Pearl Chap 4

The Pearl
Chapter 4
Synopsis1. The town as a living organism
-The town is portrayed as a living organism with a nervous system.
-The whole town knows Kino was selling his pearl that morning.
- Most of all, the news reaches the pearl buyers who conspire and cheat the pearl fishers.
-Everyone were excited about the pearl –most of all were the pearl buyers.
• The second man examined the pearl using a magnifying glass and said ‘better pearls are made of paste’. He let Kino examined the pearl under the glass.
- The third man took the pearl from Kino’s hand and offered 500 pesos for it.
In the evening
- The neighbors had mixed feelings about Kino’s actions and reactions.
- Some thought that Kino should just accept the offer. Some thought that Kino was brave that he wanted to go to the capital to sell the pearl.
- Juan Thomas cautioned Kino about going to the capital. Kino was also thinking and felt frightened, but he decided to do it for his son’s future.
THE SECOND ATTACK
- Kino is fearful of the night sounds as he sits on his sleeping mat.
- Kino suddenly sensing evil outside, goes out with his knife.
- Juana follows with a stone from the fire place.
- That night someone attacked Kino and left a ‘long deep cut’ on his face.
- He was half conscious, his shirt was torn open, someone had tried to pull off his clothes.
- “believe me, I am a man”
- Juana was very worried, she said the pearl was ‘evil’ and wanted Kino to destroy it or throw it back to sea.
- Kino refused. He would fight ‘evil’ and win. He asked Juana to believe him,

Characters
- The good guys…..
Kino
-Illiterate and ignorant
- Capable of feeling strong emotions
- Can become passionate and savage
- Dislike being cheated especially by the pearl buyers
- After discovering the pearl
- Becomes cautious and suspicious of everyone
- Having the pearl sets him apart from society
- Instinct for survival
Juan Thomas
-Kino’s older brother
-Gives advice to Kino
-Wise and cautious
-Helpful and understanding

The pearl buyers
- Many pearls buyers, but
- all of them work under one man
-who has monopoly over the trade (“ there was only one buyer with many hands..”)
-No real competition (“They knew what price they would offer, how high they would bid, and what method each one would use.”)
Cheat Indian pearl divers
-Conspire to cheat Kino
-Four buyers are mentioned
-First buyer- Stout man,fatherly and kind face
- Sociable,cunning and dishonest
- Plays with coins
-Symbols of exploitation,hypocrisy and greed

THEMES

The oppression of the poorer class
-for generations the Mexican Indians have been oppressed by the people of Spanish descent.
-It is hard for a poor man like Kino to break social norms and barriers
Materialism and financial security
-Kino wants to sell the pearl for the best price so that he can have money to buy new clothes and shoes for his family.
-He can have a new harpoon and rifle, and provide Coyotito with a good education.
Greed
-The pearl attacks a host of
greedy people; the doctor,
the priest, the attackers.
-They are willing to poison the child and kill Kino and his family in order to get the pearl.
Hope
-For Kino, the pearl means new life for his family (education for Coyotito, marriage for Juana,
new rifles for Kino)

The beggars hope to get generous alms from the new rich man
- The doctor hopes to re-live his ‘Paris’ experience from the fee.
- The pearl buyers hope to
get good commission
from the sale of the pearl.
Each hopes to sit in the patron’s seat and controls the pearl trade one day.

-The neighbors also hope to realize their dreams through the pearl.