PLOT Chapter 1&2

1. THE NEW DAY
-Kino and Juana awaken at dawn.
-Juana tends to her fire.
-She prepares a simple breakfast of corn cakes.
-She croons a simple ancient song of her people.
-Kino goes out to survey the morning.

2.THE SCORPION EPISODE

-Juana and Kino saw a scorpion moving down the rope which support the baby’s hammock
- The song of Evil rises in his mind almost drowning the Song of the Family.
- Juana whispers prayers.
- Kino steadily approaches.
- The baby laughs, shakes the rope
- The scorpion falls, stinging the baby’s shoulder.
- Kino destroys the scorpion.
- The neighbours, alarmed by the baby’s screams run to the hunt.
- Juana wants to get a doctor.
- The doctor will not come to a poor home, she decides to take the baby to him.

3.The procession to the doctor’s house

oJuana carries Coyotito followed by Kino.
oJuan Thomas, Apolonia and the neighbours followed.
oThe newcomers from the outskirts and four beggars from front of the church followed too.
o The beggars correctly anticipate the doctor will refuse to treat Coyotito.
o With mixed fear and rage, Kino sounded the knocker at the gate.
o The native servant refuses to speak “the old language” choosing to answer Kino in the tongue of the enemy.

4. The encounter between Kino and the doctor

•The doctor’s bedroom is furnished with luxurious furniture.
• He is sitting in bed, sipping hot chocolate and dreaming of his short glorious stay in Paris.
• The doctor sends the servant to find out whether Kino can pay for the treatment.
• Kino offers his eight misshapen, valueless pearls and is turned away.
• Humiliated, Kino’s fury explodes in a futile crushing blow of his fist on the gate.
• The crowd is aware of Kino’s public shame.

CHAPTER 2
1.THE BEACH

ØThe chapter starts with a lengthy description of the beach.
Ø The graceful canoes are in the background.
Ø Kino and Juana come to the shore and to Kino’s canoe which is the one thing of value in his world.
Ø It was a symbol of security and a guarantor of his capacity as a provider for his wife and child.
Ø Juana places a damp poultice made of seaweed on Coyotito’s wound. This is a traditional cure.
Ø She has prayed that they will find a pearl for which to hire the doctor to cure the baby.
Ø Kino and Juana go to the sea to find oysters.

2. UNDER THE SEA

-Kino moves cautiously in the water as he searches for oysters.
- The Song of the Sea and The Song of The Pearl mingle in his head.
- He sees a very large ancient oyster lying by itself.
- He takes it.
- In the canoe, Kino superstitiously opens the small oysters first and finally he cuts open the great oyster.
- Inside lies an enormous perfect pearl.
- Juana examines Coyotito and is pleased to see his shoulder is healing in response to the seaweed poultice.