#Song of the pearl john steinbeck how to

This symbolic self-harm brings to mind the pearl itself and how the monetary value and power given to it by Kino eventually lead to his own self destruction just like his own frustration let loose will not relieve, but hurt and injure himself. Once right after he discovered the pearl, he picked it up with that specific hand, and once when he decided what he would do with the money from the pearl, he looked at his clenched fist, the hand which was scabbed. This physical self-destruction did not only stem from his emotional desire for help but was also brought up twice more in following chapters. вЂњThen, without warning, he struck the gate a crushing blow with his fistвЂ¦blood flowed down between his fingersвЂќ (Steinbeck 13). When the doctor refused to help Kino he literally harmed his own body in frustration. It was a hard thing for Kino to do because of pride and his knowledge of the doctorвЂ™s selfishness, his longing for the help of the doctor was natural but, it is also where we see the first signs of desire taking a small piece of self-control from Kino and through that becoming an outlet for self-destruction. The first time this is seen is when he went to see the doctor for his son. In the book, KinoвЂ™s character traits did not first become obvious until he desired something he did not have. Kino was a good man, he did what he did for the good of others, but he always wanted something more. The character of Kino in the story is representative of desire. To want or desire something, one must feel the loss and recognize the lack of the said object or item. Longing for something good can become a sense of loss without it, and the loss on oneвЂ™s self is the worst kind of mortal death. The family unit itself appears to only have positive effects however, once the focus of an endeavor floats off the original goal, greed takes itвЂ™s place. Goals are healthy but even more important is to be happy with oneвЂ™s position and to add to it. This type of thinking is dangerous as it can lead to discontentment. The list got longer and longer until what he wanted out weighed what he was grateful for. He wanted Coyotito to go to school, he wanted to be married and along with that, an extra pair of clothing.

#Song of the pearl john steinbeck how to

He kept his focus on how to help his child but also added in his own desires. Within a few days however, he began to broaden his horizons. Initially when Kino discovered the вЂњPearl of the WorldвЂќ, a large oyster pearl worth a fortune, he wanted purely the healing of his recently injured child. The family is used as a strength for Kino however, it may have also been a part of his path to self-destruction.

The вЂњSong of the PearlвЂќ is beautiful to Kino, until it destroys his way of living then, the song is a dread and described as, вЂњdistorted and insane.вЂќ The вЂњSong of the FamilyвЂќ can be heard when there is harmony, strength or refuge found in the family unit and is mentioned several times within the book. Steinbeck consistently refers to songs or the spirit of a situation, throughout the book. KinoвЂ™s only worries in life are for his family and how to provide for them. Happiness is relative and is in direct proportion with gratitude, and contentment. The people in his village are happy because they contented with less. He lives an average life of fishing and gathering like so many others in his village. In the beginning of the book, Kino is described as being вЂњyoung and strongвЂќ. The Pearl follows Kino, his wife Juana, and their baby Coyotito as they find a treasure that can change their lives for the better, only to find that it can also destroy their lives simultaneously. When is the turning point from good to evil and how can it destroy and build? John SteinbeckвЂ™s The Pearl, is a metaphorical story about how the struggle between family, desire, hope, humility, and fear can lead to self-destruction. But what of the middle ground, what about good things used for evil? Things such as, friends, desire, freedom, and money. Self-destruction is self-inflicted and yes, all of these things are self-inflicted and all of these things can lead to the destruction of the body, confidence, and soul. The emo tional insecurity, pessimism, and comparison. The physical may be smoking, drug use, and cutting.