The Pearl

The narrator says that The Pearl is a parable, which is a simple story that teaches a moral or lesson. What morals or lessons might Kino’s people derive from the story? Do those morals and lessons differ from the ones Steinbeck intends readers to take from it?

Consider dialogue within The Pearl. Though Kino and his people speak an unidentified “old language,” the dialogue is recorded in English. What tone and style does Steinbeck adopt for the dialogue, and how does it influence your perception of the characters and events?

Kino is named after Eusebio Kino, a Jesuit priest who explored Baja California, where La Paz is located. Research Eusebio Kino’s life. Can you identify any parallels between Eusebio Kino and Kino the pearl diver? How about discontinuities?

Throughout most of the narrative, Kino and Juana largely conform to the gender roles expected and assigned to them culturally, and they view their relationship as a complementary fusion of masculine and feminine characteristics. How does the novella’s ending ultimately affirm, undercut, or redefine their relationship?

Analyze the words and images Steinbeck uses to describe the pearl; what are their connotations, and what tone do they establish?

Kino and Juana occasionally discuss or think about various superstitious beliefs related to fate, luck, and even divine favor or disfavor. What role do these beliefs play in these characters’ lives, and in the narrative?

The narrator notes the actions and attitudes of various people who observe the action of the narrative without participating directly, such as the neighbors and the people who beg for money. What is the thematic significance of these characters?

Who is the antagonist in The Pearl, and what is the central conflict? How is that conflict ultimately resolved?