THE PEARL summarization

 


THE PEARL

John Steinbeck


  The Pearl is based on an old Mexican story that tells about how the simple life of Kino, an Indian pearl diver, changes almost as soon as he discovers the most wonderful pearl in the world. What he considers a cherished possession that would one day make his dreams come true and provide him and his family some comfort becomes the cause of his alienation, misfortune, and grief instead. The story ends with a tragic death of Kino’s infant son. Kino soon discovers “that the rare gem is instead a conveyor, envy, and ultimate death”. An ant lion appears early in the story as a reminder of nature’s struggle of life and death, and perhaps to presage Kino’sown struggle:


  He realizes that the pearl has lost its value and as he throws it back to the sea he and his wife begin to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives”.