Appearance Versus Reality In The Pearl Essay

, Research Paper

Thesis: In The Pearl, John Steinbeck depicts the theme of appearance versus reality, as he explores Kino s journey through life with the pearl of the world in his possession.

I. Allegory

A. What is it?

1. A term used when an author talks of one

thing, and thereby conveys another

2. Steinbeck ties it in with realism

B. How does it tie in with the story?

1. Steinbeck stated, That the pearl is not

totally in realistic tradition.

2. He takes a simple object and puts so much

detail into it that the object is not

materialistic.

II. Realistic Detail

A. Embellishes Allegory

1. Steinbeck always adds his touch

a. The tide pool description in chapter 2

b. The great wind passages at the end of

chapter 5

- These passages operate symbolically

as well as realistically

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- Some work together allegorically

2. Symbolism, allegory, and realistic detail

a. Animal imagery dominates the human

scene

b. Woven satisfactorily together

III. Kino s Strength

A. Proved that he cannot be cheated nor destroyed

B. Heights to which he has risen rather than the

depths to which he has slipped back

IV. Kino s Journey s

A. Search for Salvation

1. His desire for a better life

2. Cloaked in the mystery and darkness

B. Kino s strengths out of suffering

1. Triumphed over his enemy but only because

the death of his son inspired him

2. Kino s purpose to keep the pearl was to

make a better life for his son, but now

that Coyotito is gone, the pearl is going

too

V. Why does Steinbeck add realism to the story?

A. Essential to the overlay his primary media of

parable and folklore with the coat of realism

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B. Animal Imagery pervades this novel with the

realistic detail that becomes one of its

strengths

In The Pearl, John Steinbeck depicts the theme of appearance versus reality, as he explores Kino s journey through life with the pearl of the world in his possession. The Pearl is a simple, lyrical tale which Steinbeck called a black and white story like a parable. (Bloom 27) It is a parable about the search for happiness and the nature of [a] man s need to choose between the inherently benign natural life and the frantic, self-oriented modern world. (27) When the novel first began, Kino, his wife Juana, and his son Coyotito, were a normal Indian family. What they did not know was that a tiny pearl that was discovered by Kino would change their lives forever.

Kino is a poor but mildly satisfied pearl fisherman. (28) A devoted husband and father, his song is the Song of Family. (28) Before Kino found the Pearl of the World his whole life was his family. After discovering the pearl, without even realizing it, his priorities shifted. Gradually, the Song of the Pearl merges with The Song of Family. (28) Kino sees the pearl as a chance to develop a better life for him and his family. He will begin to question the institutions that have kept him primitive: medicine, the church, the pearl industry, and the government. (Davis 153) Kino sees the great pearl as providing the opportunity to pay for a church

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wedding, new clothes, and a rifle [and an education for his son.] (French 128) All of these needs show that Kino is no longer singing The Song of Family in his head. He is now more concerned with The Song of The Pearl. Kino looks down into the surface of his fabulous pearl and forms misty, insubstantial dreams that will never come true. (Bloom 29) The word spread around town about Kino s pearl, and the people of La Paz become envious. All of a sudden people who never had anything to do with Kino, wanted to know everything about him. When Kino [found] his great pearl, the organism of the town stir[red] to life, and an interest develop[ed] in Kino. (29) The pearl was not always a good thing for Kino and his family. It turns out to be more bad than good. The pearl could bring the family everything that it could ever want, but it also placed a sense of danger among their household. The [pearl dealer] belittled the jewel thinking [he would] get it for little profit. (Swisher 95) As attempts made first to cheat him of his wealth and later to steal his pearl, The Song of The Pearl became a Song of Evil, as Kino fought to save himself, his family, and his new found wealth. (Bloom 30) In order for Kino to save these three things he had to gather his wife and son and leave his hometown of La Paz due to the violence that was being directed towards him. Before he knew

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it, Kino had lost his boat that had been passes down from generation to generation, his canoe, and eventually his son. Kino is now even poorer than he was before he found the Pearl of the World. Therefore, this tiny little object has caused him more pain and suffering than happiness.

Steinbeck is a master in supplying realistic detail. (Davis 153) It is amazing how he took this one object and put so much meaning into it. His description of the natural world is so handled as to double and treble duty in enrichmen

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