![]() The narrator suggests that if Kino’s plans to sell the pearl in the big city fail, the townspeople will say God punished Kino for rebelling against the status quo. The townspeople believe Kino had great luck in finding the pearl, and luck is often mentioned in conjunction with God or the gods. Several times, the narrator suggests that something was from God, or the gods, or both. Kino pulls out the pearl and throws it back in the water.Īlthough Juana says “Hail Mary” prayers and prays to God during their trials, she whispers ancient magic phrases in the same breath. Juana carries what readers learn is their dead child, presumably shot by the tracker who thought he was silencing a coyote pup. They both look broken, failing to acknowledge familiar people or places. The story ends by noting the townspeople all remember Kino and Juana’s return to the village. Kino kills the men, then hears another wail. ![]() Kino attacks them just as one tracker shoots at the coyote, and mayhem ensues. ![]() Just as he prepares to strike, he hears them say they’ve heard a cry. Kino knows the trackers are about to find them, so he makes a plan to attack them and steal their gun. Kino continues to hear the songs of evil and grows increasingly afraid, mean and suspicious. They return to the village to find their hut is on fire, and they hide out with relatives until they can leave on foot early the next morning. They realize now that Kino has committed murder, and they will have to flee. Returning from the beach, Juana finds the pearl and decides to abide by Kino’s wishes to keep it. He inadvertently kills the man who has tried to steal his pearl. He leaves her on the beach in the night and is attacked while heading home. Kino wakes up and follows her, hitting and kicking her to reclaim the pearl before she can return it to the water. She even digs it up in the night and heads for the sea with the intent of throwing it back. Juana sees how the pearl is changing Kino. He’s afraid, but he is driven by the prospect of fortune. This will mean he must journey 1,000 miles into unknown territory. Kino calls their bluff and tells them he will take it to a larger city to sell it. They know Kino is coming, and as instructed, each tells him the pearl is worth almost nothing. The pearl buyers in town all work for one man, unbeknownst to the villagers. The next day, with many of the townspeople following, Kino and Juana go to sell the pearl in town. Meanwhile, the villagers speculate about Kino and how fortune may change him. That night, he thwarts an intruder coming to steal the pearl. Nervously, he buries the pearl in his house. But as night falls on the village, Kino begins to hear a new song drowning out those he’s heard before. He and Juana will have a wedding ceremony in a church, get better clothes and send their son to school. Kino tells friends and family what he plans to do once he sells the pearl. The doctor pays an unsolicited visit to help Kino’s son, although the couple wonders whether his medicines are a trick. Word spreads immediately about Kino’s great luck in finding the Pearl of the World. At the same moment, they look at the baby and realize his health seems to be improving. To their astonishment, Kino discovers a large, opulent pearl, the likes of nothing his village has ever seen. They sail out to an area known for pearls, and Kino dives deep to bring up a bucket full of oysters. In desperation, the couple gets in the canoe Kino’s father passed down. He refuses to see them unless they can pay for his help. The town doctor won’t call on people in their poor area, so the couple takes the baby to the doctor’s home. One evening, he and Juana watch helplessly as Coyotito gets stung by a scorpion in his bed. ![]() He often hears what he calls the Song of Family in his head and recalls the songs of his people from generations past, experiencing a profound sense of peace. Though he is poor, he lives near family and is respected by the other villagers. As the story opens, Kino is feeling joy and satisfaction with his life. Kino lives in a village by the sea with his wife, Juana, and baby son, Coyotito.
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