the pearl john steinbeck kino juana abusive relationship

Kino, my husband, it will destroy us.” (p.50) He would not let her throw it away. Juana saw that the pearl was evil and tried to throw it away. Unfortunately, like so many of the other works of John Steinbeck, the awful power of man’s greed ruined this pretty picture just as water changes the pages of a water logged book so that the running ink renders the words unrecognizable.Īfter Kino found the pearl his relationship with Juana started to change. Although they were very poor, they were content with themselves because they were together. Steinbeck says, “Sometimes it rose to an aching chord that caught the throat, saying this is safety, this is warmth, this is Whole.” (p.4) You can clearly picture a mental photograph of this happy little family. She simply waited until he was awake then got up and prepared breakfast. Juana did not even get out of bed in the morning for fear of waking him. Steinbeck explained that when Kino woke up, “ She (Juana) was looking at him as she was always looking at him when he awakened” (p.2) This reinforces how much they trust each other and again shows how she respects him. She knew what he wanted and needed without having to ask him. Juana waited until he was finished before even going inside to eat. They had spoken once, but there is no need for speech if it is a habit, anyway.” This statement is an example of not only Juana’s respect for Kino, but also how comfortable they were with each other. Steinbeck describes their morning ritual saying, “When Kino had finished, Juana came back to the fire and ate her breakfast. Their son, Coyotito, was happy and healthy and although they owned next to nothing, they were content. Kino and Juana’s great love for each other fades until it is gone completely and replaced with loss and pain.Īt the beginning of the novel Kino and Juana had a stable and loving relationship. This exquisite pearl, promising wealth and happiness, brings only sorrow and hate to the small family. As the book begins you can fully understand the trust, love, and devotion felt between the couple, however in the middle of the novel this caring and loving relationship begins to dwindle under the pressure of owning the beautiful pearl found by Kino in the 2nd chapter. The relationship of Juana and Kino in “The Pearl”, by John Steinbeck, changes dramatically throughout the course of the novel.

The pearl john steinbeck kino juana abusive relationship