The Pearl – Chapter Three Notes

Characters

• Kino
• Juana
• The Priest
• The Shopkeeper
• The Doctor
• Pearl Buying Officer
• Juan
• Apolonia

Setting

• The chapter features two settings: rural and urban.
  • Rural: Represented by Kino’s brush house.
  • Urban: Represented by the presence of the doctor, the town, the pearl buyer, and the shopkeeper.

Plot Summary

• News of Kino’s discovery of a large pearl spreads rapidly, igniting various reactions among different individuals:
  1. The Priest: Believes the pearl can be sold to fund church repairs.
  2. The Shopkeeper: Anticipates selling cloth to Kino after he sells the pearl.
  3. The Doctor: Recognizes his previous refusal to treat Kino’s child due to poverty; now sees an opportunity for profit from Kino’s newfound wealth.
  4. Pearl Buying Officers: Seek to purchase the pearl at the lowest possible price.
• Kino’s hard work and self-serving nature create animosity, as others view him as an obstacle in their paths.
• At Kino’s brother Juan’s home, Kino shares his plans for the wealth he hopes to gain:
  1. He wishes to officially marry Juana in church.
  2. He wants to buy a rifle.
  3. He hopes to send Coyotito to school.
• Despite expressing hopes, Kino shows signs of fear and doubt about the pearl’s potential.
• The priest visits Kino’s family to flatter him and suggests they should donate money to the church. Juana graciously receives the message.
• Distracted by the evil song that competes with the song of the pearl, Kino contemplates protecting himself from those plotting against him.
• Two men, the doctor and his servant, arrive, claiming to check on Kino’s baby. Kino informs them that Coyotito is better, but the doctor suggests the sting may be worse than it appears.
• The doctor gives Coyotito a capsule that raises Kino’s suspicions, leading him to hide the pearl.
• As Kino and Juana prepare to sleep, Kino hears the evil song again. An intruder attacks him in the night, but he manages to chase the intruder away.
• Juana tends to Kino’s injury and insists that the pearl is evil, urging him to throw it back into the ocean. Kino, filled with anger and fear, refuses to listen.
• The following morning, Kino digs up the pearl, admiring its beauty while listening to its hopeful song.

Characterization

1. Priest
   • Selfish: Focuses on the church rather than Kino’s family.
   • Greedy: Sees Kino’s potential wealth as an opportunity for the church.
2. Shopkeeper
   • Selfish: Considers the profits he will gain from selling clothes to Kino.
   • Greedy: Aims to benefit himself through Kino’s fortune.
3. Doctor
   • Wicked: Provides Coyotito with a poison capsule.
   • Pretentious: Pretends to care for Kino’s family after previously refusing to help.
   • Greedy: Seeks to profit from Kino’s pearl.
4. Pearl Buyers
   • Cheats: Desire to buy the pearl at the lowest price possible.
   • Selfish: Focused on personal gain at Kino’s expense.
5. Juana
   • Caring: Nurses Kino’s injury.
   • Cautious and sensitive: Warns Kino about the pearl’s effects on their family.
6. Kino
   • Cautious/Protective: Hides the pearl.
   • Suspicious: Views everyone as an enemy.
   • Optimistic: Hopes the pearl will bring wealth.
   • Open: Shares his dreams with others.
   • Revengeful: Contemplates plots against his enemies.

Themes

1. Selfishness
   • The priest prioritizes church interests over Kino’s welfare.
   • Buyers focus on their profits, disregarding Kino’s struggles.
   • The doctor only acts when he sees a chance for financial gain.
2. Cheating
   • Pearl buyers aim to cheat Kino by offering low prices for the pearl.
3. Suspicion
   • Kino’s perception of others as enemies arises from his concerns over the pearl.
4. Revenge
   • Kino considers plots against those he views as threats.
5. Optimism
   • Kino maintains hope that the pearl will enrich his family.