The Pearl - Kino's Character
The Pearl - Kino's CharacterKino, a poor Indian fisherman, lives on the Gulf of California with his wife Juana and son Coyotito. Their simple hut is made of
brush, and the couple sleeps on mats thrown on the dirt floor, while
Coyotito sleeps in a hanging box. Like others in their poor village,
they depend on nature for survival.
As The Pearl begins, dawn is breaking. Kino watches the sun
rise and listens to the sounds of the morning. But within moments, a
dangerous situation develops. A poisonous scorpion stings Coyotito,
Kino's infant son, and the baby's screams draw people from all over
the village. Juana insists that the doctor be called, but Kino knows
the physician is Spanish and considers himself above treating poor
Indians. This does not satisfy Juana, who announces that if the doctor
will not come to the village, then they will go to his house. But the
doctor refuses to treat Coyotito because Kino is too poor.
Later that day, while Kino and Juana are fishing in the Gulf,
Kino finds an enormous pearl and cries out in joy. He believes the
pearl will make him rich and enable him to provide security for his
family. But Kino discovers otherwise. The pearl stirs envy in the
villagers, and that night Kino is attacked in his hut by a thief. The
following day, he tries to sell the pearl to buyers in town, but he is
offered only a small amount of money for it. The buyers all work for
the same man. They know the pearl is worth a fortune but hope to buy
it cheaply by pretending that it is worth little.
Kino says he will sell his pearl in the capital city, where he
believes he will get a fair price. This amazes the villagers because
Kino has never traveled so far. After dark that evening, Kino is
attacked again. Juana is sure the pearl is evil and will destroy the
family. During the night, she quietly removes it from the spot where
Kino has hidden it and tries to throw it back into the ocean. He stops
her before she succeeds and beats her for trying. As he returns to the
hut, Kino is attacked again, this time by two men. He kills one of
them, and the other escapes....
To view the complete essay, you be registered.