THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 1
- Appearance can be deceptive. Write an essay to validate this statement basing your argument on John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. (20 Marks)
Things are not always as they seem. The outward appearance of someone or something may conceal their true nature or intentions. When Kino finds a beautiful pearl he hopes to sell it and improve his family’s life but instead his old life is ruined even further.
First, we do not expect the priest to join the bandwagon of people trying to exploit Kino for his wealth. Priests ostensibly represent virtues. When he hears the news about Kino’s pearl while walking in his garden he immediately thinks about necessary repairs in the church. He also thinks about the worth of the pearl. He cannot remember whether he married Kino and Juana in church and whether he baptized their son Coyotito. He visits Kino, something he hardly does. He claims that Kino is named after a great father of the church. He also reminds him to give thanks for his newly found wealth. It is baffling that a clergy man would try to take advantage of a poor man. Surely, appearance can be deceptive.
When the doctor gets wind of the news of Kino’s pearl, he claims that Kino is his client and that he is treating his child for a scorpion sting! He comes to Kino’s brushwood hut apparently to treat Coyotito. However, he has ulterior motives. He warns Kino about the effects of a scorpion sting. He gives the baby a white powder enclosed in a capsule of gelatine. This makes him very sick. He later “cures’ him with three drops of ammonia. The doctor deceives Kino and the villagers that he came to treat the child but his real intention was to get the pearl for himself. He asks when Kino could pay the bill hoping to get the pearl. He coerces Kino to tell him where it is hidden, even offering to keep it safely for him.
It appears like there are many pearl buyers when in real sense there is only one! He keeps many agents in several offices to create a semblance of competition. When Kino finds the pearl he decides to sell it to improve his living standards. One of the dealers, the man behind the desk, appears benign and fatherly. He knows all the jokes. He is however a part of a conspiracy to cheat Kino out of the true value of his pearl. After examining the pearl he offers a paltry 1000 pesos when Kino wants 50,000 pesos. The other schemers play the same game. They pretend to be disinterested. One offers 500 pesos claiming he could sell it for 600 pesos. They are shocked when Kino refuses to sell his pearl. The fatherly man quickly improves his deal to 1500 pesos but in vain. It appears like they are trying to offer Kino the best price when in reality they are hell-bent on exploiting him.
Lastly, the appearance of the pearl itself is deceptive. It appears beautiful but underneath the beauty is evil and destruction. Its curve is perfect. It is as big as a seagull’s egg. When Kino finds it he knew that this is the end of all his problems. He could not be more mistaken. He hopes to marry Juana in church, buy a rifle and a harpoon, take Coyotito to school and even purchase new clothes and shoes. None of this happens. Juana and Juan Thomas warn Kino that the pearl is evil. He beats Juana when she tries to throw the pearl away. He strikes her with a clenched fist and kicks her in the side. His canoe is destroyed, his hut is burnt and his son Coyotito is killed by people trying to steal the pearl. Kino eventually throws the pearl back into the sea.
To sum up, it is indeed true to say that appearance may be deceptive since not all that glitters is gold.
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 2
- Basing your argument on John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, write an essay to show how Juana is the pillar of Kino’s home. (20 Marks)
Juana is depicted as the stalwart of Kino’s home. She has the ability to make sound judgements and offer practical solutions in the face of impending calamity. She helps to keep Kino’s strong desire for wealth in check and acts as the strength of the family both in calm days and during the shaky days after they found the pearl.
Juana’s ability to make swift judgement is first seen when the child is stung by the scorpion. She takes several quick steps to save his life. First, she sucks the poison out of Coyotito’s body. She then rushes the child to the doctor to seek treatment when it became apparent that the doctor would not come to the brushwood houses where they lived. After praying and chanting ancient magic spells, she gathers brown seaweed and makes a poultice which she then applies to the child’s shoulder to help reduce the pain. She manages to save the child’s life since the poison eventually recedes from his body. Indeed, she is the pillar of Kino’s home.
Juana is wise enough to see the potentially harmful nature of the pearl. A thief tries to steal the pearl and Kino fights him while trying to protect it. He bruises his forehead in the process. Juana says that the pearl is evil and that they should get rid of it. Kino is obstinate. He is blinded by his desires. He refuses to heed to Juana’s warning. Then, after they failed to sell the pearl, someone lurking outside Kino’s hut at night injures Kino badly when he slashes him and leaves him with a deep cut running from ear to chin. After this attack , Juana reiterates her earlier sentiments that the pearl is evil and that they ought to destroy it or throw it back into the sea before it destroys them together with their son. Had Kino listened to her, maybe, just maybe they would still have their hut and canoe intact and their son Coyotito would still be alive. Juana is surely the strength of Kino’s family.
Moreover, she takes a bold step of trying to throw the pearl away. She had grown tired of Kino’s inaction. This plan fails. Kino strikes her face with a clenched fist and kicks her on the side. Juana is so considerate since she remains reasonably level-headed even after Kino attacks her. There was no anger in her for Kino. She collects the pearl and hands it back to Kino after he is attacked. She tried to throw the pearl away in a desperate bid to save her family. She is content with the little they have unlike Kino who is blinded by greed. This action makes us conclude that Juana is indeed a reasonable person.
Lastly, Juana is also seen as a voice of reason when she sticks by Kino throughout; appearing caring and protective. She takes care of the family by cooking for her husband and child. Kino could never remember seeing her eyes closed when he awakened. She advises Kino to leave the village after he killed a man. She offers to go with him to the North. When Kino suggests that they split up so that he tries to mislead the trackers, she refuses and says that they stick together. She asks him to remove the white clothes as he readied himself to attack the trackers. After Coyotito’s death, she remains close to her husband when they return the village with their lifeless baby. She obviously puts in a lot of effort in trying to protect her family. She is indeed the pillar of Kino’s family. .
To sum up, it is apparent that Juana is definitely the pillar of strength that Kino lies on.
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 3
- All that glitters is not gold. Write a composition to substantiate this claim, drawing your illustrations from John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. (20 Marks)
Appearance may be deceptive. Some people appear good at face value but may have hidden intentions. Kino’s beautiful pearl appears like a promise of comfort and security and a poultice against illness but turns out to harbour evil, misfortune and death.
First, we do not expect the priest to join the bandwagon of people trying to exploit Kino for his wealth. Priests ostensibly represent virtues. When he hears the news about Kino’s pearl while walking in his garden he immediately thinks about necessary repairs in the church. He also thinks about the worth of the pearl. He cannot remember whether he married Kino and Juana in church and whether he baptized their son Coyotito. He visits Kino, something he hardly does. He claims that Kino is named after a great father of the church. He also reminds him to give thanks for his newly found wealth. It is baffling that a clergy man would try to take advantage of a poor man. Surely, not all that glitters is gold.
When the doctor gets wind of the news of Kino’s pearl, he claims that Kino is his client and that he is treating his child for a scorpion sting! He comes to Kino’s brushwood hut apparently to treat Coyotito. However, he has ulterior motives. He warns Kino about the effects of a scorpion sting. He gives the baby a white powder enclosed in a capsule of gelatine. This makes him very sick. He later “cures’ him with three drops of ammonia. The doctor deceives Kino and the villagers that he came to treat the child but his real intention was to get the pearl for himself. He asks when Kino could pay the bill hoping to get the pearl. He coerces Kino to tell him where it is hidden, even offering to keep it safely for him.
It appears like there are many pearl buyers when in real sense there is only one! He keeps many agents in several offices to create a semblance of competition. When Kino finds the pearl he decides to sell it to improve his living standards. One of the dealers, the man behind the desk, appears benign and fatherly. He knows all the jokes. He is however a part of a conspiracy to cheat Kino out of the true value of his pearl. After examining the pearl he offers a paltry 1000 pesos when Kino wants 50,000 pesos. The other schemers play the same game. They pretend to be disinterested. One offers 500 pesos claiming he could sell it for 600 pesos. They are shocked when Kino refuses to sell his pearl. The fatherly man quickly improves his deal to 1500 pesos but in vain. It appears like they are trying to offer Kino the best price when in reality they are hell-bent on exploiting him.
Lastly, the appearance of the pearl itself is deceptive. It appears beautiful but underneath the beauty is evil and destruction. Its curve is perfect. It is as big as a seagull’s egg. When Kino finds it he knew that this is the end of all his problems. He could not be more mistaken. He hopes to marry Juana in church, buy a rifle and a harpoon, take Coyotito to school and even purchase new clothes and shoes. None of this happens. Juana and Juan Thomas warn Kino that the pearl is evil. He beats Juana when she tries to throw the pearl away. He strikes her with a clenched fist and kicks her in the side. His canoe is destroyed, his hut is burnt and his son Coyotito is killed by people trying to steal the pearl. Kino eventually throws the pearl back into the sea.
To sum up, it is indeed true to say that not all that glitters is gold since appearance may be deceptive.
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 4
- Money and desire can change an individual. Basing your illustrations on John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, write a composition to back up this statement. (20 Marks)
In The Pearl Kino is poor but happy but when he finds a great fortune he becomes obsessed with being rich and this makes him sad, suspicious and irrational. This is because greed for wealth can change a person.
Before Kino finds the pearl he is a caring, protective father and husband. He seems contended and happy despite living in poverty. He is satisfied with the simple lifestyle and the little they posses. When he finds the pearl, he has great dreams for his family. He hopes to marry his wife in church. He hopes to buy her new clothes including a new shawl, new skin and new shoes. When someone tries to steal the pearl and Kino is hurt trying to protect it, Juana suggests that they get rid of it. Kino is adamant. He is blinded by desire for money. When she tries to throw it away, he strikes her badly. Excessive desire turns Kino into an abusive husband that he was not at first.
Desire for money turns Kino into a heartless murderous man. Kino lives the simple life of a fisherman like the other natives of La Paz. When he finds the great pearl, he turns into “an animal”. He fights and kills a man on the path that tries to steal his pearl. Having grown tired of Kino’s inaction, Juana decides to go and throw the pearl back into the sea. Kino catches her and strikes her with a clenched fist and kicks her on the side. On his way back to the hut, he fights and kills a man forcing them to flee from their home. His obsession with changing their simple lifestyle and acquiring material possession dehumanizes him.
The excessive ambition for riches makes Kino irrational. Kino seems like a wise family man. He provides for his family through fishing and pearl diving. He loves and protects his young family. When he finds the great pearl, he hopes to take his son Coyotito to school so that he frees them from the bondage of ignorance. His preoccupation with this desire blinds him. He fails to see the danger such an ambition puts his family into. While fleeing to the north, he is pursued by three trackers, two on foot and one on a horse with a rifle. His son is eventually killed even when he manages to kill the three men. Had Kino been wise enough he would have gotten rid of the pearl as soon as he saw the red flags. He is blinded by wild desire for wealth.
Lastly, the doctor changes his mind about treating Coyotito because of his desires. When Coyotito is stung by a scorpion, the doctor refuses to treat the child. He has no time to treat “little Indians” for insect bites because they never have any money. He sends them away claiming he was out attending to a serious case. When Kino finds the great pearl the doctor hopes to get it so that his dreams of a “civilized” European lifestyle in Paris could come to pass. He rushes to Kino’s home pretending he was there to treat the child. He says Kino is his client. He never goes to the brushwood huts until Kino gets rich. He has no intention of treating the child. He is finally interested in Kino because of his strong desire for money.
In brief, it is indeed true to say that money and desire can change an individual.
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 5
- The villagers in La Paz are highly superstitious. Basing your answer on Kino and Juana in John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, Write an essay to validate this statement. (20 Marks)
The villagers in La Paz are ignorant and thus tend to have strong beliefs based on fear of the unknown. Juana has deep-seated faith in magic spells and luck. She believes that Kino’s pearl is evil.
Through the prayers, incantations and ancient magic spells Juana is portrayed as a superstitious individual. She mutters an ancient magic incantation when Coyotito is in danger of being stung by a scorpion. She also mutters a Hail Mary. In the boat she does not pray directly for the recovery of the baby. She prays that they find a pearl. She attempts to force from the gods the luck she and Kino need to protect Coyotito. (Ancient magic P 21, 33, 35)
Kino’s superstition is clear when he is reluctant to open the large shell first since he doesn’t want to show the gods or God that he wants the pearl so much. Kino is afraid that gods will take revenge against him if he finds success. Gods do not love men’s plans. While fleeing the village, when Kino looks at the pearl he only sees tragedies that have befallen the family. He begins to see that the pearl is cursed but he still cannot part with it. (P 36,37.46, 98)
Juan Tomas and Juana believe that the pearl is evil. Juan Tomas tells Kino that there is a devil in the pearl. He advises Kino to get rid of it by selling it and buying peace for himself. Juana says that the pearl is like a sin. He warns Kino that it will destroy all of them if they don’t throw it away. Kino ignores her warning and keeps the pearl. She tries to throw away the evil pearl but Kino catches and beats her further proving her fears that the pearl is cursed. It has made Kino attack and harm his loving wife. (P 90)
The villagers in La Paz mainly survive on pearl fishing and they believe that the pearls are accidents and finding one is luck, a pat on the back by God or the gods or both. They believe in luck so much that when Juana senses Kino’s excitement when he finds the pearl she pretends to look away because it is not good to want a thing too much. It sometimes drives the luck away. (P 34, 36)
In brief, the behavior of most people in La Paz is based on faith and luck as a result of ignorance, fear and false conceptions.
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 6
- Juana and Juan Tomas are depicted as the voices of reason in La Paz. Write a composition to substantiate this claim, drawing your illustrations from John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. (20 Marks)
In The Pearl by John Steinbeck Juana and Juan Tomas are individuals who try to influence Kino to act sensibly. They try to use practical and logical reasons to convince Kino to get rid of the pearl that brings misfortunes to their family. They are therefore voices of reason.
When Coyotito is stung by a scorpion, Juana is seen as the voice of reason when she suggests that they go to the doctor, which is the most sensible thing to do. This is after she sucks the poison out of Coyotito’s body and spits. This shows quick, practical thinking on her part. When the doctor refuses to treat the baby, she accompanies Kino when he goes out pearl fishing. She prays that they may find a pearl with which to hire the doctor to cure the baby-she does not pray directly for his recovery. This shows that Juana is a reasonable woman.
Juana tries to influence Kino to do the most sensible thing-throwing the pearl away. When a thief tries to steal the pearl and Kino bruises his forehead in a bid to protect it, she tells Kino that the pearl is like a sin and will destroy them because it has brought evil. She advises him to throw it away. Kino fails to heed this advice since he plans to sell the pearl. Juana is reasonable since she advises him to throw it away again when he is attacked and slashed from ear to chin. She urges him to destroy it before it destroys them. This is after she tries to stop from confronting his assailant. Kino does not comply claiming he is a man but Juana cautions him sensibly that a man can be killed. The pearl turns out to be destructive since because of it Kino loses his boat, his hut and his son Coyotito. Juana is undoubtedly a voice of reason.
Juan Tomas, Kino’s elder brother, is a reasonable and far-sighted man. He advises Kino to be careful that the pearl buyers do not cheat him. Since he is the elder, Kino looks to him for wisdom. He says he is afraid for Kino since he has defied not only the pearl buyers, but the whole structure of life. He cautions Kino about going to the capital where he has no friends or family. Juan Tomas is indeed a reasonable man.
Throughout the novel, Juan Tomas gives his younger brother good meaningful pieces of advice. When Kino kills a man, Juan Tomas tells him that there is a devil in his pearl. He advises him to sell it and buy peace for himself. He offers to protect Kino after his hut is burnt and goes out to divert the neighbours’ suspicion. He borrows some supplies like salt, food, and a knife to help Kino on his journey north. Wisely, he advises Kino to avoid the shore since there is a party to search the shore. Surely, he is a voice of reason.
In conclusion, Juana and Juan Tomas are indeed the voices of reason owing to their invaluable pieces of advice they offer Kino.
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 7
- Write an essay to show how poverty is dehumanizing basing your illustrations on John Steinbeck’s The Pearl (20 marks)
Lack of money and possessions can make one feel or appear somehow less human. Poverty deprives people of human qualities such as feelings for other people. Kino and others in La Paz endure such suffering because they are poor and his efforts to escape the shackles of poverty prove futile.
First, as a result of poverty Kino’s family and their neighbours live in semi permanent shacks that are hardly good enough for humans. Kino, Juana and Coyotito live in a brushwood hut in the impoverished neighbourhood of La Paz. Kino and Juana sleep on a mat, whereas Coyotito sleeps in a hanging box. The shelter is barely any good for a baby as he is stung by a scorpion. A thief easily sneaks into the house and Kino bruises his forehead trying to fight him. The hut is razed to the ground in a matter of minutes as thieves look for the pearl. What miserable living conditions! Indeed poverty is dehumanizing.
Apart from that, Kino can barely afford some basic needs and simple luxuries of life. He only dreams of buying a rifle (Winchester carbine) and a harpoon after finding a great pearl. He also hopes to marry Juana in church. Kino sees Juana and Coyotito and himself kneeling at the high altar getting married now that he could finally pay. He hopes to purchase new clothes-blue sailors’ suit from the US and a yachting cap for Coyotito for example. He also plans to pay for Coyotito’s education. Kino and his family have lived a life of oppression, misery and ignorance as a result of poverty and that is why he has dreams of unshackling his family from the bondage of poverty and to give them a life fit for a human being.
Also, poverty turns people into heartless brutes. When Kino finds the pearl, everyone becomes interested in him with the hope of reaping some benefits. People would do anything to get the pearl. Kino on the other hand is willing to do anything to protect it. Even after seeing the danger and the evil surrounding the pearl he still clings onto it. He strikes Juana with a clenched fist and kicks her in the side when she tries to throw it away. He kills a man on the path and three trackers who were pursuing him. When someone destroys his bought, Kino turns into an animal because the canoe is all he has. He commits all these atrocities because poverty has stripped him of qualities like reason and compassion. Poverty is surely dehumanizing.
Kino cannot access proper medical care for his son after he is stung by a scorpion because he is poor. When Coyotito is stung by a scorpion, Kino and Juana rush him to the European doctor. The doctor contemptuously remarks that the “little Indians” never have any money. Kino can only offer eight misshapen seed pearls that look ugly and grey like ulcers. He dismisses claiming he was out handling a more serious case-more serious than curing insect bites for “little Indians”. He says he is not a veterinary doctor. Kino is so angry that he strikes the doctor’s gate with his bare knuckle. The European doctor despises Kino because he is poor.
In conclusion, it is true to say that poverty is dehumanizing.
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 8
- “Juana is portrayed as a voice of reason in La Paz. Basing your illustrations on John Steinbeck’s The Pearl; write an essay to validate this assertion.”
In a world full of irrational and impulsive people, it’s really delightful to have some individuals who have the ability to make sound judgments and offer practical solutions in the face of impending calamity. Juana is one such person. She helps to keep Kino’s wild desire for wealth in check and acts as the pillar of the family both in calm days and during the tumultuous days after they found the pearl.
Juana’s ability to make swift judgment is first seen when the child is stung by the scorpion. She takes several quick steps to save his life. First, she sucks the poison out of Coyotito’s body. She then rushes the child to the doctor to seek treatment when it became apparent that the doctor would not come to the brushwood houses where they lived. After praying and chanting ancient magic spells, she gathers brown seaweed and makes a poultice which she then applies to the child’s shoulder to help reduce the pain. She manages to save the child’s life since the poison eventually recedes from his body. Indeed, she is a voice of reason.
Juana is wise enough to see the potentially harmful nature of the pearl. A thief tries to steal the pearl and Kino fights him while trying to protect it. He bruises his forehead in the process. Juana says that the pearl is evil and that they should get rid of it. Kino is obstinate. He is blinded by his desires. He refuses to heed to Juana’s warning. Then, after they failed to sell the pearl, someone lurking outside Kino’s hut at night injures Kino badly when he slashes him and leaves him with a deep cut running from ear to chin. After this attack , Juana reiterates her earlier sentiments that the pearl is evil and that they ought to destroy it or throw it back into the sea before it destroys them together with their son. Had Kino listened to her, maybe, just maybe they would still have their hut and canoe intact and their son Coyotito would still be alive. Juana is surely rational.
Moreover, she takes a bold step of trying to throw the pearl away. She had grown tired of Kino’s inaction. This plan fails. Kino strikes her face with a clenched fist and kicks her on the side. Juana is so considerate since she remains reasonably level-headed even after Kino attacks her. There was no anger in her for Kino. She collects the pearl and hands it back to Kino after he is attacked. She tried to throw the pearl away in a desperate bid to save her family. She is content with the little they have unlike Kino who is blinded by greed. This action makes us conclude that Juana is indeed a reasonable person.
Lastly, Juana is also seen as a voice of reason when she sticks by Kino throughout; appearing caring and protective. She takes care of the family by cooking for her husband and child. Kino could never remember seeing her eyes closed when he awakened. She advises Kino to leave the village after he killed a man. She offers to go with him to the North. When Kino suggests that they split up so that he tries to mislead the trackers, she refuses and says that they stick together. She asks him to remove the white clothes as he readied himself to attack the trackers. After Coyotito’s death, she remains close to her husband when they return the village with their lifeless baby. She obviously puts in a lot of effort in trying to protect her family. She is indeed a voice of reason.
In conclusion, it is apparent that Juana is without a doubt a voice of reason.
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 9
- “Kino is over ambitious. As a result he suffers” Write an essay to validate this statement citing illustrations from John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. (20 Marks)
When one wants something so much, the end result is usually pain, misery or suffering. When Kino finds the pearl, he becomes greedy for material possession (rifle, harpoon, shoes, and clothes) and a change of lifestyle. This excessive desire causes pain to him and his family. Eventually, he loses his property and his child.
Due to greed, Kino loses his son Coyotito. When Kino finds the pearl his desire to change his life blinds him. He hopes to take Coyotito to school. He says that his son will go to school and learn writing. That he will know and they will know through him. They will be free. Even when he suffers attacks and physical pain because of the pearl his ambition clouds his reasoning. He refuses to let go off the pearl. He flees the village with Juana and Coyotito with a view to protect and sell his pearl, hoping to use the funds to educate his son. Coyotito is killed by one of the 3 trackers at the mountains as they were fleeing to the north. Kino suffers the pain of losing his only son.
Kino loses his brushwood hut and canoe as a result of his excessive ambition. When he finds the pearl, everybody else is interested in it. The priest, the shopkeepers, the doctor, the beggars, and the dealers all want a share of his newly found wealth. Someone tries to steal the pearl. Kino is injured trying to protect it. Kino is attacked twice because of the pearl. His hut is set ablaze after intruders ransack it looking for the pearl. He wants to go and sell the pearl in the capital after failing to secure a deal with the local dealers. To stop him someone punches a hole in his canoe. This hurts Kino and turns him into an animal. He inherited it from his father and grandfather and treasured it a lot as a fisherman. Kino loses is valuables as a result of too much ambition.
Kino suffers physical pain because of the pearl. Kino suffers attack after attack. He is determined to get his hands on new material possession. He suffers in the process. When someone tries to steal his pearl, he injures his forehead while trying to protect it. It his sole hope of new wealth. The night they came from the dealers, Kino is attacked outside his hut and slashed. There is a deep cut on his cheek from his ear to his chin. Juana pleads with him to get rid of the evil pearl but he refuses since is so ambitious to give Coyotito education and to acquire wealth. He is attacked again after striking Juana. He manages to kill the man but is left with injuries. Too much ambition causes pain.
Kino lives a life of fear and suspicion after he finds the pearl. Although it causes him to problems he does not want to lose it. This is because he is overambitious. He wants to buy a Winchester carbine rifle, a new iron harpoon, and white clothes for himself, a blue suit for Coyotito, and shoes. Juana asks who he fears. He says that he fears everybody. He lives in constant fear of attacks and intruders since people want to steal his pearl. He is eventually forced to flee from La Paz a place he calls home.
Kino would do anything to protect his pearl and acquire wealth. Juana suffers this violent nature when she tries to throw the pearl away. He strikes Juana in the face with a clenched fist. She falls among the boulders. He then kicks her in the side. This destroys their peaceful co-existence as a poor but happy (contended) family. He kills the man who attacked him on the path. He kills the three trackers who were pursuing him because of the pearl. He could not let them steal his pearl because he has big dreams. Over ambition causes Kino to become a dangerous ‘animal’ who wrecks his family and structure of life.
To sum up, greed/ excessive ambition causes pain/misery/suffering.
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 10
- “Family members always want the best for us”. Write an essay to validate this claim basing your illustrations from John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. (20 Marks)
In the face of adversity, our relations are always there for us. For instance Juana Kino’s wife does everything in her power to protect her husband Kino and their child Coyotito. She risks her life by sucking the scorpion’s poison out of the child’s shoulder for she cares for her son Coyotito.
First, Juana cares for her son Coyotito. When he is stung by the scorpion, she does everything within her means to save his life. First, she sucks the poison out and spits and sucks again. She suggests that they go to see the doctor. She also sticks with Kino while he was pearl finishing and prays that they find a pearl with which they can hire the doctor to treat their son Coyotito. Meanwhile she gathers brown seaweed and makes flat damp poultice which uses as a remedy for Coyotito’s pain. Her quick thinking saves Coyotito from the adverse effect of the scorpion sting; a withered leg, a crumpled back or a blind eye. Surely, family members are always there for us.
Kino is a simple family man who loves and strives to protect his family. Kino finds solace and contentment in the Song of the Family. He knows the value of family since he inherited his only prized possession, a canoe, from his father and grandfather. He cannot take a chance that the doctor is lying to him about Coyotito’s health since he doesn’t want his child to suffer. When he gets the pearl Kino only thinks of how to improve his family; clothes for Juana and Coyotito, education for Coyotito and a marrying Juana in church. Although the pearl causes pain, Kino only clings on it because he wants the best for his family.
Juan Tomas cares for and values his brother Kino. He shows up when Coyotito is stung and accompanies Kino to the doctor. He advises Kino to be careful so that the dealers don’t take advantage of him. He also accompanies him to the dealers. When Kino kills a man, he offers him and his family shelter in his hut and tries to divert the attention of the neighbours and gathers supplies for the journey; a bag of beans, a gourd of rice, dried pepper, salt, a knife and an axe. Although he doesn’t manage to convince Kino to get rid of the evil pearl, he does all he can to help him escape it.
Juana cares for her husband Kino and is always there for him. She wakes up early to prepare breakfast for her family. She is always on Kino’s side and acts like his chief advisor. She sees the potentially harmful nature of the pearl and asks Kino to get rid of it. She gets tired of Kino’s inaction and tries to throw the pearl away. Even after Kino attacks her she has no anger for him in her. She advises Kino to escape the village after he kills a man and sticks with him through thick and thin as they return to the village with their dead son. She is on his side when he flings the pearl back into the sea.
In conclusion, it is indeed true to say that family members are always there for us. Surely blood is thicker than water.
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 11
- Desire without limits can be a source of agony both to ourselves and our family members. Using illustrations from The Pearl write an essay in support of this statement. (20 Marks)
Everyone has desire for one thing or the other. However, when this obsession is unchecked, it may cause suffering or pain not only to us but also to our family members.
Kino’s excessive desire for a better life leads to untold suffering when he loses his son Coyotito. When Kino finds the great pearl, he desires to take his son to school, marry Juana in church, buy a rifle and a harpoon and purchase new clothes. He expects to do these after selling the pearl at 50, 000 pesos. The fatherly dealer offers a paltry 1,000 pesos which he revises to 1,500. The first and second dealers make no offer. The last one offers 500 pesos. Kino is so enraged that he refuses to sell the pearl hoping to get a better deal at the capital. He embarks on a journey north. The journey is long and harrowing. The day is shimmering hot. At the cave in the mountains Kino is forced to confront and try and kill the tracker with a rifle. Unfortunately, Coyotito makes a sound which the trackers confuse for a coyote. The gunman shoots and kills Coyotito before Kino kills all of them. Kino and Juana return to La Paz with heavy hearts, walking side by side. They are fatigued and distraught for losing their only son. They don’t wave back when Juan Tomas greets them. Kino flings the pearl back into the sea.
Kino suffers when his boat is destroyed. Kino plans to go to the capital via the sea in order to sell his pearl. He is so obsessed with dreams of turning his life around. Kino comes from a fishing community where canoes are valued. It is a source of food-a man with a boat can guarantee a woman that she will eat something. He inherited his own from his father who got it from his grandfather who brought it from Nayarit. He takes care of it with a lot of affection and sentimental attachment. He refines it with a shell-like plaster,a secret method he learned from his father. After killing a man on the path from the beach while protecting his pearl, he goes to the beach only to find that someone had punched a hole in it-his grandfather’s boat that was plastered over and over. He is hurt badly. He feels that it is less evil to kill a man than to kill a boat. The sorrow turns him into an animal. Kino’s boat is destroyed as a result of his obsession with the pearl.
Kino’s relationship with Juana is rocked as a result of his obsession with the pearl. When a thief tries to steal the pearl, Kino bruises his forehead trying to protect it. Juana coaxes him to throw the evil pearl away saying it will destroy them. Kino refuses, claiming it is their chance and that their son must go to school. Kino is later attacked outside his brushwood house and is badly hurt when he is slashed-a deep, bleeding slash. Juana begs him to get rid of the pearl but he says the he is a man. She is afraid for she knows that a man can be killed. When she gets tired of Kino’s inaction, she decides to throw it away herself. Kino grabs her and hits her with a clenched fist and kicks her in the side when she falls among the boulders. He hisses at her like a snake and she looks at him with wide, unfrightened eyes like a sheep before slaughter. Although there is no anger in her for Kino, their relationship is ruined because of Kino’s obstinate obsession with the pearl and his excessive desires. This creates agony.
Kino’s hut is burnt as a result of his excessive desire. When he finds the pearl, everyone gets interested in it-people with things to sell and and people with favours to ask. The priest, the beggars, the shopkeepers, the doctor and the dealers. Many people, including the doctor and the priest, try to get Kino’s pearl, forcefully or otherwise. Kino clings on to it and becomes violent and even murderous for he has dreams to achieve. After hitting Juana and killing a man, he notices that his hut is burning. He notices the flame. The neighbours struggle to save their own houses. Juana and Coyotito suffer when they have to seek refuge in Juan Tómas’ house. Kino begs Tómas to house them and he’s a tad reluctant but offers to protect them. This distavantages him and he reminds Kino that their is a devil in his pearl. He tries to divert the neighbours’ suspicion and borrow supplies for Kino’s journey north. Losing his hut causes agony to Kino and his family.
Kino suffers when his excessive desire turns him into a killer. When he fails to sell his pearl, he is attacked later that night. Juana decides to throw the pearl away. Kino catches her and beats her badly. He is then accosted and attacked by people trying to steal his pearl. In the altercation that ensues, Kino kills a man. He does this in a bid to protect his pearl. This is because he hopes to sell it and buy a rifle, new clothes, take Coyotito to school and to marry Juana in church. When Juana finds him, he moves sluggishly like a crushed bug, a thick muttering coming from his mouth. She knows that the old life is gone. This forces them to leave their home in La Paz. The agony is as a result of Kino’s unchecked ambition.
Kino is attacked several times as he struggles to protect his pearl. He hopes to use the pearl to improve his life by buying a Winchester carbine rifle and take his son to school e.t.c. When a thief tries to steal the pearl, Kino attacks him with his knife, misses then feels the knife go through cloth. His head crashes with lightning and he feels blood running down his forehead. Juana swabs blood from his forehead with her shawl. Her tension boils to the surface and she cries that the pearl is evil. She wants them to throw it away or destroy it but Kino is adamant. Kino is attacked again because of the pearl. Because of his obsession, he goes out in the dark alone. Juana wills to stop him and is terrified when he confronts the attacker. His shirt is torn badly and clothes half pulled off. Kino is slashed from ear to chin. He bleeds badly. Juana wipes off his thickening blood with her skirt. She is disturbed. She tells him that the pearl is evil but due to his excessive desire he claims that he is a man. He suffers these attacks because of his excessive desire.
In conclusion, desire without limit causes pain to ourselves and to our family members.
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 12
- “For it is said that humans are never satisfied, that you give them one thing and they want something more.” Using clear illustrations from John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, write an essay to validate this claim. (20 marks)
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 13
- Fate is a force beyond our control. Write an essay to validate this statement basing your argument on John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. (20 Marks)
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 14
- “It is not good to want a thing too much. It sometimes drives the luck away.” How true in this in relation to The Pearl by John Steinbeck? (20 marks)
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 15
- Too much ambition leads to frustration. Write a composition to validate this statement with illustrations from the The Pearl. (20 Marks)
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 16
- Too much ambition is often accompanied by misery. Write a composition to substantiate this claim, drawing your illustrations from John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. (20 Marks)
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 17
- Humans are inherently greedy. Basing your illustrations on John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, write a composition to back up this statement. (20 Marks)
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 18
- When Kino finds the pearl, the evil nature of humans is brought out. Write a composition to substantiate this claim, drawing your illustrations from John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. (20 Marks)
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 19
- Greed brings out evil in mankind. Using clear illustrations from John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, write an essay to validate this claim. (20 marks)
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 20
- Write a composition to show the evil nature of greed basing your illustrations on John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. (20 Marks)
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 21
- Write an essay to show how luck brings bitter friends citing illustrations from John Steinbeck’s The Pearl .(20 Marks)
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 22
- Contentment is the key to happy life. Write an essay to validate this statement basing your argument on John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. (20 Marks)
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 23
- “Do not count your chicks before they hatch”. Write a composition to substantiate this saying, drawing your illustrations from John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. (20 marks)
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 24
- Making reference to John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, write a composition entitled: Failure to heed good advice may be disastrous. (20 marks)
Many times people offer us guidance about the best course of action. This counsel is meant to help us make prudent decisions. Failure to heed good counsel brings devastating end results. Kino does not listen when Juana and Juan Tomas warn him about the potentially catastrophe nature of the pearl and eventually it ruins his family life.
Juana advices Kino to throw away the pearl since it would destroy them. When Kino finds the great pearl everyone grows interested in it. A thief tries to steal it while they are asleep and Kino hurts himself trying to protect it. Blood runs from his bruised forehead. Juana helps to clean the injury and begs Kino to get rid of the pearl since it is evil. She suggests that the pearl is like a sin and that they should throw it away, break it between stones, or throw it back to the sea. Kino says their son must go to school and break them out of the pot that holds them in. Juana reckons that it will destroy even their son. Kino’s stubborn refusal to throw away the pearl lends to Coyotito’s death. He is shot dead by the trackers who wanted the pearl. They confused his cries for a coyote. Kino and Juana are devastated by the loss of their son. Surely, Kino’s imprudent decisions results to the consequences. (pg. 59-60,114-115,116-118)
Juan Tomas cautions his brother Kino to be careful so that he is not cheated by the dealers and the temptation to try and get more money from the pearl. Earlier he had asked Kino what he plans to do as a rich man. Kino has plans to marry Juana in church, buy new clothes for his family, buy a harpoon, and a Winchester Carbine rifle and to take his son Coyotito to school. Juan Tomas reminds Kino of the old ones who tried to get more money from the pearl by sending agents to the capital. After they had sold the pearls, the agents disappeared never to return. This reminds Kino of the story by the Father who preached that everyone must remain faithful to his past or risk facing retribution by God. Even with this wisdom, Kino is not content with the offers made by pearl dealers and wants to go to the capital. He values his Pearl at 50,000 pesos but the pearl dealers offer 1000, 1500 and 500 pesos only. Juan Tomas warns him that he has defied not only the dealers but the whole structure way of life. At the capital, he has no friends or relatives to protect him. Kino insists that his son must have a chance. That very evening Kino is attacked and slashed on his cheek. His shirt is torn and clothes half pulled off. This is done by someone looking to steal the pearl. Surely, Kino’s failure to heed Juana’s advice brings him calamity. (Pg. 17, 68, 72-75, 78-79)
When Kino is attacked outside his brush house, Juana reminds him that the pearl is evil and that they should destroy it before it destroys them. She suggests that they crush it between stones or throw it back away to the sea where it belongs. Kino stubbornly states that he is a man and will not be cheated and that they will have their chance when he sells the pearl at the capital. Juana is afraid because a man can be killed. That night Juana sneaks out with a view of throwing the pearl away. Kino catches her and strikes her on the face with clenched fist and kicks her on the side. He then fights and kills a man who tries to rob him of his Pearl. Juana knows that the old life was gone forever. She had been fighting to rescue the old peace, the happy life of contentment before the pearl. She tells Kino that he had killed a man and they must leave La Paz. Kino’s failure to listen to Juana’s advice leads to unpalatable ramifications.
Lastly, Juan Tomas tries to hint that Kino gets rid of the pearl. He says that there is a devil in the pearl and that Kino should have sold it. He accepts to hide Kino and divert the neighbour’s suspicion but still asks Kino, “You will not give up the pearl?” Juan Tomas knows that the pearl is the cause of Kino’s misfortunes and he suggests subtly that he should give it up. Kino says that the pearl has become his soul and giving it up would mean losing his soul. Instead of giving it up he decides to go to the north and sell it in the cities there as he still harbors ambitions of having a rifle, marrying in church and taking his son to school. On their journey to the north they are pursued by three trackers. The journey is long and harrowing. Unfortunately, Coyotito pays the ultimate price for Kino’s refusal to heed advice. He is shot dead by the trackers. Kino and Juana return to the La Paz with heavy hearts. Failure to heed advice leads to appalling end results.
In conclusion, in order to avoid calamitous ramifications, one must heed good counsel.
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 25
- Racial prejudice and hypocrisy causes misery. Write an essay to validate this statement making reference to John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. (20 marks)
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 26
- One’s own weakness can result in their downfall. Write an essay to validate this statement making reference to John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. (20 mark)
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 27
- Juana’s steadfast spirit makes her the pillar of strength of her family. Write an essay in support of this statement making reference to John Steinbeck’s The Pearl.
Juana is a dependable and devoted member of Kino’s family. Her steadfast loyalty makes her a tower of strength for Kino and the son Coyotito. She is subservient but surprisingly judicious and resolute and these endearing qualities make her the anchor of the family.
When Coyotito is stung by a scorpion Juana, swings into action and saves his life. First, she sucks the poison from the reddened puncture and spits and sucks again while the baby screams in pain. The baby’s screams attract the neighbours. She sucks until the hole enlarges and its edges whiten. She is aware that the poison could easily kill the baby. The sucking helps to relieve Coyotito’s pain and the screams turn into moans. Later on she collects some brown seaweed and makes a flat damp poultice and applies it to Coyotito’s shoulder. This was a good cure and could be better than the doctors remedy. The symptoms of the scorpion sting like swelling, fever, tightened throat and cramps are worrying but luckily cramps do not come to Coyotito. Finally the poison recedes from Coyotito’s body and the swelling goes out of his shoulder. Juana’s unwavering empirical actions save her son’s life.
Juana surprises Kino when she demands that they go to the doctor. He had wondered often at the iron in his patient fragile wife. She is respectful and cheerful but could stand fatigue and hunger better than Kino himself. He is surprised when she demands for the doctor. Everyone knows that the doctor does not come to the cluster of brush houses. He prefers prefer treating the rich who live in stone and plaster houses in town. To want him is wonderful, but to get him would be remarkable. The people in the yard, those at the door and Kino tell Juana that the doctor won’t come. She uncompromisingly demands that they go to him. She covers the baby to protect him from light and together with Kino they lead the procession to the doctor’s house. She had sucked the poison out but she is still worried because Coyotito is his first baby-almost everything that was in her world. When the doctor turns them down and everyone else leaves she stays at his gate with Kino for a long time. Juana’s determination makes the music of his family jovial in Kino’s head with a steely tone.
When a thief a thief tries to steal Kino’s pearl while he sleeps, he hurts his head while fighting the intruder. He could feel warm blood down his forehead. Juana uses her shawl to swab the blood from his bruised forehead. She astutely warns Kino that the Pearl is evil. She equates it to a sin that will destroy them. She asks Kino to throw it away, break it between stones, bury it or throw it back to the sea. Kino is adamant because he wants his son to go to school but Juana knows that it would destroy even their son. When Kino fails to sell the Pearl Juana is worried. She knows the only help she can offer is being near him and being silent. Kino is attacked a second time and is slashed from his ear to chin. She wipes his face and offers him a pulque to drink and reiterates that the Pearl is evil and will destroy the family. Kino foolishly asserts that he is a man. Juana prudently tells Kino that a man can be killed. Juana is clearly determined to save her family but Kino is blinded by limitless desire.
Juana is indeed an unrelenting woman. Her steadfast spirit is evident when she grows tired of Kino’s obstinate inaction. She decides to secretly throw the Pearl herself. This is because the Pearl has caused fear and brought enemies who were inflicting physical and emotional agony to her family. Kino catches her just in time and hits her on the face with a clenched fist. He kicks her on the side when she falls among the boulders. He hisses at her like a snake but she stares at him with wide unfrightened eyes. Even after he attacks her she remains rational. There’s no anger in her for Kino. Her quality of woman would cut through Kino’s manness and save them. Juana resolutely fights to protect her family.
Juana advises Kino to flee from La Paz after he kills a man. She fights bitterly to rescue the old peace but she is wise enough to know that it’s futile now. Kino says did it in self defence but she tells him that no one would buy his account. He concedes. They head north together. She sticks by his side to the bitter end. The trek is tedious but Juana’s steadfastness gives Kino strength. Juana’s mouth is swollen where Kino hit her; her ankles are cut and scratched by stones and brushes but she sits unflinchingly like a sentinel. She dissuades Kino from splitting up with them when he suggests they go to Loreto or Santa Rosalia and when he offers to let the trackers take him. She says the trackers would still kill them. Kino yields to her unwavering goading. She also advises him to remove the white clothes when he wills to attack the trackers. After Coyotito is killed, she walks with Kino walking side to side.
To sum up, Juana is surely the pillar of strength in Kino’s family. She unrelentingly tries to control Kino’s excessive desire that eventually proves destructive when he does not heed her sagacious.
Read more on Juana as a voice of reason in The Pearl.
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 28
- “The greedy indulge in vices that cause suffering to the victims around them.” Using illustrations from Steinbeck’s The Pearl, write an essay in support of this statement.
People with unchecked material desires often commit bad deeds that cause pain and misery to those around them. Some characters such as Kino and the doctor in John Steinbeck’s The Pearl are greed and thus cause suffering around them as my essay illustrates.
The doctor refuses to cure Coyotito but he gets greedy when Kino finds the pearl of the world and now wants to attend to Coyotito. The Doctor is a man of fine tastes and he thinks of the pleasures he experienced while in France. When Coyotito is stung, he is rushed to the doctor who after seeing the ugly valueless pearls from Kino asks the servant to dismiss them. When he hears of Kino’s new pearl he rethinks of Paris and imagines how he can benefit. He leaves the old woman he is attending to as he now wants to attend to Coyotito. He first poisons the already healing Coyotito leaving him to suffer as his face was flushed, throat was working, and drooled saliva and the spasm of the stomach muscles began. He later comes back to treat Coyotito and immediately asks for payment as he knows about the pearl. He makes Coyotito to suffer all because he was greedy for the pearl and its proceeds.
Kino’s greed for the pearl is clear as he hopes to buy a harpoon, rifle, new clothes, take Coyotito to school and have a church wedding as soon as he sells the pearl. As he is possession of the pearl, mishaps start happening to him. First, Coyotito is poisoned by the doctor, then there is an attempted robbery and he is also attacked outside his hut. Juana notices these events and advices Kino to do away with the pearl by crushing it between two stones or throwing it back to the sea or forget it altogether. Her pleas fall on deaf ears as Kino blatantly refuses to act on her advice. Juana decides to steal the pearl and toss it back to the sea herself and this makes her suffer as a result of Kino’s greed. Kino follows her to the sea and physically assaults her, he struck her face and as she was on the bank, he kicked her side leaving her aching. Because of Kino’s greed, Juana suffers as he beats her up and leaves her bruised.
The attackers also were greedy for the pearl and end up hurting Kino in the process. From the onset of the pearl’s discovery, the neighbors also coveted Kino’s find. Kino’s pearl went into the needs, the lust, the speculations and the hungers of everyone and he became curiously every man’s enemy. It was only a matter of time and they would start to want the pearl for themselves. After the doctor’s visit, there is an attempted robbery, the second comes on the day he failed to sell the pearl when he is attacked outside his hut and had a bleeding scalp and a deep cut on his chin. He is also ambushed on the night he beats up Juana and greedy fingers ransacked him for the pearl and here Kino commits his first murder. Besides the physical harm, Kino’s hut is burned down and his canoe punctured to hinder his movement. Greed for the pearl turns his neighbor’s vicious and they make Kino suffer as they also wanted the pearl to themselves.
Lastly, the trackers kill little Coyotito as they also wanted the pearl for themselves. As Kino was heading to the capital, three men follow him through the terrain for days while in pursuit of the pearl. They do the assignment keenly as they did not want Kino to get away with the pearl. Kino tells Juana that even if they were to find the pearl with them, they would still kill them and Coyotito too. The trackers force Kino and Juana to hide in a cave and endure rough terrain in a bid to shake them off. While in their hideout, Coyotito let out a cry and the trackers assume that the cry is from a coyote and the one with a gun shot towards the sound and thus killing Coyotito. Kino ends up killing the three men but the damage had been done already, the life of his dear son had been lost. As a result of Kino’s greed, Coyotito is killed and this proves his intentions futile as they throw the pearl back to the sea.
In conclusion, greed is a vice that if unchecked can lead to pain and even death.
THE PEARL ESSAY QUESTION 29
- Opportunistic individuals rarely succeed. Citing illustrations from The Pearl by John Steinbeck, write a composition to validate the assertion.
It is good to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. However, opportunism based on greed is fruitless. Taking advantage of others for selfish gain does not pay off. Characters like the priest, the doctor, the dealers and the trackers try to exploit Kino for his pearl but they fail.
The priest tries to subtly exploit Kino for his pearl. He visits Kino at his brush wood hut hoping to benefit from the pearl. When he hears the news about Kino’s pearl, he wonders whether he has baptized Coyotito or married Kino in church. Those issues did not bother him before Kino got lucky. He does not really care about Kino and his child but about certain repairs necessary to the church. When walking in his garden, he thinks about the pearl’s worth. He takes advantage of Kino’s ignorance and tells him that he is named after a great man and a great Father of the church who tamed the desert and sweetened the mind of his people. He refers to Kino’s pearl as a fortune and is astonished by its size and beauty. With a view of exploiting him, he reminds Kino to give thanks for his treasure. His opportunism does not pay off since he does not get any proceeds from the pearl. Opportunists rarely succeed.
Secondly the doctor takes pain in an effort to benefit from Kino’s pearl but he too fails miserably. When he gets wind of Kino’s pearl, he immediately imagines how he may profit from it. He pictures himself in a restraunt in Paris with a bottle of wine. Earlier that morning he had refused to treat Kino’s baby for a scorpion sting claiming he is not a veterinary who treats ‘little Indians’ for insect bites. The reason for his contempt is that the Indians are poor. When Juana wants the doctor everyone knows he would not come since he prefers treating the rich dwellers of the stone and plaster houses in town. Now, the doctor says Kino is his client and he is treating his child for a scorpion sting. He goes as far ad poisoning Coyotito with some white powder in order to reap maximum benefits. The baby becomes very sick-he vomits and writhes in pain. The doctor then administers three drops of ammonia in water to “cure” him. He then asks Kino about payment, acting oblivious of the pearl. When Kino mentions the pearl, he offers to keep it for him in a safe and quips that it may be stolen before Kino could sell it. A thief tries to steal it later that night but fails. The greedy doctor fails in his bid to take advantage of Kino and his pearl.
The trackers also fail in their attempt to reap what they did not sow. When Kino fails to sell his pearl in La Paz he decides to try his luck in the cities at the north. When heading there, he realizes that they are being pursued by three callous trackers. He knows that the inland hunters are hunting him. He is gripped with fear. He feels helpless and hopeless. He even suggests that he lets them take him in order to save Juana and Coyotito. Juana knows that the three trackers, two on foot and one on a horse with a rifle, would kill Kino in order to gain from the pearl. Try as they may, they fail to get the pearl and instead Kino manages to fight and kill all of them. Surely, opportunism does not pay.
Lastly, the scheming pearl buyers fail to profit from Kino’s pearl. When they hear about Kino’s pearl, they plan to get it at the lowest price but act like they would give him the best possible price. They hope to get capital from Kino’s pearl since they aspire to take the position of the patron who has employed them. Juan Tomas cautions his brother Kino to see that the pearl dealers do not cheat him. The dealers wait eagerly for Kino’s arrival. Their greatest joy is buying pearls at the lowest price. The stout dealer appears fatherly and benign but is an opportunistic schemer. He feigns ignorance about Kino’s pearl yet all along he plans to cheat him out of it. He says that the pearl is akin to fool’s gold. It is a large and clumsy curiosity that can only be taken to a museum. He offers a thousand pesos which he later revises to fifteen hundred. The first dealer calls it a monstrosity. The second dealer says this pearl is soft and chalky and better pearls are made of paste. They both make no offer. The third one says he could sell it for six hundred and offers five hundred pesos. When Kino figures out that they plan to cheat him, he decides his pearl is not for sale there. He will sell it at the capital. Some of the neighbours wonder if the dealers had schemed and if they have been cheated their whole life. The dealers fail to convince Kino to sell his pearl to them. They embody opportunistic individuals who hardly succeed.
In conclusion, opportunism rarely pays off. Individuals in the pearl that try to take advantage of Kino’s ignorance and poverty for their selfish gains do not profit from their malice and expediency.
