Initial Thoughts on The Pearl by John Steinbeck
The Pearl
I first read The Pearl in High School in Jamaica. While learning High speed learning taught by Lydia Danner she used this book for us to read and tested on. Since that time, I've read The Pearl again.
First published in 1947, The Pearl is a novella written by John Steinbeck, an American author. Other well-known books by John Steinbeck include The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, and East of Eden.
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SummaReview – Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
What is The Pearl by John Steinbeck About?
In The Pearl by John Steinbeck, the strong imagery brings the story to life, and the reader is able to foreshadow.
“It is not good to want a thing too much. It sometimes drives the luck away. You must want it just enough, and you must be very tactful with God or the gods. But Juana stopped breathing.”
In The Pearl by John Steinbeck, a spider stings Coyotito, the infant son of Juana and Kino. Juana acts quickly and sucks out as much poison as she can. But the baby’s shoulder is still swelling. They go to the residence of the doctor, but he refuses to treat the child because the poor couple do not have the funds to pay him.
Juana starts praying because she doesn’t want her son, which is her firstborn, to die. But instead of praying for healing, she prays that they will find a pearl so that they may hire the doctor to cure her baby. In the mean time, she makes a poultice of sea weed and applies to the sting. Kino takes his most prized possession, his canoe, and they go out to sea, hoping to find a “pearl” valuable enough to solve their problem.
While searching underwater for oysters that may contain the “pearl”, Kino spots,
“a very large oyster living by itself, not covered with its clinging brothers. The shell was partly open, for the overhang protected this ancient oyster, and in the lip-like muscle Kino saw a ghostly gleam, and then the shell closed down. His heart beat out a heavy rhythm and the melody of the maybe pearl shrilled in his ears….Slowly he forced the oyster loose and held it tightly against his breast.”
Kino returns to the surface of the water and goes into his canoe, and with prodding from his wife, he opens up the oyster shell and discovers,
“The great pearl, perfect as the moon. It captured the light and refined it and gave it back in silver incandescence. [And] it was as large as a seagull’s egg. It was the greatest pearl in the world.”
Before Juana and Kino return to the town, everyone has already learned about their good fortune. All the vendors are thinking of wares to sell them and others are thinking of what they can get from them. The two naively believe that others will share in their joy, but most people are envious and wish them harm. The doctor who previously refused to examine Coyotito comes to their shack telling them that he was away when they had come to see him earlier in the day.
Several attempts are made to steal the pearl, and when Kino tries to sell it, the pearl buyers try to cheat him. Kino decides to go into the Capital to sell the pearl there. His decision goes against the grain because his people have never stood up to the oppressors.
Since Kino found the pearl, it appears that evil is following him. To break the circle of evil, Juana tries to throw away the precious stone but Kino follows her and takes it from her. He also hits and kicks her violently for going against his wishes. Moments later, he is attacked and in the struggle he kills someone.
They leave the only home they have ever known, but are followed by three trackers. They never seem to get a break, and in the end, Kino kills the trackers and accidentally kills his son Coyotito. Juana and Kino return with a heavy heart, and great sadness, and he tosses the pearl back into the sea.
As I mentioned before, I first read The Pearl by John Steinbeck while I was in high school. But I forgot most of the story. The story left a big hole in my heart. What struck me is that instead of asking for healing for Coyotito, Juana asks that they find a pearl. When her wish is granted, she doen’t give thanks for her good fortune. Kino changes after he finds the pearl, and his heart hardens, and that is also shown in the way he starts to treat the puppy.
The natives in Kino’s community are a very superstitious people, and Steinbeck does a good job of showing us. Now that he has the pearl, Kino is very fearful and it’s very poignant that Juana asks him who he fears, and he responds everyone. If you expect bad things to happen to you, that’s exactly what will occur – a self-fulfilling prophecy.
I felt great sorrow for Juana and Kino because all they wanted was a better life for their family. When his brother, Juan Tomas asks him what he will do now that he is a rich man, Kino asks for things we take for granted. Things such as laced up shoes, education for his son, to get married to Juana and some new clothes. Kino recognizes that education and the ability to read, gives more options and that’s what he wanted for Coyotito.
A significant aspect in the story is that Kino does not think of his community. And how he might improve the lives of others. All he is thinking about is how he can improve the life of his family. The biggest themes in John Steinbeck’s The Pearl are greed as a destructive force and the oppression of native peoples. The nature imagery captivates the reader, and adds credence to the story.
The Pearl by John Steinbeck (Full Movie)
Final Thoughts on The Pearl by John Steinbeck
I recommend The Pearl by John Steinbeck because it’s another timeless classic that is still relevant today with deep lessons. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. If you enjoyed this post, please share it.
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John Steinbeck Books
East of Eden 
The Short Novels of John SteinbeckOf Mice and MenThe Grapes of Wrath Travels with Charley in Search of AmericaCannery RowThe PearlThe Moon Is DownThe Winter of Our Discontent
