Kino’s transformation in The Pearl.
The Pearl is a novel that focuses on Kino, a fisherman whose life changes greatly after he acquires the pearl. He starts as a hard-working diver who works tirelessly to provide for his wife and son. In the beginning, he seems to be a good loyal husband but later became a selfish and greedy person who could do anything for money. After Kino acquires the great pearl, he becomes increasingly ambitious to upgrade his family’s social status. His greed for wealth makes him violent and his life is full of fight for survival.
The story is centered on Kino, a pearl diver, his wife Juana and their son Coyotito. The family live in poverty but peacefully. Kino in his daily routine succeeds in finding the costly pearl, he tries selling it to the pearl buyers who deceive him and ends up not selling it. Kino is later attacked by men who wanted to steal the pearl from him and he is forced to flee with his wife and son. Kino and his family realize that they are being followed by trackers who want to steal the pearl. He manages to kill the trackers but in the fight, Coyotito is killed. It is after this that Kino and Juana return to their village and he agrees to throw away the pearl to the sea.
Kino is the protagonist in The Pearl, he is poor and seems contented with the lifestyle. He lives a life of happiness and simplicity. His greed is exposed when he becomes lucky to get the pearl. When asked what he would buy now that he was rich, he was quick to mention some items including a rifle. The rifle was a sign of power over the other villagers and he is also ready to kill to safeguard his treasure. After a scorpion had stung Coyotito, Kino was in dire need to find a pearl not to become rich but to pay for his son’s treatment. However, he later began to think of all the items he would acquire with the money and developed greed and selfishness.
Kino is well-rooted to the culture of his ancestors, their love for nature, their musical customs and the family structure. He later develops grand ambitions and aspirations which distracts him from the cultural values and lead him to be violent and abusive to his wife. His effort to keep the pearl result in Coyotito’s death, he then portrays renewed respect for his wife when he allows Juana to walk by his side and offers her the honour of throwing the pearl in the ocean.
Kino’s wealth makes him become a target of many people such as the doctor, the pearl buyers and the trackers. Natural elements also stand in his path to achieve his dreams. This aspect makes him increasingly angry and obsessed with wealth. Kino makes a remarkable evolution from being a native peasant to a wealthy person who is looked up to in society. It is also a representation of gratitude and the dangers of greed.
Works cited
Steinbeck, John. The Pearl by John Steinbeck. William Heinemann Ltd., 1950.