FORMALISTIC ANALYSIS of THE PEARL

Rizal College of Laguna
National Highway, Parian, Calamba City, Laguna

FORMALISTIC ANALYSIS of THE PEARL

In John Steinbeck's The Pearl, a Kino a pearl diver finds a giant pearl with which he hopes to buy peace and happiness for his family. Instead, he learns that the valuable pearl can not buy happiness but only destroy his simple life. Throughout the story, there is a constant theme happens through the characters and setting which set as the struggle among social classes to become successful. 

Kino, the protagonist in The Pearl, is an honest pearl diver that discovers a huge pearl. His sacrifices that come with the struggle for success. He dreams of the education that the pearl could provide for his son, but the pearl also makes Kino more suspicious of the peaceful villagers around him. 

At one point, he tries to sell the pearl in order to pay for a doctor Coyotito needs, but the pearl buyers only try to cheat him of the success he feels he deserves. Then Kino tries to leave the town, but his fear only causes him to shoot Coyotito accidentally. 

The town doctor also demonstrates how the struggle for success can corrupt people. This "healer" is more interested in money than the welfare of others. When Juana comes to ask if he will treat Coyotito's scorpion sting, he promptly sends her away. However, when news of Kino's discovery reaches the doctor, he rushes to the family's grass hut. Once there, he makes Coyotito sick so that he may cure the infant and squeeze a portion of the pearl's wealth from the family.

This disgraceful doctor represents the arrogance of the powerful towards the powerless. 

Coyotito, though only an infant, is also a very important symbol of the struggle for success. An innocent victim of greed, he knows nothing more comforting than the simple life he spends in his wooden crib and in his mother's arms. Yet, the pearl and the possibilities it offers threaten and eventually take his life. Because of his poverty, he is refused treatment for a scorpion sting, and because of his family’s wealth he is made sick by a greedy doctor. 

Finally, the pearl costs little Coyotito his life when Kino accidentally thinks his eyes are those of trackers coming to take the pearl. Through the struggles that Kino faces, he reveals the conflicts between the rich and the poor. Coyotito teaches the reader how innocent bystanders can suffer and the doctor shows what type of people could do such a thing. 

Through this story, Steinbeck informs his reader that wealth and happiness do not always come together, and that being wealthy does not mean everything. Most importantly, he shows that the struggle to become successful can destroy one's initial dreams. Kino finally realizes the worthlessness of the pearl after Coyotito's death.