What might the pearl symbolize? The pearl symbolizes many things, yet one symbol really sticks out to me- evilness. Although the pearl may bring many riches and lots of prosperity, in The Pearl, it seems that Steinbeck is attempting to portray evil though this metaphor. On page 23, the news of Kino’s discovery had reached everyone in the city, and “all manner of people grew interested in Kino”. Before Kino had discovered this pearl, he was just an Indian that lived along the sea in a brush house, yet now, everyone knew about him, and they all felt as though they were connected to him in some way. This brought evil into Kino’s life, as everyone was suddenly aware of him and his actions, and they were paying close attention to every one of his steps. “He suddenly became every man’s enemy”
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I think his main change of attitude was towards his wife, Juana. In the beginning, they had a calm, loving relationship, yet as the storyline is developed, we see how Kino becomes a man of anger towards his caring wife. On the first page of the book, Kino awakens and “Juana was looking at him as she was always looking at him when he awakened”. Here we see affection, yet on page 39 we suddenly see some dispute. Kino and Juana had a little fight over the pearl, and then Kino suddenly turns to his wife and says, “Hush. Do not speak anymore.” He was suddenly acting rough on his poor wife. Moreover, later in the book, Kino literally attacks her. Juana was calmly walking out to the shore to return the pearl to its home in the sea, and out of anger, he “struck her in the face with his clenched fist and she fell among the boulders, and he kicked her in her side”. Although we do not know all the details of what was going on here, this incident seems extremely violent. As we read further into the story, we see how Kino starts as a calm, serene, loving husband, to a rough, and then violent
I think his main change of attitude was towards his wife, Juana. In the beginning, they had a calm, loving relationship, yet as the storyline is developed, we see how Kino becomes a man of anger towards his caring wife. On the first page of the book, Kino awakens and “Juana was looking at him as she was always looking at him when he awakened”. Here we see affection, yet on page 39 we suddenly see some dispute. Kino and Juana had a little fight over the pearl, and then Kino suddenly turns to his wife and says, “Hush. Do not speak anymore.” He was suddenly acting rough on his poor wife. Moreover, later in the book, Kino literally attacks her. Juana was calmly walking out to the shore to return the pearl to its home in the sea, and out of anger, he “struck her in the face with his clenched fist and she fell among the boulders, and he kicked her in her side”. Although we do not know all the details of what was going on here, this incident seems extremely violent. As we read further into the story, we see how Kino starts as a calm, serene, loving husband, to a rough, and then violent