John Steinbeck (1902-1968) was born in Salinas, California and came from a modest family. Despite attending Stanford University, he did not finish his studies. In 1925, Steinbeck moved to New York with hopes of becoming a freelance writer, but his attempts were unsuccessful and he eventually returned to California. However, it was the publication of Tortilla Flat (1935), a collection of entertaining stories about Monterrey’s paisanos, that brought Steinbeck considerable recognition.
Steinbeck’s novels can all be categorized as social novels that address the economic issues faced by rural labor. However, there is also a theme of reverence for the land in his books, which sometimes conflicts with his pragmatic sociological perspective. Following the bawdy humor in Tortilla Flat, he transitioned to more profound fiction, frequently displaying aggressive social criticism. His novel In Dubious Battle (1936) centers around the strikes organized by migratory fruit pickers on California plantations.
In this paragraph, various works by John Steinbeck are discussed. One of his notable novels is Of Mice and Men (1937), which narrates the tale of Lennie, a mentally disabled giant. Additionally, Steinbeck authored an impressive compilation of short stories titled The Long Valley (1938). However, his most acclaimed piece is The Grapes of Wrath (1939), which portrays the hardships faced by tenant farmers from Oklahoma who are compelled to become migrant workers in California. Finally, during the pinnacle of his fame, Steinbeck wrote The Pearl.
After completing The Grapes of Wrath, a novel that earned him the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, John Steinbeck faced both praise and criticism. He was hailed as well as condemned for his subversive and unpatriotic portrayal of socialist themes in his works. This perception of Steinbeck seemed contradictory to his gentle demeanor. However, by 1944 when he began writing The Pearl, Steinbeck had embraced this aspect of his fame. The Pearl was crafted based on his own convictions and drew inspiration from the biblical parable centered around a precious pearl.
In this story, Steinbeck explores the concept of a jewel being compared to Heaven, as the merchant in the story trades everything he owns for it. The story serves as a metaphor for the worthlessness of earthly possessions in comparison to the joys of living with God in Heaven. Steinbeck also uses the parable to reflect on the American dream of success, drawing upon his own experiences of rising quickly to prosperity. In The Pearl, the protagonist Kino is faced with newfound prominence in his community and great wealth, causing him to contemplate how he will navigate this newfound status. Another inspiration for The Pearl comes from a tale of a young Mexican boy in Steinbeck’s Sea of Cortez.
However, in the original version of the story, the boy desired to use the pearl to purchase clothes, alcohol, and engage in sexual activities. The final version of the story also includes similar elements such as the greedy dealers and the boy being attacked in search of the pearl. The power of The Pearl comes from its portrayal of the impoverished life of the Mexicans in La Paz, where the story is set. Steinbeck consistently addresses the plight of the poor in his works, including The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men.
Despite focusing on white protagonists, Steinbeck drew inspiration from the 1942 and 1943 Zoot Suit Race Riots in Los Angeles to address the struggles of Mexicans in his novel The Pearl. This shift in subject matter coincided with Steinbeck’s growing interest in screenwriting, prompting him to write The Pearl with the intention of facilitating its adaptation into a film. In contrast to his previous works such as The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, and East of Eden, Steinbeck did not personally adapt The Pearl.
Instead of focusing on previously written works, Steinbeck turned his attention to screenplays specifically created for the screen in his later projects. One of these works, The Pearl, is set in La Paz, Mexico, and begins by portraying the seemingly perfect family life of Kino, his wife Juana, and their young son, Coyotito. As Kino watches over his sleeping son, he notices a scorpion descending down the rope that holds Coyotito’s hanging box. Kino tries to capture the scorpion, but accidentally causes it to fall on Coyotito when the infant moves the rope. Despite Kino managing to kill the scorpion, it still manages to sting Coyotito.
Juana and Kino, together with their neighbors, visit the local doctor who denies medical treatment to Coyotito due to Kino’s inability to pay. Subsequently, Kino and Juana depart from the doctors and settle near the sea, where Juana administers a seaweed poultice on Coyotito’s swollen shoulder. Meanwhile, Kino searches for pearls by diving from his canoe and comes across an exceptionally large oyster. Upon opening it, he discovers a tremendous pearl. Overcome with excitement, Kino lets out a howl, attracting the attention of other pearl divers who rush towards his canoe. Thus, news of Kino’s discovery spreads rapidly throughout La Paz.
The doctor who refused to treat Coyotito decides to pay a visit to Kino. Kino’s neighbors start feeling resentful towards him for his good fortune, but neither Kino nor Juana are aware of this sentiment they have caused. Juan Tomas, Kino’s brother, inquires about his plans for the money, and he imagines marrying Juana in a church and dressing up Coyotito in a yachting cap and sailor suit. He mentions sending Coyotito to school and purchasing a rifle for himself. The local priest pays a visit and advises Kino to remember to express gratitude and pray for guidance.
Despite Coyotito appearing to be healing, the doctor visits him and provides treatment. The doctor cautions that there is still danger for Coyotito. Kino assures the doctor that he will pay him once he sells his pearl. In an attempt to locate the hidden pearl, which is buried in a corner of Kino’s hut, the doctor interrogates Kino. That night, a robber tries to break into Kino’s hut but is chased away by him. Juana warns Kino about the destructive nature of the pearl, but he believes it is their only opportunity and plans to sell it on the following day.
Kino’s neighbors debate on what they would do if they discovered the pearl, suggesting presenting it to the Pope, purchasing Masses for their family’s souls, or distributing it among the impoverished in La Paz. Accompanied by his neighbors, Kino sets off to sell the pearl, but the pearl dealer only offers a thousand pesos, much lower than Kino’s expectation of fifty thousand. Despite other dealers giving similar valuations, Kino rejects their offers and resolves to go to the capital for a better sale.
During the night, Kino faces another attack by thieves. Juana once again expresses her belief that the pearl is filled with evil. However, Kino asserts his determination to not let himself be deceived, as he considers himself a strong individual. Later, Juana tries to take the pearl and discard it in the ocean, but Kino catches her and violently punishes her for her actions. Meanwhile, while Kino is outside, a group of men assault him and make him drop the pearl. From a distance, Juana witnesses Kino returning to her side, accompanied by another man who Kino has slain. Despite the act being in self-defense, they decide they must flee from their current location and take the pearl with them.
Kino discovers his damaged canoe, a torn-up house, and a fire outside. He and Juana seek shelter with Juan Tomas and Apolonia, hiding there for a day before embarking on their journey to the capital at night. They travel at night and rest during the day, but when Kino suspects he is being pursued, they hide. Kino spots a group of bighorn sheep trackers passing by. In the mountains, Kino and Juana take refuge, with Juana and Coyotito hiding in a cave while Kino removes his white clothing to avoid detection.
The trackers initially mistake Coyotito’s cries for those of a coyote pup when they hear them. A gunshot is fired in the direction of the cries, prompting Kino to attack and kill all three trackers. However, all Kino can hear is the cry of death, as he soon discovers that Coyotito has been killed by that first shot. Now accompanied by Juana, Kino returns to La Paz. Kino carries a rifle that he stole from one of the slain trackers, while Juana carries their deceased son, Coyotito. As they approach the ocean, Kino envisions seeing Coyotito’s head blown off in the pearl and decides to throw it into the ocean.
