Coulisse

In chapters 5 and 6 of The Pearl, Juana tries to get rid of the pearl. Kino stops her and takes it back, wounding his wife in the process. As he makes his way up back to his house, someone attacks him, tries to steal the pearl, and Kino ends up killing them. Having realized what he had done, Kino took Juana and Coyotito to Juan Tomas (Kino’s brother) and hid there for a day, only to flee the next night. After trekking away from the village, they discover that they’re being tracked. Kino takes Juana and their son into the mountains, and hide in a cave. The trackers show up, and Kino goes to finish them off for once and for all. Kino attacks the first man, kills him, and does so with the others. The following day, they returned with gloom hanging over them. It is revealed that Coyotito’s head was shot off by the gun the previous night. Very shortly after returning, Kino throws the pearl back into the Gulf, and watches it disappear.

1. Kino did win the lottery, but after finding it, he had to face the evil and greed of everyone who wanted the great pearl. For exampl, on page 59, it says, “Greedy fingers went through his clothes, frantic figures searched him, and the pearl, knocked from his hand, lay winking behind a little stone in the pathway.” Also, on page 65, Kino says, “‘…For on the beach my canoe is broken, my house in burned, and in the brush a dead man lies.’” This much has happened to Kino, all because of the pearl, and the greediness of people.

2.  Kino really loved Juana because he wanted her and Coyotito to be safe from danger. On page 77 he says, “‘It is the wise thing and it is my wish.’” Also on page 77, he says, “‘Then, if I can escape them, I will come to you. It is the only safe way.’”