Reading Log Chapters 3&4

Morgan Hunt
English 9
Mr.Edson
December 14, 2007
1. In the third and fourth chapters of The Pearl, John Steinbeck writes about the beginning of the Kino and Juana's downfall. He writes about Kino's goals and how they may backfire on him, the doctors 'cure', selling the pearl, and several violent mischievous occurrences in the night. Chapter three should be titled 'The Dreams, the Doctor, and the Dark' because those are the three major things in this chapter. Kino talks about his dreams for the future that the pearl carries. The Doctor pays a visit, now willing to cure Coyotito, even though his plans are deceiving. The chapter has to do with the dark because in the dark, evil creeps for the sake of the pearl, which makes Juana want to get rid of the pearl. Chapter four should be titled 'Low Bids, High Prices' because this is the chapter in which Kino tries to sell the pearl. When he gets to his first dealer, with just about everyone in town following him, Kino is disappointed. The pearl buyers tells him the pearl that was to bring him great fortune, is not worth too much. This is because it is so big that it is more of a curiosity than something for jewelry. This angers Kino, for he knows he is being cheated. However, the way he goes about it may give set some high consequences. Even his brother Juan Tomas thinks so by saying "... I am afraid for you..." (Steinbeck 54)
2. The characters that were now introduced into the book were the pearl buyers. They played a big role in Kino's lack of success, because it was them that stood in the way. They knew how Kino was inferior when it came to pearl prices and they figured he would be easy to fool. Even though he was misled, he knew what they were doing. A pearl buyer first offered him one thousand peso's. This angered Kino, for he knew that his great, extraordinary pearl was worth much more than that. Then, the pearl buyer got the other appraisers, and they put their efforts into manipulating Kino. They said such things as "Better pearls are made of paste" (Steinbeck 51). Kino was so vexed and enraged that he took his pearl, and said "My pearl is not for sale here. I will go, perhaps even to the capital." (Steinbeck52) At this point, the pear buyers knew that they had gone too far, and played their game too hard. They had failed at doing their job, for they had an ornate opportunity to buy a great pearl and they ruined it. These pearly buyers show how much the Indians are thought of in their awareness, and how taking advantage of people can ruin a good thing. However, it also shows that Kino truly cares about his plans for the future, because turning down a thousand pesos when you have nothing shows that it wasn’t good enough if it wasn't going to enable his aspirations to become reality. He is standing buy what he wants, and what he believes in, even if it names him crazy in the eyes of others.3. One thing that happens in these two chapters that is important yet alarming are the people in the night lingering around Kino and Juana's hut. On several occasions Kino is brought outside by the Song of Evil for something is about in the air. He senses that something is wrong, and is right about it. Someone was outside their hut, digging the ground, searching for the pearl. When Kino goes to investigate, he gets struck. "Juana heard the little rush, the grunting struggle, the blow...Kino lay on the ground, struggling to rise..." (Steinbeck 56). By the time he recovers and is ok, whatever was out there is gone. This worries Juana, and makes her want to get rid of the pearl even more. Juana says “Kino, the pearl is pure evil. Let us destroy it before it destroys us..." (Steinbeck 56). The pearl is becoming a great burden on the family, a burden of evil. This is strong foreshadowing that the pearl is not longer a good thing, and if it is that with its beauty comes battle. The pearl seems to be more of a hassle than an advantage to the family, and so far they have only gained desires that may never be; comfort that only agonizes.4. Reading these chapters, makes me think about how greedy people can be, and how they can underestimate others, such as the pearl buyers. When it comes to underestimating, I always think about that time in tae kwon doe class when I proved everyone wrong. Me being a white belt, a beginner, an amateur who had only been in the class for under a month, they all underestimated my skills. We all lined up by rank, which meant a small handful of kids and I would be at the end. As our master held up the board, we had one chance, one opportunity to kick it, and hopefully break the board he held between his hands. As the kids when through trying their best yet not succeeding, no one thought that a white belt could do it if a blue belt couldn’t. It was my turn, I went up, nervous. I kick it, and hear the crack as it breaks in half. Everyone was surprised; no one thought I had it in me. No one knew Kino would back down from the pearl buyers deal, especially the pearl buyers. They knew about his lack of knowledge on the pearls and prices, but he knew that they were going to try to cheat him. He tired his best not to fall for it, and he succeeded.5. Overall, these chapters just showed me what direction Kino and Juana are going in. So far, it is not looking so good. Maybe it doesn’t seem so bad to them, but I know it is going to get worse before it gets better. By the way that there are people searching for the pearl now, it is probably only going to get worse. People want the pearl, and it doesn’t matter to them how they get it. I am sure that there are even people in that town that wouldn’t even have to give a second thought about killing Kino for the pearl. Juana already wants to destroy the pearl, and if things get worse that want for it gone is only going to grow. I can already predict that she is going to try to get rid of it, or they are going to get rid of it, but it may have done too much damage by that time.6.Benediction- A blessingCountenanced-Encouragement or approvalDisparagement- To speak of or treat slightinglyLegerdemain- Any artful trickPatron- A client or customer