In The Pearl, written by John Steinbeck, evil and hope consume a pearl diver, Kino, and the humble town of La Paz, once word spreads that Kino has found a pearl of immense value. The power of the pearl seemingly promises to bring great hope to Kino and his poverty stricken family. However, his wife, Juana, quickly realizes that the pearl also breeds misfortune and corruption. In his novel, Steinbeck defies his orthodox stereotypical portrayals of women, and adopts a more compassionate perspective of femininity. Juana, whom the author endows with unique wisdom and common sense, is juxtaposed to the foolishness and incompetence of Kino. Thus, these qualities make Juana a more morally powerful character than her husband in a patriarchal society
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For example, when a scorpion stings Coyotito, Kino and Juana’s first born son, Juana seeks intercession of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, while Kino becomes hopeless and distraught over this life threatening situation. Kino, impulsively, tries to prevent the scorpion from stinging his son’s arm, but fails in his attempt to protect his son. Instead of conceding to Kino’s defeat, Juana fiercely sucks the poison out of her son’s arm and then uses a herb to treat the wound. Her braveness and quickness astonish Kino, “Kino had wondered often at the iron in his patient, fragile wife. She, who was obedient and respectful and cheerful and patient, she could arch her back in child pain with hardly a cry. She could stand fatigue and hunger almost better than Kino himself. In the canoe she was like a strong man. And now she did a most surprising thing” (page 6-7). Steinbeck’s cynical view of Juana opposes the perceived notions of how men should react in dangerous and life-threatening …show more content…
In this simple request, Juana deviates from the structure of a patriarchal society by taking the initiative in seeking assistance from an outsider, who is also a male. The racial barrier between the doctor and Juana’s culture further exacerbates this unusual request in the eyes of the community. The community knows that the doctor will never come to their poverty stricken village. Not only will the doctor never come, but Kino and Juana can not afford the cost of the treatment, “The word was passed out among the neighbors where they stood close packed in the little yard behind the brush fence. And they repeated among themselves, “Juana wants a doctor”. […] The doctor never came to the cluster of brush houses. Why should he, when he had more than he could do to take care of the rich people…” (page 7). Steinbeck distinctly establishes the difference in race between the doctor and the community of La Paz because it exemplifies Juana’s rare request to mandate the doctor to treat her child. Juana’s determination overcomes the established norms, as she only cares deeply about her son’s
For example, when a scorpion stings Coyotito, Kino and Juana’s first born son, Juana seeks intercession of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, while Kino becomes hopeless and distraught over this life threatening situation. Kino, impulsively, tries to prevent the scorpion from stinging his son’s arm, but fails in his attempt to protect his son. Instead of conceding to Kino’s defeat, Juana fiercely sucks the poison out of her son’s arm and then uses a herb to treat the wound. Her braveness and quickness astonish Kino, “Kino had wondered often at the iron in his patient, fragile wife. She, who was obedient and respectful and cheerful and patient, she could arch her back in child pain with hardly a cry. She could stand fatigue and hunger almost better than Kino himself. In the canoe she was like a strong man. And now she did a most surprising thing” (page 6-7). Steinbeck’s cynical view of Juana opposes the perceived notions of how men should react in dangerous and life-threatening …show more content…
In this simple request, Juana deviates from the structure of a patriarchal society by taking the initiative in seeking assistance from an outsider, who is also a male. The racial barrier between the doctor and Juana’s culture further exacerbates this unusual request in the eyes of the community. The community knows that the doctor will never come to their poverty stricken village. Not only will the doctor never come, but Kino and Juana can not afford the cost of the treatment, “The word was passed out among the neighbors where they stood close packed in the little yard behind the brush fence. And they repeated among themselves, “Juana wants a doctor”. […] The doctor never came to the cluster of brush houses. Why should he, when he had more than he could do to take care of the rich people…” (page 7). Steinbeck distinctly establishes the difference in race between the doctor and the community of La Paz because it exemplifies Juana’s rare request to mandate the doctor to treat her child. Juana’s determination overcomes the established norms, as she only cares deeply about her son’s