The PearlThe Pearl

By: John SteinbeckBy: John Steinbeck

Author BackgroundAuthor Background

John SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck

• In his very short preface to the novel, In his very short preface to the novel, John Steinbeck wrote: “If this story is a John Steinbeck wrote: “If this story is a parable, perhaps everyone takes his parable, perhaps everyone takes his own meaning from it and reads his own meaning from it and reads his own life into it.” (Pg. 1)own life into it.” (Pg. 1)

• The reader should understand there is The reader should understand there is more to more to The PearlThe Pearl than simply the than simply the plot.plot.

Author continued - Author continued - • Born in Salinas, California in 1902Born in Salinas, California in 1902

• Grew up as an intense readerGrew up as an intense reader

• Lived on the Pacific coastLived on the Pacific coast

• Studied literature & writing at StanfordStudied literature & writing at Stanford

• Did not graduate with a college degreeDid not graduate with a college degree

• Worked as a journalistWorked as a journalist

• First attempts were failuresFirst attempts were failures

• Tortilla FlatTortilla Flat was first commercial success was first commercial success (1935)(1935)

• A collection of short stories about the ethnic A collection of short stories about the ethnic working poor in Californiaworking poor in California

Steinbeck continued…Steinbeck continued…

• Traveled extensivelyTraveled extensively• Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men (1937) and (1937) and The The

Grapes of Wrath Grapes of Wrath (1939) are two of his (1939) are two of his finest works – both set in the Great finest works – both set in the Great Depression.Depression.

• The PearlThe Pearl originally appeared in originally appeared in Woman’s Home CompanionWoman’s Home Companion (magazine) (magazine) under the title “The Pearl of the World.”under the title “The Pearl of the World.”

• The PearlThe Pearl ranks among his most ranks among his most popular works.popular works.

• Received the Nobel Prize for Literature Received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962.in 1962.

Major InfluencesMajor Influences

• The Great Depression (1933)The Great Depression (1933)The stock market crashedThe stock market crashedLeft millions of people without jobs, no Left millions of people without jobs, no

food, and no electricityfood, and no electricity• World War II (ended 1945)World War II (ended 1945)Allies and Axis powers Allies and Axis powers After Allies won the war, dictatorships and After Allies won the war, dictatorships and

communist countries were looked down communist countries were looked down onon

Communist IdeasCommunist Ideas

• Money is distributed evenly Money is distributed evenly throughout the country among all throughout the country among all workers no matter their trade.workers no matter their trade.

• All food grown on farms is collected All food grown on farms is collected by the government and distributed by the government and distributed evenly throughout the countryevenly throughout the country

• No one owns their own landNo one owns their own land

The PearlThe Pearl

• Parable – a brief story or tale that Parable – a brief story or tale that illustrates a moral or life lesson. illustrates a moral or life lesson.

• Examples -Examples - Biblical parablesBiblical parables

Buddhist parablesBuddhist parables

Chinese parablesChinese parables

Nature parablesNature parables

The PearlThe Pearl

• Setting :Setting :

• Where - a Mexican village on the Where - a Mexican village on the Baja Peninsula Baja Peninsula

• When – uncertain exactly; late 19When – uncertain exactly; late 19thth or or early 20early 20thth century century

Characters:Characters:• Kino – the protagonistKino – the protagonist

– A simple characterA simple character– Motivated by simple drives: love of Motivated by simple drives: love of

family, loyalty to the traditions of his family, loyalty to the traditions of his village and his peoplevillage and his people

– Possesses a strong work ethicPossesses a strong work ethic– Feels a close kinship with the natural Feels a close kinship with the natural

worldworld

• Juana – Kino’s wifeJuana – Kino’s wife– More reflective & practical than KinoMore reflective & practical than Kino– Loyal & submissive as her culture Loyal & submissive as her culture

dictates but she does not always agree dictates but she does not always agree with her husband’s actionswith her husband’s actions

– Comes to view the pearl as a symbol of Comes to view the pearl as a symbol of evilevil

• The Doctor –The Doctor –– Represents the colonial attitudes that Represents the colonial attitudes that

oppress Kino and his peopleoppress Kino and his people– Embodies the colonists’ greed and Embodies the colonists’ greed and

arrogancearrogance– Only interested in making moneyOnly interested in making money– Has no real respect for the native peopleHas no real respect for the native people– As a physician he is duty-bound to save As a physician he is duty-bound to save

human life – but this doctor feels no human life – but this doctor feels no such dutysuch duty

• While the action in While the action in The PearlThe Pearl is easy to is easy to follow, there is one historical point to keep follow, there is one historical point to keep in mind:in mind:

The Spanish landed in Mexico and The Spanish landed in Mexico and proceeded to enslave the native peoples proceeded to enslave the native peoples who had inhabited the area. While their who had inhabited the area. While their descendents are no longer slaves, the descendents are no longer slaves, the Indians are still the underclass; the Indians are still the underclass; the descendents of the Spanish settlers are the descendents of the Spanish settlers are the richer, more powerful, professional ruling richer, more powerful, professional ruling class. You will note the doctor, priest, and class. You will note the doctor, priest, and the pearl buyers are all of Spanish descent.the pearl buyers are all of Spanish descent.