The Pearl

The pearl, the cause of much appalling misfortune and contempt, is the central focal point of The Pearl. Although it's meaning and symbolism are never clearly defined, they continuously shift throughout the course of the plot. In the beginning, the pearl represents a great stroke of contingency and luck. Before finding the magnificent pearl, Juana prayed that there would be a way to hire the doctor for the cure of Coyotito, but she mentioned, "for the minds of people are as unsubstantial as the mirage on the Gulf," (p. 9). This shows that the people of LaPaz cannot always believe what they see, for their eyes could easily deceive them. When the pearl was first discovered, Kino could not believe his eyes, and did not open the great shell first.
Kino and Juana's encounter with this life-changing discovery seemed to fulfill the ancient revelation while also replenishing the family with hope for Coyotito's future. This leaves the family with the vision of a life without worries, of a life when Kino can have his rifle, of one when Coyotito will learn to read, and of one when the whole family can have admirable clothing. The title "The Pearl of the World" is symbolic of the fact that no matter the circumstances, glorious things can come in the most desolate times, and a simple finding can change the life of any person in a matter of seconds. (p. 13, 14, &
Once many townspeople heard the news about the pearl, word traveled like wildfire. Before the scurrying young boys had time to deliver the news to their mothers and before the mothers had time to gossip about it from fence to fence, the whole town knew. After the label, "The Pearl of the World" had been placed on this masterpiece, destructive influences began tumbling into Kino's life. Although, this description originally referred to the pearl's ample beauty, it did not even begin to display what hardships came with such great fortune. Once the dealers began attempting to mislead Kino for the price of his pearl, his behavior changes from yearning for enough to cure his one and only son, to the desire of so many more pleasures, never to be dreamed of before. This association of the pearl with ambitions for the future weakens, instantly forming a distinct affiliation with human desires and requests rather than the essentials Kino and his family need. Ultimately, the pearl progressively becomes viewed as a threat towards Kino and his arising disputes, rather than a blessing in great hands. (p. 12, 16, 21, 22,