English Book Report

I. Introduction/General Information about the Book

• Title: The Pearl

• Author: John Steinbeck

• Type of Book: Legend; Parable

II. Characters

Main Character: Kino

• The main character, Kino, is a young pearl diver. He cares a lot about his family and would do everything and would go to any lengths for them. Kino was easily blinded by the power of the pearl and how it could change their lives for he wanted to create a better environment for his family. He then became greedy, stubborn and he lost sight of his original goal.
•  I can identify with the main character when I'm in the presence of a lot of money. I couldn't help but want more than what is necessary, then I get confused with what I want and what I need.

Supporting Characters:

• Juana is the wife of Kino who also cares a lot about their family. She's an affectionate mother and a supportive and loyal wife. Unlike Kino, she wasn't too influenced by the pearl she just wanted it to pay for their Coyotito's medication; therefore she immediately saw how the pearl was negatively affecting Kino.
• Coyotito is the one and only son of Kino and Juana. He is just an infant but his parent's love and care for him was the force that made them look for the pearl. Most of Kino's ambitions with the pearl concern him and his proper upbringing.
• Juan Tomas is the older brother of Kino. He stands by his brother through thick and thin. Just like Juana, he warned Kino of the problems the pearl could bring him and just like with Juana, his warnings weren't acknowledged. He hid his brother and his family when they were being targeted by their enemies.

III. Setting

The setting is in the poor town of La Paz, Mexico at a time when electricity was not yet discovered, and people depended on nature for their livelihood. The setting plays a big role on the story for La Paz is a poor, coastal town and therefore the livelihood there would be related to the waters. Also, it would make the people there poor and would jump at the opportunity of a better lifestyle.

IV. Plot

• Kino's son, Coyotito was stung by a scorpion.
• The family wasn't able to pay for his medication so they went pearl diving hoping to find a pearl good enough to pay to the expensive doctor, and they did.
• The family went to sell the pearl but wasn't able to sell it because of Kino's dissatisfaction with the amount of money the buyers were willing to pay them for their pearl.
• Kino's house was burned down so they were forced to take refuge in his brother's home until nightfall when they could leave the town unnoticed and go north where they could probably sell the pearl at a higher price.
• Kino finds 3 trackers who are looking for them. The trackers lose track of them the first time but they caught up with them eventually. Kino decides to kill them then for they are vulnerable but before he got to kill them, one of the trackers hear sounds from where Kino's child and wife are hiding and shoots in that direction, killing Coyotito.
• Kino and Juana go back to La Paz and Kino throws the pearl back to the ocean.

V. Theme

• The story is a parable so there is definitely a moral to this story. The moral is that you should be contented with your life, asking for more would bring misfortune and consequences. Do not underestimate the power of money, it could change a person and attract enemies.
• The book showed me why greed is one the seven deadly sins. It would change a person so much and that it would only fill a person's head with greedy thoughts where nothing else matters but getting more and more of something. It also showed me that I should be contented with my life, I should stop asking for things that I want but not necessarily need.

State a problem in the story and how it was solved

         One of the problems of the book is Kino's greed. He wanted to get a lot out of the pearl and wouldn't accept something he normally would accept if he was thinking straight. The problem was only solved when Coyotito was killed and he finally saw how the pearl is destroying his life so he finally threw the pearl back to the ocean.

VI. Evaluation of the Book
         I thought the book was very interesting. I saw how people from a different time and place lived their lives and how they copes with their problems. I like also like it because I can somehow relate to it for I can also be blinded by the thought of money. The book is a good read for someone who can never be satisfied with life.