Morgan Hunt
English 9
Reading Log
Chapters 1 and 2
December 8, 2007
1. In the first two chapters of The Pearl, John Steinbeck introduced the reader to the three main characters; Kino, Juana, and Coyotito. They are an Indian family, living in a small village of huts on the Gulf of Mexico. The first chapter should be titled 'The Song of Evil' because it gives the reader an idea that something bad is going to happen without giving anything away. The Song of Evil was brought forward when Kino saw the scorpion near Coyotito's hanging basket. Even though Kino tried his best to save Coyotito from the poisonous, stinging tail of the scorpion, his attempt was thwarted. Coyotito’s scorpion sting is one of the first, main conflicts in the story because it threatens Coyotito’s life. The doctor in town that Juana and Kino bring Coyotito to for treatment refuses their small, worthless pearls. In chapter two, Kino, Juan, and Coyotito go out on the canoe in hopes to find a pearl to pay for Coyotito's doctor visit. The chapter should be titled 'The Dive of Good Fortune' because one of the oysters that Kino brings up from sea holds a pearl. Not just any pearl, but a pearl as large as a sea-gull's egg; the pearl that could save Coyotito's life.
2. One character that is introduced in the book that has to do with a conflict is the Doctor. The reader is first informed about him by what the town’s people know. "They knew his ignorance, his cruelty, his avarice, his appetites, his sins. They knew his clumsy abortions..." (Steinbeck 9) That little bit information tells a great deal about the Doctor even before we meet him. It is also said that he is a "fat, lazy doctor"(Steinbeck 9). The Doctor is indeed greedy and spoiled; while Kino and Juana suffer for Coyotito the Doctor is dressed in a gown of "red watered silk that had come from Paris...On his lap was a silver tray with a silver chocolate pot..." ( Steinbeck 10). When the Doctor's servant tells him about the little Indian baby with the scorpion sting the Doctor replies saying "Have I nothing better to do then to cure insect bites for 'little Indians'? I am a doctor, not a veterinary."(Steinbeck 11) This remark shows how high he thinks of himself oppose to the Indians in whom he compares to animals, reminding the servant that he is not a veterinary. The Doctor declined the request, for the eight little pearls Kino has to offer because they do not satisfy his selfish need for wealth.
3. A symbol used quite often is Kino's songs. In the First chapter there was the Song of the Family. This song symbolizes comfort and tranquility as Kino listens to Juana making morning cakes, and "Juana sang softly an ancient song that had only three notes and yet endless variety of interval" (Steinbeck 3). The song is basically the noises of his family, of natures surroundings; a song that is familiar and welcoming to him. Another song that Kino has is the Song of Evil, "...the music of the enemy, of any foe of the family, a savage, secret, dangerous melody..." (Steinbeck 5). This song plays in Kino's mind as the scorpion makes its way down to Coyotito's basket. It is a song that occurs when Kino feels afraid, nervous, or when he worries that something bad will happen. The song that is shown in chapter 2 is the Song of The Pearl That Might Be. This is a song that plays in Kino, ".. a secret little inner song, hardly perceptible but always there..." (Steinbeck 17). This song is that little excitement about the fact that any one of the oysters Kino gets might, just maybe, has a pearl in it. The song is that little chance, the little hope of finding a pearl. The symbol of the songs might be important to the story because it allows the reader to predict when something is going to happen. The songs let the reader know when something bad might happen, and how Kino is feeling.
4. The reading makes me think about my Papa, and his pond and canoe. It makes me wonder about the things my Papa suffered with. In my mind, my Papa and Kino are very much alike, because Kino's people realize the important things in life and appreciate nature, just like my Papa. They are both very simple people. It reminds me about being little, and going out in the canoe with my Papa. We would slowly go around the ponds edge, picking wild blueberries so my grandma could make pancakes or muffins. Whenever I spent time with my Papa, we were always outdoors. We would go down to the pond, or take walks in the forest hoping maybe to lay eyes upon a deer. Sometimes we would work on their garden, or try to see how many types of birds we could see. Just the relation Kino and his people have with nature reminds me of my Papa.
5. Overall, these first two chapters let me understand what was going on in the story, and I felt as though I understood all the circumstances. Such as Kino's home life compared to the Doctors, and how important it is for Coyotito to live. I have a feeling that a fortune that the great pearl will give Kino and his family is not for the best. I think that maybe the fortune is too great and it will be for the worse. In the end the lesson will probably be something a long the lines of how money can ruin people.
6.
avarice- an excessive desire to gain wealth; to be greedy
bougainvillea- woody shrubs or vines, sometimes having vibrant purple or
red flowers
bulwark- a defense or protection
indigene- one that is native
