The Pearl Essay

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Recommended: Symbolism the pearl by John Steinbeck

Authors repeat different words to help emphasize the importance of them in their text. The Pearl by John Steinbeck portrays a poor family who battle against greed, social norms, and man’s evil. Kino and Juana, a hardworking couple, try to help their son, Coyotito, recover from a scorpion’s sting but end up with a lot more trouble they wanted. Pearls are the most impactful term in the book because they symbolize hope for the future. Kino and Juana hope the pearl will provide a cure for Coyotito, money to wed formally in the church, and money for their son to have an education. Kino and Juana wrap their hope for their son’s, Coyotito’s, survival in the pearl. When Coyotito is stung by the scorpion, the doctor refuses to help because they only have “eight small misshapen seed pearls” (Steinbeck 11) to offer so they hope to find a pearl that will satisfy the doctor’s greed. Juana even …show more content…

“Kino's face shone with prophecy” (Steinbeck 26) as he continues to fantasize of what the pearl can bring."My son will read and open the books, and my son will write and will know writing. And my son will make numbers…” (Steinbeck 26) Kino is aware of the importance of education and where it can lead. He continues to muse over how ”these things will make us free because he will know- he will know and through him we will know." (Steinbeck 26) Kino’s thoughts are not just for his freedom, but for the freedom of his family and his people. The reader gets a sense that the people in the city have been taking advantage of the village for years. Kino explain how he feels “trapped as his people were always trapped, and would be until, as he had said, they could be sure that the things in the books were really in the books.” (Steinbeck 30) Kino believes once the pearl makes him wealthy, which leads to Coyotito’s education, they will no longer be “trapped” by the insecurity of

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