Yes, Another The Pearl Essay, Research Paper
Thesis Statement: Kino?s lack of material items did not keep
him from happiness until he thought it was possible to
acquire a greater amount of wealth and increase his
happiness through the pearl. In turn, this resulted in the
downfall of Kino and his family. I. Kino?s life before the
pearl brought him satisfaction and contentment A. Family 1.
?Juana is driven, although instinctively as a woman to heal
the family, nevertheless in reality to act for the man to
protect the family.? (Karsten 6) a. Raised and took care of
the family b. Held together the family with love and care 2.
Coyotito – Kino?s son a. Kino?s pride and joy b. Brought
together Kino and Juana and made them a family 3. Juan
Tomàs – Kino?s brother a. Supported Kino throughout his
life b. ?We do know that we are cheated from birth to the
overcharge on our coffins. But we survive. You have defied
not the pearl buyers, but the whole structure, the whole way
of life, and I am afraid for you.? (Steinbeck 70) B.
Possessions 1. Home – brush hut a. Provided protection and
shelter b. Brought together the family in unity 2. Canoe -
family heirloom a. Passed down from grandfather to father
to son b. ?Kino and Juana came slowly down to the beach
and to Kino?s canoe, which was the one thing of value he
owned in the world.? (Steinbeck 19) c. ?It was once
property and source of food, for a man with a boat can
guarantee a woman that she will eat something.? (Steinbeck
19) C. Song of the family a. Prevalent in the beginning b.
Brought a feeling of unity c. ?… the Song of the Family is
identified along with other unnamed songs, the heritage of
Kino?s people, in the calm beginning of the story… (Karsten
2) II. Changes and alterations brought about by the pearl A.
Kino immediately began to make a list of things that he
wanted to buy with the pearl?s wealth 1. Kino has an
opportunity for social mobility and acts upon it a. Official
marriage b. New clothes c. Rifle d. Harpoon e. Education
for his son 2. Instantaneously, Kino?s desires became cloudy
a. ?There was no certainty in seeing, no proof that what you
saw was there or was not there.? (Astro 29) b. Kino then
started doubting his dreams and the pearl became misty and
cloudy. B. Kino?s community thought of him differently
because of his sudden acquired wealth 1. Suddenly the town
developed an interest in Kino and his pearl a. ?Every man
suddenly became related to Kino?s pearl…? b. All of the
sudden, everyone wanted to know Kino not because of
Kino but because of the pearl c. ?…and o
stood in the way and that was Kino, so that he became
curiously every man?s enemy.? (Astro 29) d. The only
obstacle that stood in the way of someone else?s wealth was
Kino. If someone wanted the pearl, Kino was the only thing
from stopping that desire. 2. The community became greedy
themselves and wanted a piece of wealth that Kino
possessed C. Richer people showed an interest in Kino and
his wealth 1. The doctor decided to treat Coyotito?s
scorpion bite after he found out about Kino?s rare discovery
of the pearl 2. The priest became interested in Kino?s wealth
when he thought the money could be used to renovate his
church D. Kino was overcome with greed which changed
his and his family?s way of living 1. Kino began to take
things from granted because he shut out his ?old life?, only
thinking about what the pearl could give him a. Song of the
Family b. Sound of the waves on the beach c. Doves d. Pigs
e. Goats f. Dog 2. Juana?s rebellion a. Juana thought that the
pearl was evil and that something was going to happen to the
family b. Juana attempted to throw the pearl back into the
sea c. Kino strikes Juana for her wrong doing 3. Juana
realized that the pearl had definitely overcome Kino with
greed and evil a. ?Juana realized the irrevocable change and
accepts it to keep the family together…? (Karsten 2) b. ?This
pearl has become my soul… If I give it up I shall lose my
soul.? (Astro 30) 4. Kino, Juana, and Coyotito flee the
community a. Kino killed a man in a struggle over the pearl
b. ?The dark ones? burned Kino?s brush hut down c. Juan
Tomàs and his family provided protection for Kino and his
family until they could flee the area III. Destruction of Kino?s
family A. Kino was losing many things very close to him due
to his insistence on keeping the pearl and pursuing its
potential wealth 1. Hut a. Burned down by ?the dark ones?
b. Source of the family was lost 2. Canoe a. Destroyed by
?the dark ones? b. ?The killing of a man was not so evil as
the killing of a boat. For a boat does not have sons, and a
boat cannot protect itself, and a wounded boat does no
heal.? (Steinbeck 80) 3. Coyotito a. Killed by one of the
trackers b. Destroyed the link between the family B. Due to
the evil the pearl brought, Kino decided that enough damage
was done 1. Kino hurled the pearl back into the sea 2. This
gesture symbolized defeat in that the pearl brought so much
evil and greed that Kino was defeated by it. It could also
mean the Kino finally overcame his greediness and threw his
troubles away back where they came from.