October 24, 2007

Critical Lens The Pearl

William Shakespeare once said, “To thine own self be true.” This means people should not pretend to be something they are not. People may sometimes do this, so they can fit in, or be accepted. This is true in two separate ways for the characters, Kino and Juana in the book, The Pearl by John Steinbeck. Kino becomes untrue to himself and his family, forgetting what is important after he finds a magnificent pearl. His wife, Juana, on the other hand, remains faithful to herself and her family throughout the entirety of the novel. Steinbeck uses literary elements to shows significant moments showing the faithfulness of the characters such as personification and symbolism.

Kino is a poor Indian fisher, living in Mexico when he finds a stunning pearl in the ocean. However, the pearl only brings misfortune to his family, and Kino becomes untrue to himself. The quote, “This pearl has become my soul, if I give it up I shall lose my soul”67 is said by Kino after he kills a man who tries to steal the pearl. The quotation shows an example of personification, in which Kino says that he now bears the burden of the “cursed” pearl. Before finding the pearl, Kino was close with his wife, having something akin to a mental bond with her. With the pending wealth of the pearl, Kino sees his son being able to go to school, himself and Juana getting married in a church, and buying himself a rifle, all previously unattainable assets. He becomes untrue to himself because he is so desperate to obtain these luxuries, he loses himself to the splendor the pearl has to offer, and forgets about the most important things in his life. Unlike Kino, his wife, Juana is true to herself and her family throughout the entire book.

The reader can tell that Kino’s wife, Juana, is headstrong and confident, by the end of the first chapter of the story. When her son, Coyotito, is stung by a deadly scorpion, she wastes no time is sucking the venom out of the infants body. So, when her husband finds the “pearl of the world”, she is ecstatic and relieved, for now she can take her son to the doctor. Her delight however, soon turns to dismay when the pearl tears her family apart. “Kino this pearl is evil. Let us destroy it before it destroys us. Let us crush it between two stones. Let us—let us throw it back in the sea where it belongs. Kino, it is evil, it is evil!”(56-57) She begs Kino to rid themselves of the “evil pearl”, fearing it will destroy their family, to which he profusely objects, as is shown in the passage representing symbolism. Juana is faithful to her family, and her main priority and concern is Kino and Coyotito, which is why she stays true to herself and does not fall victim to the seductive treasures the pearl has to offer. Both Kino and Juana experienced changes in their lives, brought on by the pearl.

As quoted from a play written by William Shakespeare, “To thine own self be true.” This can be deciphered as meaning that people should never pretend to be something that they are not. Such is true in the short novel The Pearl by John Steinbeck. Kino and his wife, Juana are excellent examples of the passage, only on opposite sides of the quotation’s true meaning. Kino does not stay true to himself throughout the course of the novel, while Juana stays true to both herself, and her family. People like Juana, are typically difficult for one to find. Human beings are naturally greedy, and do whatever they deem necessary to fight their way victory. If everyone was more like Juana, caring and determined there might not be as much conflict in the world.