The Pearl
The Pearl
What is a Parable?
What is a Parable?
•
A short simple tale usually about an
A short simple tale usually about an
ordinary or familiar event from which a
ordinary or familiar event from which a
moral or religious lesson is drawn.
moral or religious lesson is drawn.
•
In
In
The Pearl
The Pearl
, the lesson is the basic
, the lesson is the basic
conflict between the nature of good versus
conflict between the nature of good versus
the nature of evil; good may change to
the nature of evil; good may change to
Setting
Setting
•
Primary Setting
Primary Setting
–
Baja California
Baja California
–
Sea of Cortez
Sea of Cortez
•
Kino and Juana live
Kino and Juana live
in a hut on the
in a hut on the
beach
Kino
Kino
•
Pearl Diver
Pearl Diver
•
Husband to Juana
Husband to Juana
•
Father of Coyotito
Father of Coyotito
•
Indian
Indian
•
Ignorant
Ignorant
•
Indigent
Indigent
•
Angry
Angry
What does Kino believe?
What does Kino believe?
•
He believes in
He believes in
traditions set forth by
traditions set forth by
his ancestors
his ancestors
–
“
“
Song of the Family”
Song of the Family”
•
At the beginning of
At the beginning of
the novel he is one
the novel he is one
with nature.
Juana
Juana
•
Wife to Kino
Wife to Kino
•
Mother of Coyotito
Mother of Coyotito
•
Indian
Indian
•
Scared
Scared
•
Loving
Loving
•
Caretaker
Caretaker
•
Ignorant
Ignorant
Inciting Incident
Inciting Incident
•
Coyotito is bitten by a
Coyotito is bitten by a
scorpion
scorpion
–
Song of Evil
Song of Evil
•
Juana sucks out the
Juana sucks out the
poison
poison
•
She wants a doctor to
She wants a doctor to
treat the baby
treat the baby
•
Does not trust her
Does not trust her
“home remedies”
What is a symbol?
What is a symbol?
•
Something that on the surface is its literal self but which
Something that on the surface is its literal self but which
also has another meaning or even several meanings.
also has another meaning or even several meanings.
– For example, a sword may be a sword and also symbolize justiceFor example, a sword may be a sword and also symbolize justice
•
A symbol may be said to embody an idea.
A symbol may be said to embody an idea.
•
There are two general types of symbols:
There are two general types of symbols:
– Universal symbols: embody universally recognizable meanings Universal symbols: embody universally recognizable meanings wherever used
wherever used
•
Such as light to symbolize knowledge, a skull to symbolize deathSuch as light to symbolize knowledge, a skull to symbolize death– Constructed symbols: given symbolic meaning by the way an Constructed symbols: given symbolic meaning by the way an author uses them in a literary work
author uses them in a literary work
Symbols in
Symbols in
The Pearl
The Pearl
: Light
: Light
•
Symbolizes
Symbolizes
goodness
goodness
•
Dawn of a new day
Dawn of a new day
signifies a new
signifies a new
beginning
beginning
Symbols in
Symbols in
The Pearl
The Pearl
: The Scorpion
: The Scorpion
•
Symbolizes evil
Symbolizes evil
–
Song of Evil
Song of Evil
•
Devil image
Devil image
–
(curved horned
(curved horned
tail)
tail)
•
Threat to the
Threat to the
family
Symbols in
Symbols in
The Pearl
The Pearl
: The Gate
: The Gate
•
Symbolizes authority
Symbolizes authority
•
Kino defies authority
Kino defies authority
by hitting the gate
by hitting the gate
•
He is injured by it
He is injured by it
– Kino’s bleeding hand is Kino’s bleeding hand is
foreshadowing the evil that
foreshadowing the evil that
is a result of his defiance of
is a result of his defiance of
authority
Conflict
Conflict
•
A struggle between two
A struggle between two
opposing forces
opposing forces
•
Types of conflict:
Types of conflict:
– Man versus Man (MvM) Man versus Man (MvM)
•
Kino vs DoctorKino vs Doctor– Man versus Nature (MvN) Man versus Nature (MvN)
•
Kino vs ScorpionKino vs Scorpion– Man versus Himself (MvH)Man versus Himself (MvH)
•
Kino vs KinoKino vs Kino– Man versus Society (MvS) Man versus Society (MvS)
•
Kino vs villagers Kino vs villagers•
Kino vs Spanish ruling Kino vs Spanish ruling classThe Pearl
The Pearl
Setting: A Hazy Mirage
Setting: A Hazy Mirage
•
It magnifies some things and It magnifies some things and blots out othersblots out others
•
This is a blending of clarity and This is a blending of clarity and vaguenessvagueness
•
It is a blurring of illusion and It is a blurring of illusion and realityreality
– Theme: Things may not be as Theme: Things may not be as they appear to be
they appear to be
•
Vision cannot be trusted Vision cannot be trusted•
No certainty reflects the No certainty reflects theuncertainty of the future for
uncertainty of the future for
the Indian peasants
the Indian peasants
•
The peasants accept this; it is The peasants accept this; it is a part of their traditionsSymbol: Canoe
Symbol: Canoe
•
Kino’s one item of valueKino’s one item of value•
Sentimental value: the canoe Sentimental value: the canoe was passed down from onewas passed down from one
generation to the next.
generation to the next.
– GrandfatherGrandfatherFatherFatherKinoKino
– It is a part of his heritage.It is a part of his heritage.
•
Economic value: uses it for Economic value: uses it for work.work.
– Kino cannot fish or dive for Kino cannot fish or dive for pearls without his canoe.
pearls without his canoe. – No canoe—No food or money No canoe—No food or money
for his family.
Praying for a Pearl
Praying for a Pearl
•
Juana: Shows greed
Juana: Shows greed
by praying that Kino
by praying that Kino
find a pearl rather
find a pearl rather
than praying for
than praying for
Coyotito’s shoulder to
Coyotito’s shoulder to
be healed.
be healed.
•
She is very loyal and
She is very loyal and
subservient.
Contrast of Two Belief Systems
Contrast of Two Belief Systems
•
Christian: One God
Christian: One God
•
Indian: Many Gods
Indian: Many Gods
•
Kino is a man between
Kino is a man between
these two belief systems
these two belief systems
•
He does not fully accept
He does not fully accept
the Christian God and
the Christian God and
cannot leave the many
cannot leave the many
Indian gods behind
How is a Pearl Formed?
How is a Pearl Formed?
•
A bit of sand gets into the A bit of sand gets into the oyster muscle and irritates it.oyster muscle and irritates it.
•
The oyster shoots a protective The oyster shoots a protective coating similar to cement overcoating similar to cement over
it.
it.
•
It continues to cover the sand It continues to cover the sand with the solution until it formswith the solution until it forms
a pearl.
a pearl.
•
The pearl stays in the oyster The pearl stays in the oyster until it is released in a tidaluntil it is released in a tidal
fury or until the oyster is
fury or until the oyster is
destroyed (by man).
Harvesting Pearls
Harvesting Pearls
•
Pearls are released from the Pearls are released from the oyster by:oyster by:
– a storma storm
– the oyster’s deaththe oyster’s death
•
The divers steal from the The divers steal from the oystersoysters
•
The pearl buyers steal from The pearl buyers steal from the diversthe divers
•
The divers are kept in povertyThe divers are kept in poverty– They are not given a fair price They are not given a fair price for their pearls
for their pearls
– The divers do not know they The divers do not know they are not getting a fair price for
are not getting a fair price for
their pearls
Finding the Pearl
Finding the Pearl
•
Isolation of Kino’s oyster Isolation of Kino’s oyster signifies it is specialsignifies it is special
•
The songs signify the The songs signify theconnection to the ancient
connection to the ancient
Indian beliefs; unity with
Indian beliefs; unity with
nature
nature
– Song of the Pearl that Might Song of the Pearl that Might
– Song of Undersea Song of Undersea
•
The pearl gives off a ghostly The pearl gives off a ghostly gleamgleam
– foreshadowingforeshadowing
•
We associate ghosts with We associate ghosts with death.death.
The Pearl of the World
The Pearl of the World
•
“
“
Kino lifted the flesh,
Kino lifted the flesh,
and there it lay, the
and there it lay, the
great pearl, perfect as
great pearl, perfect as
the moon.” (19)
the moon.” (19)
[simile]
[simile]
•
Moonlight is not
Moonlight is not
perfect; it is illusory,
perfect; it is illusory,
casts shadows
The Miracle of the Pearl
The Miracle of the Pearl
•
“
“
It was as large as a
It was as large as a
seagull’s egg” (19)
seagull’s egg” (19)
•
Associations/Correlations
Associations/Correlations
with finding the pearl
with finding the pearl
– Kino’s hand looks betterKino’s hand looks better
– Coyotito’s swollen shoulder Coyotito’s swollen shoulder is better
is better
•
Kino and Juana believe a
Kino and Juana believe a
miracle has happened as
miracle has happened as
a result of Kino finding
a result of Kino finding
the pearl
What is Theme?
What is Theme?
•
Theme is the common thread or repeated idea
Theme is the common thread or repeated idea
that is incorporated throughout a literary work.
that is incorporated throughout a literary work.
•
A theme is a thought or idea the author presents
A theme is a thought or idea the author presents
to the reader that may be deep, difficult to
to the reader that may be deep, difficult to
understand, or even moralistic.
understand, or even moralistic.
•
Generally, a theme has to be extracted as the
Generally, a theme has to be extracted as the
reader explores the passages of a work.
reader explores the passages of a work.
•
The author utilizes the characters, plot, and
The author utilizes the characters, plot, and
other literary devices to assist the reader in this
other literary devices to assist the reader in this
endeavor
Theme: Greed is Not Good
Theme: Greed is Not Good
•
“
“
It is not good to want a
It is not good to want a
thing too much. It
thing too much. It
sometimes drives the luck
sometimes drives the luck
away. You must want it
away. You must want it
just enough, and you
just enough, and you
must be very tactful with
must be very tactful with
God or the gods.” (18)
God or the gods.” (18)
•
Extreme desire will drive
Extreme desire will drive
away the goodness of the
away the goodness of the
pearl.
pearl.
•
It destroys what is good
It destroys what is good
or what is potentially
or what is potentially
good.
