1. The Pearl
By John Steinbeck

5. What is an allegory? An allegory is an extended metaphor
A story where plot and characters are used to highlight aspects of human existence.

6. The Pearl is a parable. A parable is a brief allegory
that is used to teach
a moral lesson or a
universal truth and deep
lessons about humanity.

7. Ask yourself…
Considering the characters and the action (plot line) in the story, what lesson or moral do you think the author tried to teach?

8. Symbolism in the story...

9. Literal Symbolic of Explanation:
The Doctor
greed & evil
He has the bower to heal, but chooses to promote illness and ignorance. Uses his "power" for evil.
Examples from the story:

10. Literal Symbolic of Explanation:
Priest
hypocrisy
He is a "man of God "and should be working to teach and help the poor, but he does the opposite. He talks the talk, but doesn't walk the walk.
Examples from the story:

11. Society’s business practices
Literal
Symbolic of
Explanation:
Pearl dealers
Colonial life-
Society’s business practices
They play on Kino's ignorance to make a profit. Use cunning and trickery to make a profit.
Examples from the story:

12. Examples from the story:
Literal
Symbolic of
Explanation:
Kino's dreams
ambition
Within the oppressed, there is a desire for more. They need courage to fight for it. They risk all when they do fight for more.
Examples from the story:

13. She is always looking out for what is best for her family.
Literal
Symbolic of
Explanation:
Juana
motherhood
She is always looking out for what is best for her family.
Examples from the story:

14. Literal Symbolic of Explanation:
Coyotito
Innocence
The innocent are often victims at the hands of society. Society has a responsibility to keep them safe and healthy.
Examples from the story:

15. Literal Symbolic of … Explanation:
Brush Houses
Lower class, ignorant & savage
Different types of
houses represent
different social classes.
Examples from the story:

16. Literal Symbolic of … Explanation:
Stone and plaster houses
Upper class, educated & refined
Different types of
houses represent
different social classes.
Examples from the story:

17. Kino’s inner voice, intuition, conscience
Literal
Symbolic of …
Explanation:
Music
Kino’s inner voice, intuition, conscience
Most of the songs are in Kino’s head. They come from his soul. They are a part of him. Often, when he “listens” to them, his life is good, when he ignores them, bad things happen.
Examples from the story:

18. How the Symbolism of
the Pearl changes...

19. The scorpion is a symbol of evil
The scorpion is a symbol of evil. The bite of the greedy townspeople are worse than that of the real scorpion.
the pearl
the scorpion
The pearl is a symbol of
dreams, hope, desire and
also materialism.

20. Meaning of the pearl here:
Chapter & page:
Quote:
Meaning of the pearl here:
Chapter one, pg. 701
Quote: "Eight, small, misshapen seed pearls, as ugly and gray as little ulcers, flattened and almost valueless."
Symbolizes the value of the native Indian people to the larger community after colonization by Spain.

21. Meaning of the pearl here:
Chapter & page:
Quote:
Meaning of the pearl here:
Chapter two, pg. 705
"It captured the light and refined it and gave it back in silver incandescence …large as a seagull's egg…its curve was perfect." " But pearls were accidents and the finding of one was luck, a little pat on the back by God or the gods, or both."
The giant pearl symbolizes wealth, health, and a mystical power of some kind.
What does this reveal?

22. Meaning of the pearl here:
Chapter & page:
Quote:
Meaning of the pearl here:
Chapter 3, pg 714 
Juana says, “ The pearl is like a sin! It will destroy us.”
Kino says, “this is our chance…our son must go to school. He must break us out of the pot that holds us in.”
Juana thinks the pearl is a threat to their family’s safety.
Kino thinks the pearl is their key to rising up in the ranks of society.
What does this reveal?

23. Meaning of the pearl here:
Chapter & page:
Quote:
Meaning of the pearl here:
Chapter 4, pg. 719 
The priest tells a sermon that says, “The loss of the pearl was a punishment visited on those who tried to leave their station.”  
The pearl symbolizes what might be, but those who are too ambitious will have their value stripped away and will have to return to the “old ways.”  
What does this reveal?

24. Chapter & page: Quote: Meaning of the pearl:
Chapter 4, pg 725 
Juana says, “ Kino, this pearl is evil. Let us destroy it before it destroys us.”
Kino says, “No, I will fight this thing. I will win over it. We will have our chance… No one shall take our good fortune from us.”
Juana sees the pearl as a powerful token of evil that threatens her family’s well being.
Kino sees the pearl as a token of good luck, and if he tries hard enough they will prosper from it.
What does this reveal?

25. The pearl can divide husband and wife. It turns good men into savages.
Chapter & page:
Quote:
Meaning of the pearl:
Chapter 5, pg. 726 
Pg. 729
“Her arm was up to throw when he leaped at her and caught her arm and wrenched the pearl from her.”
Juan Thomas says, “There is a devil in this pearl. You should have sold it and passed on the devil. Perhaps you can still sell it and buy peace for yourself”
The pearl can divide husband and wife. It turns good men into savages.  
Is the pearl a blessing from ‘God or the gods’ or an illusion. Is it really an instrument of the devil?

26. Meaning of the pearl here:
Chapter & page:
Quote:
Meaning of the pearl here:
Chapter 5, pg. 730  
“This pearl has become my soul…if I give it up I shall lose my soul.”
The pearl is the key to reach all of Kino’s dreams. In an effort to achieve these dreams, he has lost his soul to the sins of greed, murder and lust, so there is no going back now.  
What does this reveal?

27. The pearl has now become a “cancer” on the soul of humanity.
Chapter & page:
Quote:
Meaning of the pearl:
Chapter 6, pg. 741 
Kino held the great pearl in his hand. He looked into its surface and it was gray an ulcerous. Evil faces peered from it into his eyes, and he saw the light of burning. And in the surface of the pearl he saw the frantic eyes of the man in the pool. And in the surface of the pearl he saw Coyotito lying the little cave with the top of his head shot away. And the pearl was ugly; it was gray like a malignant growth. And Kino heard the music of the pearl, distorted and insane.
The pearl has now become a “cancer” on the soul of humanity.
It made men crazy with greed and caused them to do unthinkable evil things.

28. Themes in the story...

29. wealth
Wealth brings evil.
people
People are not always what they seem
In human nature there always lies the
dark and ugly side (greed, snobbery,
deceit, betrayal etc.).
human
nature
evil
Evil can take on many forms
Changes to society and social status do not come easily, but at a great cost.
oppression

30. Wealth brings evil.
Explanation
Example from story

31. People are not always what they seem
Explanation
Example from story

32. In human nature there always lies the dark and ugly side
Explanation
Example from story

33. Evil can take on many forms
Explanation
Example from story

34. Ignorance leads to oppression, but knowledge doesn’t always result in good
Explanation
Example from story

36. The Pearl
By John Steinbeck