THE PEARL By John Steinbeck

INTRODUCTION  John Steinbeck was a social activist. He became the voice of the poor and the oppressed, people who had no one to speak for them.  Parable – a brief story, usually with human characters, that is told to teach a lesson.  Steinbeck wrote: “If this story is a parable, perhaps everyone takes his own meaning from it and reads his own life into it.” In other words, “The Pearl” will mean something different to each of you.

ANTICIPATION GUIDE AGREE OR DISAGREE 1. Human wishes tend to be in vain. 2. Nature should be left undisturbed. 3. When the natural order of things is disturbed, the result is disastrous. 4. Those who lack education are often taken advantage of. 5. Parents make selfish choices for their children. 6. Power generally corrupts those who have it. 7. Evil breeds more evil. 8. Family members generally understand and look out for each other. 9. Greed can make a person unrecognizable to those who love them. 10. Playing with fate yields positive consequences.

STEINBECK AND THE PARABLE  Steinbeck hinted that The Pearl is both symbolic and literal. In other words, the story can be about the struggles of the poor or how sudden wealth can change everything for any family. It is can also be seen as simply the story about one family.  The symbolic meaning of the story may differ from reader to reader.  The story is more than just a plot (this happened and this and then this).  The reader needs to understand that there is meaning below the surface of the story.

THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN  Jesus answered, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he travelled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, 'Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.' Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbour to him who fell among the robbers?" He said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE  There once was a speedy hare who bragged about how fast he could run. Tired of hearing him boast, Slow and Steady, the tortoise, challenged him to a race. All the animals in the forest gathered to watch. Hare ran down the road for a while and then and paused to rest. He looked back at Slow and Steady and cried out, "How do you expect to win this race when you are walking along at your slow, slow pace?" Hare stretched himself out alongside the road and fell asleep, thinking, "There is plenty of time to relax." Slow and Steady walked and walked. He never, ever stopped until he came to the finish line. The animals who were watching cheered so loudly for Tortoise, they woke up Hare. Hare stretched and yawned and began to run again, but it was too late. Tortoise was over the line. After that, Hare always reminded himself, "Don't brag about your lightning pace, for Slow and Steady won the race!"

SOURCES  Parable of the Pearl of Great Price  Steinbeck wrote The Pearl based on his personal convictions, and based the story on the biblical parable of a “pearl of great price.” In this story, a jewel for which the merchant trades everything he owns becomes the metaphor for Heaven. Everything in the merchant's earthly existence, however, becomes worthless when compared to the joys of living with God in Heaven. However, Steinbeck uses the parable as a meditation on the American dream of success. Steinbeck, who himself had risen quickly to prosperity, explores how Kino, the protagonist of The Pearl, deals with his newfound prominence in the community and riches.  Matthew 13: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

SOURCES  The Legend of El Mechudo  The story of a young man who finds a very valuable pearl and what happens as a result.

HISTORY  In the 16 th century the Spanish landed in Mexico and overthrew the Aztecs.  The Spaniards enslaved the native people of the area.  Today, these people are not slaves but they make up the underclass of Mexican society.  The descendants of the Spanish conquerors are still richer and more powerful than the rest of the population. They make up the ruling class of Mexico.

SOCIAL CLASSES OF MEXICAN CULTURE  The doctor, the priest, and the pearl buyers are all of Spanish descent (upper class).  Kino and his family practice the Catholic religion, but still hold onto their belief in the pagan gods.  The upper class looks down on the poor native people because of their beliefs, their race, and their poverty.

CHARACTERS AND OBJECTS  The characters are also symbols used to show meaning and teach a lesson.  Kino  Juana  Coyotito  the doctor  the pearl-buyers  the priest  The Song of the Pearl/The Song of Hope, The Song of the Enemy, The Song of Family