The Pearl
Chapters 4-5
Vocabulary Chapters 4-5
• Countenanced (4) – approved; supported;
tolerated
• Stalwart (4) – sturdy; muscular
• Benign (4) – kind; good-hearted
• Collusion (4) – secret agreement for the
purpose of tricking another or breaking
the law; conspiracy
• Legerdemain (4) – magical tricks;
sleight of hand
Vocabulary Chps. 4-5 continued
• Coagulating (4) – thickening and clotting
• Lethargy (4) – listlessness; dullness or
laziness
• Searing (5) – burning and hardening
• Edifice (5) – structure
• Keening (5) – wailing (for the dead);
mourning
In the first paragraph how has the
wholeness of the town been disrupted?
What does the way the town usually
operates refer to?
Kino has stepped out of the regular
pattern. The town usually works as a
“colonial animal.” (pg. 21)
Why is there no longer any real competition
among the pearl buyers?
Since they all work for the same rich
person, they all work together to
underpay the fishermen for pearls. What
makes the situation even worse for the
fishermen is that Steinbeck writes that
they “supposed that the pearl buyers were
individuals acting alone,” another
reference to the villagers’ ignorance of the
ways of civilization. (pg. 42)
Why is this a big day for the entire village?
Kino is going to sell the pearl; “it was an historic
moment,” and no pearl this great has ever been
found before. (pg. 44) The neighbors talk of
what charitable, non-selfish things they would
do with the pearl; everyone wants Kino to stay
uncorrupted by the pearl; they seem hopeful for
Kino’s future. As in any “colonial animal,” what
benefits the individual, helps the Whole.
Find an example of personification
on page 45.
“The houses belched people.”
“The doorways spewed out children.”
In earlier times, how did the pearl divers try
to get a better price for their pearls and
what happened to their effort?
They pooled their pearls, and sent one
man to the city to sell them. That man,
however, disappeared. It is not revealed
whether he stole the money or was killed
for it. This occurred twice.
How does Steinbeck reinforce the
evil of the pearl buyer?
The buyer is a study in cunning. He can
joke, yet cry in the midst of the joke; he
places a red flower in the case as a
welcome, yet hides all his pearls so none
of his will show off the pearl’s beauty; he
practices sleight-of-hand; he calls Kino
“my friend”; even his face is duplicitous:
the eyes like a hawk, yet the rest of the
face smiling. (pg. 47-48)
How does Steinbeck show us that the pearl
buyer is impressed by the size and beauty of
the pearl?
The pearl buyer drops the coin he has
been twirling.
How do the buyers devalue the
pearl?
They say it is of no real value because it is
too large and clumsy; it is like Fool’s Gold
and is just an oddity. Another notes the
color and the surface irregularities of the
pearl. While yet another speaks of it being
chalky.
Find the irony on page 53.
One villager claims that if the buyers had
prearranged their deals, then “all of us
have been cheated all of our lives.” It is
obvious that the natives have been duped
many times in the past, but it is not
obvious to them.
How is the village divided on Kino’s actions
with the pearl buyer?
The fearful ones say that Kino should have
taken the pearl buyer’s offer. Others say
that Kino is brave and was right in what
he does.
On page 53 Steinbeck says, “[Kino] had lost
one world and had not gained another.”
Explain what is meant.
Kino has lost his old, comfortable world as
just one of the poor villagers, but he still
has not gotten to his world of the future
that the pearl represents to him.
Why does it take a great deal of courage for
Kino to make the decision to go to the city?
Like the other Indians, Kino has always
stayed close to his home. In fact, he has
never been far away from it in his entire
life. The unknown world frightens him
simply because it is unknown. Even the
nearby town is relatively foreign to him, so
the capital must seem like a different
planet.
Why is Kino’s brother afraid for him?
In defying the pearl buyers, Kino has
defied the traditional way of life. It is “new
ground” that Kino is walking on. (pg. 54)
What plan do they make for the next day?
They will go by canoe over the sea to the
capital.
Chapter 5
What does Juana try and do with the pearl?
Why? What does Kino do?
Because she thinks it is evil, she tries to
throw it back in the ocean. Kino, enraged
that she would try to do this, punches and
kicks her.
What happens on the beach? What happens
to the pearl?
Kino is attacked by two men, and he
drops the pearl.
After finding the pearl on the sand, Juana
has a second opportunity to throw away the
pearl. Why does Juana not get rid of it?
With one dead man, Juana realizes that
the old life is definitely over and that they
can only more toward the new one now.
They cannot stay in the village.
What has changed about the way Juana
refers to the pearl?
She says to Kino, “Here is your pearl,”
which indicates that she does not want to
be associated with it anymore. (pg. 61)
What has changed about Juana’s and Kino’s
relationship?
Juana cares for Kino as if he were “a sick
child.” (pg. 61) Juana has for a moment
assumed a superior role in the marriage.
She advises Kino against defending
himself in court for murder and in favor of
leaving at once. This is quite a step for
her, since Kino had beaten her two pages
before.
Why will it not matter that Kino has killed
the man in self-defense?
He is a lowly Indian and has something
valuable. Given this opportunity, the
power structure will take it from him.
As Kino and Juana head for home, what two
discoveries do they make? What does this signify?
Their boat has been destroyed and their
house burned down. Their last ties to the
old life have been broken.
What is Juan Thomas’ opinion of the pearl
at this point?
It is from the devil.
What is Kino’s comment on the pearl on page 67?
In what sense might the statement be true?
He says, “The pearl has become my soul.”
In one sense, his obsession with the pearl
is materialistic and has replaced his
spiritual values. In another sense, though,
the pearl has become fused with his
manhood and dignity. He obviously feels
that if he relinquishes the pearl at this
point, he will be giving these up.