The Pearl

The Pearl written by John Steinbeck, is a book about Kino a poor diver, gathering pearls from the Gulf beds of Mexico that once brought great wealth to the Kings of Spain and now provide Kino, Juana, and their infant son with meager subsistence. Then, during a day of diving, Kino loom’s from the sea with a pearl diffrent then the rest, bigger and more beautiful than any other. With the great pearl comes hope, the promise of comfort and of security. John Steinbeck uses Kino’s canoe, the pearl, and the different songs in the story to help explain the contrast between fate and human agency, and the destiny that is made for Kino and the destiny that Kino makes for himself.
The canoe helped show the destiny that was made for Kino in many ways. This force interacts in Kino’s life by knowing that Kino was from a poor village, everyone didn't think he was capable or did not expect Kino to accomplish anything great in life. Kino’s canoe, “ was the only thing of value he owned in the world.” (Pg 14) It brought apon a source of food for him and his family. Having a canoe brought the destiny made for Kino less shallow because the fact of having a canoe which might bring a slight but decent chance of finding a wealthy pearl or pearls was great. “Kino lifted the flesh, and there it lay, the great pearl, perfect as the moon.”
Throughout the book, there are different songs that show up, like the song of the family, the song of the pearl, the song of the enemy, etc. “The music had gone out of Kino’s head, but now, thinly, slowly, the melody of the morning, the music of evile, of the enemy sounded, but it was faint and weak.” (Pg27) These songs help show the mood in which the book is taking place. The songs also help to give more details of the fate that corresponds to Kino. “In Kino’s head there was a song now, clear and soft, and if he had been able to speak of it, he would have called it the song of the Family.” (Pg