The pearl how many pages

Coyotito - Kino and Juana's only son, who is stung by a scorpion while resting in a hammock one morning. What does the pearl symbolize? The pearl is a symbol of wealth which is quite ambivalent in its nature throughout the novel. When Kino first finds the pearl, it is a symbol of hope and salvation. But like wealth, the pearl represents all the evil in the world.

It seems all the greed and evil surfaces in the presence of wealth. How did Kino change in the Pearl? It is clear that throughout the novella Kino changes greatly thanks to the introduction of the pearl into his life. His face becomes "crafty" when he thinks of what he must do to sell the pearl. In the next chapter, when Juana tries to dispose of the pearl, he hisses at her "like a snake" with bared teeth, hitting her.

What race is Kino in the Pearl? Kino Character Analysis. He lives with his wife, Juana, and their son, Coyotito, in a brush house near the Gulf Sea. Who is Juana in the Pearl? Summary Read our full plot summary and analysis of The Pearl , scene by scene break-downs, and more. Literary Devices Here's where you'll find analysis of the literary devices in The Pearl , from the major themes to motifs, symbols, and more.

Themes Motifs Symbols. Quotes Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of the book by reading these key quotes. There was drama and excitement, and at times suspense, but, the overall storyline was thin and weak. Steinbeck usually rouses powerful emotions within me, but here, they weren't strong.

However, Steinbeck's writing compensates for this deficiency. His magician's wand by which I mean his pen brings to life the setting, the landscape, and Kino's thoughts and emotions beautifully.

I particularly enjoyed how he described Kino's mind with reference to music. It was wonderfully clever of him. I can quite honestly say that it was his beautiful writing that absorbed me more than the story. And that is the kind of story that would have drawn me, which was a shame. Overall, it is not the best of Steinbeck, but still, a good read. Jan 27, Kaya rated it did not like it. This is the first Steinbeck's book I've read, though it won't be the last, despite the horrible first impression.

I hate everything in this book - from it's anticlimactic writing to its incommodious characters. There is nothing worth praise in here. After I reached the end, I've been so angry and almost ready to punch something. Poor low-class man, living with his wife and their baby, finds a giant pearl, decides to sell it and then use the money to buy medicine for his child, who just got bitte This is the first Steinbeck's book I've read, though it won't be the last, despite the horrible first impression.

Poor low-class man, living with his wife and their baby, finds a giant pearl, decides to sell it and then use the money to buy medicine for his child, who just got bitten by a scorpion. The selling part didn't go well, shit gets real, people die without any real purpose and it all happens in about 90 pages.

In between, there are large amounts of racism, bigotry, and misogyny. The reason bad things happen to this poor family is that they wanted a better life and the guy didn't want to let anyone stop him from getting it. Basically, his wife is superstitious, tells him the pearl is evil, he doesn't listen, so tragedy happens. Steinbeck is actually telling us to be satisfied with what we are and not try seeking better options because we're inevitably going to fail in the end.

Maybe I should've tried more to read between lines but this was too much for me. Try and see it for yourself.

The narrator literally has no personality, so I don't know how I'm supposed to empathize with any of his struggles. He had some abrupt reactions, but when it comes to recognizable emotions he's pretty blank.

I hate it when I can't connect to the main characters or ANY of the characters. And their difficulties were severe. View all 28 comments. There are a few novels I consider perfect and The Pearl is one of them. The symbolism is built up layer by layer, like an oyster coating a grain of sand, and the result is a flawless tale, smooth and clear, like the Pearl of the World. This is the story of the dawn of consciousness: The story human beings have been telling themselves since human beings started telling stories.

The story of us, what we are, and how we There are a few novels I consider perfect and The Pearl is one of them. The story of us, what we are, and how we came to be. The perennial story. Steinbeck tells it as well as the best of them. In the beginning, there is peace. La Paz. The little family lives in harmony with nature. Kino wakes up in the morning and hears the song of the family. He looks at the world around him. The crowing rooster.

The rooting pigs. The waves lapping on the shore. The dog curled up at his feet. In his primitive idyll, Kino is both animal and God. Both less than human and more than human. He lives in an eternal present, like an animal, like God. He is whole. He has no ego. Consciousness has not yet emerged in Kino. In this preconscious paradise, Kino observes and understands without turning everything into a narrative. After his awakening, after consciousness dawns, he starts to tell himself a story: Coyotito will go to school.

He and Juana will marry in the church. This story replaces his music. Thus begins the fall. Kino says each thing out loud and by doing so, he makes it real. For as all primitive people know, words are magical. Kino is right to be afraid. The familiar sound of crickets, tree frogs, and toads has become a song of evil. He sees only his story now. And with the dawn of consciousness comes the expulsion from paradise.

Kino tries to return to animal innocence, but it is too late. There is no going back. He removes his clothing, replacing his white shirt with his brown skin, but to no avail. The apple cannot be unbitten. Man and consciousness are now joined as are Kino and his pearl. The only way out is through. Consciousness has overreached itself. Maybe microdose the water supply. To go under and live as the rest of creation lives. Not without reason. Athens had reason. Not without faith. Israel had faith. All language began as poetry and all language must resolve into poetry.

Pure symbolism. Blake understood this. Novalis understood this. I think Steinbeck understood this too. View all 8 comments. She was as remote and as removed as Heaven. The Pearl is a beautifully written tale of avarice and the power of ignorance. Aug 29, PorshaJo rated it really liked it Shelves: audio , challengereads , challengereads Continuing with my Steinbeck obsession I meant quest to read his works, next up was The Pearl.

I've decided to order them from my library and other sources and what ever shows up in my queue is what I read next. I just would not know what to select and want to read them all. Steinbeck's The Pearl was inspired by a Mexican folk tale he heard. It tells the story of Kino, his wife Juana, and their baby Coyotito.

One day Coyotito is stung by a scorpion and Kino takes him to the dr for help. But t Continuing with my Steinbeck obsession But the dr is greedy and doesn't think the payment is adequate and refuses to treat the child.

Kino, a fisherman, goes to the ocean to find a pearl for payment and finds the pearl of the world. The biggest pearl that anyone has seen. And so begins this wonderful, heart breaking tale of determination, greed, evil, and family. You feel for Kino, he wants what he feel he is owed for this pearl, to make a better life for his son, but along the way becomes a different person.

He becomes hunted by evil for this pearl. Oh I'm so glad I read this one, eh, listened to the audio narration. Love his voice and it was great to hear this story told, adding so much to it. It's very short, a little over 2 hrs in duration but such an unexpected treat. And now, I'm excited to see what shows up next in my library queue.

Jul 03, Madeline rated it it was ok Shelves: assigned-reading , ugh. Poor pearl diver in South America finds giant-ass pearl, decides to sell it and use the money to buy medicine for his baby, who just got bitten by a scorpion. The mierda hits the fan, people die, everything generally goes to hell in a handbasket, and it all happens in about the space of time it took you to read this review.

Verdict: meh. Read for: 10th grade English. View all 27 comments. Read it and philosophize while you read it and weep. Sometimes I have to wonder what the people who write the back blurbs of these books are thinking or smoking.

If you choose to get pissed over and over again, then by all means keep reading this tragic story. I get what Steinbeck is saying in his beautiful writing voice - to be content with what is had and to not let th Read it and philosophize while you read it and weep. I get what Steinbeck is saying in his beautiful writing voice - to be content with what is had and to not let the lure of greed drift you too far out, lest you lose everything. It's kind of like the principle of this ridiculous short story we had to read in elementary school - I can't remember it's name, but the point of the story that the teacher and book taught irritated me then too.

I get what he's saying, I just don't agree with his perspective. What I take from this fable is that a man gets a break in luck in fortune, something he hopes for in order to save his child's life and better the life of him and his wife. People try to steal and rip from him his fortune with THEIR greed, and he stands strong and tries to fight back, refusing to bow to the injustice of thievery, deceit, and people trying to suck out the joy in others lives.

It's a matter of principle to try and protect fortune that comes your way, whether through blessing or hard work or that rare stroke of genius. There is no shame in fighting back against the tides of unfairness to protect what is yours and to work toward something better. I can't bring myself to rate something higher than 3 stars if it pissed me off with its ending, but I can respect this book because it's John freaking Steinbeck, it's a fable that's so well done it may as well define the word 'fable' in the dictionary, and because it wasn't only the alluring pull of the pearl that kept drawing me further in.

View all 16 comments. Jan 02, Connie G rated it really liked it Shelves: classic , mexico. John Steinbeck adapted a Mexican folk tale into a novella about fate, evil, the perils of greed, and the plight of oppressed people.

The infant son of Juana and Kino, a fisherman and pearl diver, is stung by a scorpion. The doctor refuses to treat the baby because Kino does not have the money to pay him, and because the affluent Spanish colonialists look down at the natives. Only there can they hope to sell the pearl for a decent price. Kino, Juana, and Coyotito leave in the dark of the night. After a brief rest in the morning, Kino spots trackers who are following them. Well aware that they will be unable to hide from the trackers, they begin hiking into the mountains.

They find a cave near a natural water hole, where the exhausted family hides and waits for the trackers to catch up to them. The trackers find the water hole and decide to rest there for the night.

Kino realizes that he must get rid of the trackers if they are to survive the trip to the capital. One of the men fires his rifle in the direction of the crying, where Juana and Coyotito lie. Kino tackles the man, takes the gun and kills all of the trackers.