Blog Entry 10: Book Report & Notes

Symbols

* They always refer in the book to talk about there ancient family as "his people"

*THE PEARL= symbol that awakens greed into the life of a humble hard working couple (Kino,Juana) the pearl can be seen as a symbol of greed, richness, change, evil, a "dream". You can see how an how a "object" can destroy the life of a family

*THE SONGS KINO HEARS= Depending on the mood that Kino is in he hears these songs that are played in his head. He hears a particular song always that corresponds to the feeling he is in. When he is happy with his family in  he hears the (Steinbeck 2) "in Kino's head there was a song now, clear and soft, he called it Song of the Family. When he senses danger, dishonesty, greed by other, violence he hears the Song of Evil.These songs point to the oral nature of Kino’s cultural tradition that were passed on from generation to generation.

He can see how compares from the begging of the book to the end where (Steinbeck 73) the songs changes "the music of the pearl had become sinister in his ears, and it was interwoven with the music of evil"


MAIN CHARACTER KINO= There is a big difference between Juana and Kino, both of these characters symbolize a different state of mind when it comes to there "dream". Kino's ambition drives himself into a selfish world full of violence and greed where he faces two personalities (TWO FACE), even at a point on the book (Steinbeck 56 ) "has Kino gone mad?? He is talking to the pearl!! He stares at the pearl to look for answer and to see his future. He is left with clearly nothing but a dream full of emptiness and  regret, for he is not who he was before.

(Steinbeck 71) Kino lies to Juana about what he sees in there future  "We will be married in a great church" a marriage in a church, and an education for Coyotito. In truth Kino sees a body bleeding on the ground, Juana making her way home through the night after being beaten, and Coyotito’s face swollen as though he were sick.

Juana = she is he sees the truth behind the "pearl", she realizes and makes kino understand that the pearl is just an illusion and if they continue, they will be rob or even die.

*THE SEA= water, movement (it all starts at the sea where Kino and his ancestor have been for years and it all ends there, (Steinbeck 88) where they put Coyotito’s corpse.

 MONOTHYS

We can see how the whole book is based on rush of Monomyths.The rush he must faces everyday to sell the pearl and find the perfect home for his family becomes full of danger for himself and his family. His call for adventure starts as soon as that pearl is in his hand.


Stages of Journey:
 
-Call to Adventure
-The threshold
-The belly of the whale (revelation)
-Transformation
-Return home


Kino - Young Mexican man living on the beach of La Paz in a small hut with his wife, Juana, and son, Coyotito. He values his family deeply and is the main victim of the Pearl throughout the story. (The Hero, Innocent)

Juana - Kino's wife (and Coyotito's mother) who tends to be emotionally stronger than him and sees the truth behind the pearls evil effect on them. (The Great Mother)

Coyotito - The baby of Kino and Juana. Shot and killed at the end when a miss-fire went off from one of the trackers. (The Child)

Juan Tomás - The older and wiser brother to Kino is consistently loyal to his family. One can see his concern for Kino and his pearl. Even though Kino refuses to listen to his concerns and advice, Juan still agrees to help him escape from the people who are after him. He and Kino share simple, unaffected love even in their most difficult times. (The Wise Old Man)

Apolonia - The matronly wife of Juan Tomás and Kino's sister-in-law. After learning that Kino had murdered a thief, she and Juan Tomás both helped Kino and Juana escape the town. Also could be (The Great Mother)

The Priest - When he hears news of the discovery of the Pearl, he reminds Kino to give thanks to God. The priest imagines improvements to the church that could be managed with funds from the pearl. (The Cosmic Man)

The Doctor - Known as "the doctor." He is disliked in the community, especially due to his racism toward the people of the village. He refuses to help Kino's family due his stereotypes toward the native people. He states that he is not a veterinarian, thus, referring to Kino's family as animals. His interest in the family only occurs after he hears of Kino's find of "The Pearl of the World" (The Trickster)

The Trackers - A group of bounty hunters who track down Kino, Coyotito, and Juana in an attempt to steal the pearl.

The Song of the Family - The Song of the Family is a melody that Kino hears when he is happy or in a positive presence. It is an indication of satisfaction or peace. However, he loses this song as the story progresses. As he begins his descent into insanity, consumed by greed and fear, he stops hearing the melody as it transforms into the sounds of war.