content…
This in turn ties into his constant seeking of this greater price for the Pearl, something for his “family” then forming it into his obsession. Before the obsession shaped Kino into the
Perry 5 man in which he is at the end of the novel, he states “It is said that humans are never satisfied, that you give them one thing and they want something more,” (Steinbeck 32) which is completely ironic in the given situation. Not only does Kino himself lose his way because of his desire to want something more, but Juana, the one who keeps him relatively sane during the entire process losses her sense of hope in the man she believed him to be. Viewing him as a type of unbreakable force, god like even, and unintentionally predicts their demise on the mountain,
“There was no anger in her for Kino. He had said, ‘I am a man,’ and that meant certain things to Juana. It meant that he was half insane and half god. It meant that Kino would drive his strength against a mountain and plunge his strength against the sea. Juana, in her woman’s soul, knew that the mountain would stand while the man broke himself; that the sea would surge while the man drowned in it” (Steinbeck 59-60).
Juana knows that Kino is only a man, with or without the Pearl, he is nothing but a man who