The Pearl (novel)

The Pearl is a 1947 is a short fictional work by John Steinbeck which tells the story of a poor father who finds a magnificent pearl which he hopes will improve his family's life; however, he finds that his new wealth brings only corruption of the soul and the blinding luxuries of "civilized" life. Like many of Steinbeck's works, the book primarily addresses the issues of poverty, wealth and an unjust society, particularly focusing on wealth's corrupting effect on relationships and its connection with happiness. La Perla (The Pearl), a 1948 Spanish language motion picture, is based on the book.

Plot

Chapter 1

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Kino lives with his wife Juana, his little baby Coyotito and a tiny thin black dog in a little brush house near the beach. They are Indians and have no money. The don?t live in the brick houses like all the other rich people. But nevertheless the family is happy and sticks together.

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On day Coyotito get stuck by a scorpion. Kino, Juana and their neighborhood went to the doctor, but he rejects them because they have no money and are Mexicans.

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Chapter 2

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Kino, Juana and Coyotito out of the Gulf ? with the only thing Kino is really owns ? his canoe. They need to find a good pearl so that they can pay the doctor to help Coyotito and his scorpion sting. And on the ground of the ocean, Kino finds the Pearl. And when he?s back in the boat and show his finding to Juana, they both knew that their life changed. Even the swelling is going out of the baby?s shoulder.

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Chapter 3

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The whole town knows immediately about the Pearl Of The World Keno found and they all came to his house ? all neighbors and even the priest.

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Keno sees in the Pearl, that Juana and he get married in the church, that they were new clothes and shoes, that Coyotito goes to school and learns how to write and read, that he gets a rifle and a harpoon.

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In the night the doctor comes to look after the baby and the scorpion sting. He gave him a white powder which should help him and safe him from death. But Coyotito gets very sick and vomits. All the neighbors come again to look. The doctor gives him something different and the baby falls asleep.

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After everyone is in bed again, there was somebody in the corner of Kino?s house to look after the Pearl. But Kino could chase him away with his knife. He was hurt a little too.

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??This pearl is like a sin! It will destroy us. Throw it away, Kino. Let us break it between stones. Let us bury it and forget the place. Let us throw it back into the sea. It has brought evil. Kino, my husband, it will destroy us.? And in her firelight her lips and her eyes were alive with her fear.? (p. 38) But Kino only replies that he will sell the pearl next morning and the evil will be gone and only the good remains. In his sleeping pad he looks at the pearl and dreams of the changes the pearl will bring. He?s smiling and Juana with him.

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Chapter 4

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Kino, Juana and Coyotito wear their best clothes to go selling the pearl. A huge crowd follow them, Kino?s brother Juan Thomas goes next to him. The first pearl buyer told him that his pearl is too big to sell. 3 other pearl dealers come and also say that it isn?t that much worth. At the end the best prize was 1500 pesos. Kino fells cheated ? justified. He wants to go to the capital to see if he get a better prize for The Pearl Of The World. In the night there is again someone in the house who hurt Kino. But nevertheless he wants to go to the capital to sell the pearl and don?t want to destroy it. And Juana wants to come with him.

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Chapter 5

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In the morning Juana wanted to throw the pearl into the sea, but Kino can ?safe? it and hit his wife. Kino goes back to the house and Juana walks through the brush houses. When she comes back, she sees the pearl in the path. Kino has been attacked and he struck to safe his life. The man is dead. So they need to go before daylight. Juana wants to get Coyotito and Kino wants to make the boat ready, but the canoe has a big hole. Then Juana runs with the baby out of their burning house, which the dark man set fire to. All the neighbors come again and watched their burning house. In the meantime Kino, Juana and the baby hide in Kino?s brother?s house until the next night.

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They walk the whole night. When the day begins they hide in a shadow. Juana doesn?t sleep, but Kino. He wakes up from a dream and hears something. In the distance, he sees three men, two on foot and one on a horseback. They pass after a while, but Kino is sure that they will come back. The family flees into the mountains, hoping they can lose them. Near a pool of water, Kino hides Juana and Coyotito in a cave. Finally, the trackers come and make camp near the pool. The baby whimpers, a match flares at the trackers' campsite and the match dies. Kino sees a rifle near the tracker and wants to steal it. But, before he reaches the tracker the moon rises. Now there is too much light. Kino stays behind a tree. Then Coyotito cries and the tracker think that are Coyotes. So the shoot in that direction where the cries come from. Kino attacks and kills all three of them. Then he can hear nothing but the cry of death, Coyotito was killed by the first shoot. They go back to La Paz. They walk quietly through the city to the sea and at least Kino throws the pearl into the sea.

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