Which character in the novel “The Pearl” do you sympathise? Give evidence from the novel to support your answer.
Outline of answer if you choose Kino
- The only breadwinner of the family.
- Works very hard, responsible father and a husband.
- Finds pearl, thinks of a better future for his family.
Why readers sympathise or feel sorry for Kino?
- Kino feels frustrated and humiliated when the doctor refuses to treat his son Coyotito
- The pearl buyers cheat Kino by offering him very low prices.
- Kino fights an intruder who wants to steal his pearl and is hurt (blood runs down from his forehead)
- Kino is attacked outside his house by an intruder. Blood oozes form his scalp. He got a long deep cut which stretches from his ear to chin.
- Kino feels disappointed that he cannot sell his pearl for a good price.
- Kino is attacked again on the beach. He kills one of them in self-defense.
- Kino finds his canoe with a great hole at the bottom. His canoe is destroyed.
- His house is set on fire. Kino and Juana are homeless and unsafe.
- Kino has to get his family out from his village and heads to the mountains.
- Kino feels that his family is in danger. He must protect them. He kills three trackers to save his family.
- Kino loses his son Coyotito who is shot dead.
- Kino makes the most important decision in his life: he throws the pearl back into the sea.
Throughout the story, Kino suffers physically, mentally and emotionally. He goes through a great deal of sufferings. His dreams are shattered. He loses everything including his first-born. Kino defies the old order of life and reality, but becomes a loser in the end.
Outline of answer if you choose Juana
-The loyal wife of Kino.
-Works very hard, responsible, selfless, caring, mother and wife.
- Supports Kino in everything he does, forewarns that the pearl is evil.
Why readers sympathise or feel sorry for Juana?
- Does all the house work obediently and is concerned with the welfare of the family.
- Sucks the scorpion’s poison out of Coyotito without thinking of her own safety.
- Gathers seaweed to prepare a remedy to treat Coyotito.
- Tries to help Kino when intruders attack, and feels frightened for Kino’s safety.
- Forewarns Kino that the pearl will only destroy them as it is evil.
- Tries to throw the pearl without Kino’s knowledge.
- Juana is beaten by Kino. He also kicks her. But, she does not fight back as she is loyal and obedient.
- Realises that Kino has killed a man in self-defense.
- Bring Coyotito from the house which is set on fire.
- Insists that they flee the village to escape from evil men.
- Carries Coyotito from their village and heads to the mountains with Kino.
- Protects Coyotito with her life.
- Juana loses her son Coyotito who is shot dead.
- Convinces Kino to throw the pearl back into the sea.
Throughout the story, Juana suffers physically, mentally and emotionally. She goes through a great deal of sufferings. She loses everything including her first-born. Juana knows that they have gone against the old order of life and there is no turning back. In the end, she loses everything.
Outline of answer if you choose Kino
- The only breadwinner of the family.
- Works very hard, responsible father and a husband.
- Finds pearl, thinks of a better future for his family.
Why readers sympathise or feel sorry for Kino?
- Kino feels frustrated and humiliated when the doctor refuses to treat his son Coyotito
- The pearl buyers cheat Kino by offering him very low prices.
- Kino fights an intruder who wants to steal his pearl and is hurt (blood runs down from his forehead)
- Kino is attacked outside his house by an intruder. Blood oozes form his scalp. He got a long deep cut which stretches from his ear to chin.
- Kino feels disappointed that he cannot sell his pearl for a good price.
- Kino is attacked again on the beach. He kills one of them in self-defense.
- Kino finds his canoe with a great hole at the bottom. His canoe is destroyed.
- His house is set on fire. Kino and Juana are homeless and unsafe.
- Kino has to get his family out from his village and heads to the mountains.
- Kino feels that his family is in danger. He must protect them. He kills three trackers to save his family.
- Kino loses his son Coyotito who is shot dead.
- Kino makes the most important decision in his life: he throws the pearl back into the sea.
Throughout the story, Kino suffers physically, mentally and emotionally. He goes through a great deal of sufferings. His dreams are shattered. He loses everything including his first-born. Kino defies the old order of life and reality, but becomes a loser in the end.
Outline of answer if you choose Juana
-The loyal wife of Kino.
-Works very hard, responsible, selfless, caring, mother and wife.
- Supports Kino in everything he does, forewarns that the pearl is evil.
Why readers sympathise or feel sorry for Juana?
- Does all the house work obediently and is concerned with the welfare of the family.
- Sucks the scorpion’s poison out of Coyotito without thinking of her own safety.
- Gathers seaweed to prepare a remedy to treat Coyotito.
- Tries to help Kino when intruders attack, and feels frightened for Kino’s safety.
- Forewarns Kino that the pearl will only destroy them as it is evil.
- Tries to throw the pearl without Kino’s knowledge.
- Juana is beaten by Kino. He also kicks her. But, she does not fight back as she is loyal and obedient.
- Realises that Kino has killed a man in self-defense.
- Bring Coyotito from the house which is set on fire.
- Insists that they flee the village to escape from evil men.
- Carries Coyotito from their village and heads to the mountains with Kino.
- Protects Coyotito with her life.
- Juana loses her son Coyotito who is shot dead.
- Convinces Kino to throw the pearl back into the sea.
Throughout the story, Juana suffers physically, mentally and emotionally. She goes through a great deal of sufferings. She loses everything including her first-born. Juana knows that they have gone against the old order of life and there is no turning back. In the end, she loses everything.
Tags:
Lit Notes (Form 5)