The Pearl - Chapter 1

In chapter 1 of The Pearl, the readers are first brought into a fishing village which is harmonized by the beauty of nature. Kino, the main character and his family is then introduced and the routine they go about. Just when the atmosphere is filled with warmth and peace, the readers are given a shock by the attack of a scorpion towards Coyotito, the son of the family. After that, the story concentrates on how Kino and his family seek treatment but it fails as the doctor refuses to treat the poor. In this chapter, there are a few songs that have been heard by Kino in his mind which reflect his feelings. At first, he hears the Song of the Family which is clear and soft when all is calm and peaceful in his home and especially when Juana goes about her domestic chores of cooking and tending to Coyotito. However, a new song comes when a scorpion moves delicately towards Coyotito. It is the Song of Evil, the music of the enemy, of any foe of the family, a savage, secret, dangerous melody. Besides, the Song of the Enemy is heard when Kino’s anger turns into rage and it causes him to behave irrationally. He hears it when he crushes to pulp the scorpion that had stung his son. Although Steinbeck does not describe Kino’s feelings words by words but all the songs have done the job greatly. They make the readers feel deeper in the same way and this excites the readers.