The Pearl, John Steinbeck's novella, exhibits the mistreatment of the primary characters, Juana and Kino.The story takes place in La Paz, Mexico, a place where the poor and rich live in what appears to be a peaceful city. This changes when the primary character of the story, Kino discovers something that may change his life. Kino is a poor man that lives with his wife Juana, and son, Coyotito; Kino finds a pearl in the beginning of the story that has the capability of changing Kino and his family’s life forever. Realizing that not everyone is happy about Kino’s sudden fortune, oppression finds its way to him and his family. The central conflict of the story is the internal dispute between Kino and himself; he feels pressured by the possession
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For example, after the pearl buyers let Kino, Juana and the rest of the village know that the great seagull’s pearl has no large profit. That very night, Kino, in disappointment and denial, finds himself outside of the brush house. With the objective of stealing the pearl, a dark figure attacks Kino and Juana hears the confrontation. As the attacker flees and Juana rushes to Kino, “Kino lay on the ground, struggling to rise, and there was no one near distances”(56). After these sentences, the author proceeds to tell the audience that Kino feels the evil around him. This piece of evidence displays that Kino is a target because of possession of a life changing pearl. After Kino’s beating, Juana began to realize that the pearl is evil and will curse her family. Her reasoning then leads to other events later in the story. The oppression Kino receives creates a long lasting bad taste of the pearl in the family’s mouths. Kino, Juana, and Juan (Kino’s brother) are realizing that the pearl is evil. They all realize that the pearl changes Kino for the …show more content…
However, as the story progresses, the pearl slowly changes Kino for the worst. As the pearl begins to be a part of “Kino’s soul,”he allows the power and greed of having an expensive pearl go to his head. As Juana notices the change in him, Juan begins to realize that the pearl is bad; she then attempts to throw the pearl in the ocean. However, Kino catches Juana, and he “looked down at her and his teeth were bared. He hissed at her like a snake, and Juana stared at him with wide frightened eyes, like a sheep before the butcher”(59). This echoes Kino’s evolution through the book and the measures he take to keep the pearl. Prior to finding the pearl, Kino takes care of Juana and does anything for her. Nevertheless, now that the pearl is a part of Kino, the pearl’s greed is now turning Kino into a very possessive and materialistic person. Kino is oppressing Juana, for attempting to do what is best for her family. This creates a bit of tension between Kino and Juana, causing Kino to harm. Still, Juana will not leave Kino because she can’t imagine a life without him, and Kino most likely feels the same way. In spite of the fact that Kino is transforming into a different person, he is generally thinking about his
For example, after the pearl buyers let Kino, Juana and the rest of the village know that the great seagull’s pearl has no large profit. That very night, Kino, in disappointment and denial, finds himself outside of the brush house. With the objective of stealing the pearl, a dark figure attacks Kino and Juana hears the confrontation. As the attacker flees and Juana rushes to Kino, “Kino lay on the ground, struggling to rise, and there was no one near distances”(56). After these sentences, the author proceeds to tell the audience that Kino feels the evil around him. This piece of evidence displays that Kino is a target because of possession of a life changing pearl. After Kino’s beating, Juana began to realize that the pearl is evil and will curse her family. Her reasoning then leads to other events later in the story. The oppression Kino receives creates a long lasting bad taste of the pearl in the family’s mouths. Kino, Juana, and Juan (Kino’s brother) are realizing that the pearl is evil. They all realize that the pearl changes Kino for the …show more content…
However, as the story progresses, the pearl slowly changes Kino for the worst. As the pearl begins to be a part of “Kino’s soul,”he allows the power and greed of having an expensive pearl go to his head. As Juana notices the change in him, Juan begins to realize that the pearl is bad; she then attempts to throw the pearl in the ocean. However, Kino catches Juana, and he “looked down at her and his teeth were bared. He hissed at her like a snake, and Juana stared at him with wide frightened eyes, like a sheep before the butcher”(59). This echoes Kino’s evolution through the book and the measures he take to keep the pearl. Prior to finding the pearl, Kino takes care of Juana and does anything for her. Nevertheless, now that the pearl is a part of Kino, the pearl’s greed is now turning Kino into a very possessive and materialistic person. Kino is oppressing Juana, for attempting to do what is best for her family. This creates a bit of tension between Kino and Juana, causing Kino to harm. Still, Juana will not leave Kino because she can’t imagine a life without him, and Kino most likely feels the same way. In spite of the fact that Kino is transforming into a different person, he is generally thinking about his