Collect books, like precious pearls
When it comes to reading, I can tend to be “the bigger, the better” type reader. I search for thick novels, dive headfirst into fantasy worlds, and am never dissuaded by the word trilogy (or better yet, series).
But recently I was reminded of how the right story can come in very small shapes and sizes when a thin, little book came my way and was packing a surprisingly large punch.
“The Pearl” by John Steinbeck (Penguin Books; First Edition (April 6, 2000, 90 pages) is a novella based on an old Mexican folktale, one that was popular in the Big Sur region of California, where much of Steinbeck’s works found inspiration. That old, mythical spirit lingers in his writing and it reads much as a fairytale would. As all traditional tales do, the deepest, most complex parts of the human condition get conveyed through simple means: straightforward characters, minimal dialogue or clear motives. Despite the lack of plot twists or embellished portraits, “The Pearl” captures the attention and keeps it hooked for its beauty, sorrow and wonder.
It begins with Kino, a pearl fisherman, who lives contentedly and joyfully in poverty with his wife, Juana, and their baby, Coyotito. One fateful morning, they spot a scorpion crawling down the rope from which Coyotito’s crib is hanging and before either parent can divert this misfortune, the scorpion stings the baby. Immediately, they rush the baby to town in the hopes of receiving help from the doctor. However, those are quickly thwarted when the doctor makes his bigoted dislike clear. Kino and Juana are on their own. Juana uses home remedies and natural balms to heal the scorpion sting. Meanwhile, Kino is determinedly fishing for pearls, desperately hoping to find one magnificent enough to procure a large sum of money. Money, he knows, will easily buy medical help from the doctor.
Sure enough, Kino finds this “Pearl of the World,” as everyone calls it, spreading the word rapidly and rampantly. Dreams of a greater future ensue. Kino envisions a wedding for Juana and him, finally with the funds to give to the church to bless their marriage. Coyotito will be able to attend school and learn to read and write. All of them will have new clothes and Kino himself may even be able to get a rifle. As Kino continues to imagine all of the good this pearl could bring, they begin to solidify as goals – no longer just idealistic or wishful dreams. He grows intent on making them a reality while the rest of the town grows jealous.
Envy and greed bubble up and the duplicitous nature brought on by avarice takes over most everyone. In particular, the doctor makes a reappearance at the sound of the pearl’s size, suddenly concerned and altruistic to them. His treatment is doubtful in its effectiveness but he fearmongers Kino and Juana into believing him, of course, at a price once Kino sells his pearl. The next day, Kino heads into town to the pearl-buyers. But unbeknownst to him or his indigenous fishing community, they are a bunch of cons and have already planned ahead to downplay the value of the pearl and offer a low price for it, despite it being a very large and costly specimen. Fortunately, Kino doesn’t fall for their tricks. Unfortunately, it leads to a string of thieves showing up in the night searching for the pearl. Juana begins to worry that the pearl is cursed and begs Kino to get rid of it, but Kino already has his heart set on a better future for his family.
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Where the theme of good and evil are riddled throughout, Steinbeck employs a unique and creative technique. Kino interiorly hears the music of the characters indicating who is good and honest, and who is not. Those characters who are simply out to trick, con, or rob Kino always have an unsettling and wicked sound to them. Interestingly enough, they lack names as well and are only referred to by their title, like “the Doctor.” Another major theme to this story is family, and a father’s perseverance to provide and protect his own. This is one of the reasons I struggle to attribute the vices of greed to Kino. While he and the envious characters share a desire for the money the pearl can bring, Kino only wants it for the sake of his family. His actions throughout the entire novella, while perhaps not perfect, are always aimed towards what would be best for them.
As short as this novella is, it gives the reader plenty to ponder and discuss. What the pearl represents and why, I’ll let you consider on your own. So far, I’ve found it to be quite the contentious point among those who have read it. What this book lacks in size, it makes up for with substance; and given how short it is, it should be no problem to find a book buddy who’ll read it as well so you can argue the meaning too.
(Anna Barren is elementary school teacher and a lover of books. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)
