Review of 'The Pearl'
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Kino is a hard-working pearl-diver with a wife, Juana, and a son, Coyotito. They are content with their simple life living in a small shack on the beach. When Kino discovers a massive pearl his life is turned upside down. A greedy doctor having refused to provide care to Kino prior to ther pearl, now comes calling the to shack. The pearl-buyers of the town conspire to cheat Kino of the true value of the pearl. Others seek to steel the pearl away from him. In Kino, he dreams of what he can do with the money he makes from the pearl. But this is inevitably not to be as he loses everything he has ever loved beginning first with his innocence…
A short morality tale from Steinback that touches on very themes of his works specifically the evil of money and the lose of innocence. “The Pearl” is particularly dramatic and ultimately violent take on these themes that leaves the reader somewhat shocked at the end. Though the ultimate result is never in doubt, it is the violence that gets us there is horrific. We are told here that life is brutal and unforgiving, that money is not the way to happiness.
Rating: “Really good but I have some issues”
Review Date: 2021-03-20
Genre: Classic
Publication Date: 1947