Date and Place of Publication: 1947, USA
Historical Period of Publication:
| just after World War II. The depression still had a strong influence upon people. |
Author: John Steinbeck
Span of Author's Life: 1902 -- 1968
Overview of Author's Ideas:
| Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California. Many of his books deal with that area, and with the common people of the ranches and farms. Steinbeck's works include The Red Pony, The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, East of Eden, and Travels with Charlie. When he won the Nobel Prize in 1962, he said: |
| The writer is delegated to declare and to celebrate man's proven capacity for greatness of heart and spirit--for gallantry in defeat, for courage, compassion, and love. In the endless war against weakness and despair, these are the bright rally flags of hope and emulation. |
I. SITUATION:
A: Place: A small village in Mexico
B: History and Description of Place:
| Villages such as these have been basically unchanged for 400 years. People with Spanish backgrounds tended to be at the top of the social school. Next in line were members of the Roman Catholic hierarchy high-ranking military officers. People of Spanish/Indian blood were the middle class, while los indios, the Indians, were at the bottom. |
C: Time period of the events in the story:
| around 1900 |
| The Indians tend to resist the change in gods, keeping their old religious beliefs, although we see a strong Catholic influence on their beliefs. The Indians resent the Spanish aristocrats. |
E: Characters:
| Kino, an Indian fisherman, protagonist
Juana, his wife, confidante Coyotito, their baby Juan Tomas, his brother Apolinia, Juan's wife The Doctor, pompous, bigoted, corrupt a Priest, corrupt, hypocritical |
II. CONFLICT:
| Kino must find a way to overcome the despair of his poverty and lower social standing. |
III. EVENTS WHICH INTENSIFY THE CONFLICT:
| 676. The baby is bitten
by a scorpion.
677. The doctor refuses to come, considering them animals. 679. When they bring the baby to the doctor, they don't have enough money, so the doctor still won't help. 681. Kino tries to find a pearl so he can pay a doctor to help Coyotito. 684. He is lucky enough to find a large pearl. 685. When they hear about the pearl, both the doctor and the priest hypocritically think of being Kino's friend. 691. Kino fears everyone, and worries about where he will hide the pearl. 691. Kino is hurt when he attacks a thief during the night. 691. Juana tells Kino to throw the pearl back, but he refuses. 695. Kina tells of the past: "The loss of the pearl was a punishment visited on those who tried to leave their station. And the Father made it clear that each man and woman is like a soldier sent by God to guard some part of the castle of the Universe. And some are in the ramparts and some far deep in the darkness of the walls. But each one must remain faithful to his post and must not go running about, else the castle is in danger from the assaults of Hell." 696. The pearl buyers say the pearl is too large to be worth much money; the offer is fifteen hundred. 698. Although he is afraid, Kino decides to go to the capital where he thinks he can get a fairer price. 698. Kino is attacked again, but vows to make the journey (p.699) answering his wife's fears with the phrase, "I am a man" 700. Kino stops Juana from throwing the pearl into the sea. 700. Juana has an important moment: "Juana . . . knew that the mountain would stand while the man broke himself; that the sea would surge while the man drowned in it. And yet it was this thing that made him a man, half insane and half god." 701. He is attacked again and kills someone in the dark. He thinks the pearl is stolen, but Juana has it. 702. His boat and home have been destroyed. 703. Juan Tomas agrees to hide Kino at his house. 703. Kino decides to go north, saying, "This pearl has become my soul. If I give it up, I shall lose my soul." 706. The first thing Kino wants to buy with the pearl is a gun. The narrator says, "the music of the pearl had become sinister in his ears and it was interwoven with the music of evil. 707. Three men are tracking them. 708. He wants to go on without Juana and the baby, but she refuses to leave him. 710. Kino decides to attack the trackers. 712. He kills them all. |
IV. CLIMAX:
| We never see the climax, but it is clear that Kino has decided to throw the pearl away. |
V. TURNING POINT (RESOLUTION):
A: Events which follow the climax
| 712. Kino walks into the city with his wife at his side, carrying their dead child. |
B: Themes
| Normal custom requires that Juana walk behind her husband. This scene, and the reaction of the townspeople ("they had gone through pain and had come out on the other side") could show that Kino has learned more respect for his, wife. They are sharing their lives now. He respects her as an equal and learned to have respect for her advice. |
| The death of Coyotito shows how an innocent has paid the price for Kino's greed. In the beginning of the story, they did everything to save the child's life. It is a sad irony that the child has died as a direct reuslt of their quest. Perhaps Kino has learned that greed can destroy ones humanity. |
| Perhaps the philosphy on p.695, above, is a theme by the author. Man does not have to change his station in life to have dignity, courage, and honor. Man needs to find his own worth in himself and his family and friends. |
VI. DENOUEMENT:
| Kino offers to let Juana throw the pearl into the sea, but she says, "No, you" and he throws it away. |
VI. PERSONAL CONCLUSIONS:
| I see this book fitting in with many of Steinbeck's other works. Human dignity and integrity are far more important than wealth or station. Grapes of Wrath shows the strength and courage of the Joads, a poor family of migrant workers; the boy in East of Eden learns that he cannot buy respect, but can only earn it; George and Lenny in Of Mice and Men have dreams of changing their station in life, instead of making themselves happy in the real world. It is an interesting theme, Christlike in many respects, and Steinbeck clearly an author to be studied. |
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