THE PEARL' by John Steinbeck - Chapter 4

Summary

At the beginning of this chapter, Kino decides to sell his pearl. By early morning, every individual in the town comes to know about his decision. The pearl buyers sit in their offices, anticipating the arrival of Kino. People, over their breakfast, imagine what they would have done if they had found the pearl.
Kino and Juana prepare themselves and Coyotito in their best finery (which is still shabby), for they feel this is a very important day, almost as important as the day Coyotito was born, and set out to sell their pearl. As usual, the entire neighborhood follows them in a procession. When Kino enters the office of the first pearl buyer, he is playing tricks with a coin, symbolic of his greedy trickery and dishonesty. He inspects the pearl, deems it worthless, and offers a thousand pesos for it. Kino is not discouraged. Then the pearl buyer calls in three other buyers. All the dealers declare the pearl to be worthless and hope that Kino will fall for their age- old ploy and sell it for a meager amount. To everyone's surprise, Kino refuses to give in and asserts that the pearl has great value. He then declares that he is going to the capital to sell his pearl.
Back home, Kino feels frustrated and isolated, for "He had lost one world and had not gained another." Kino is no longer comfortable with his simple, primitive world, for he dreams of wealth and an education for his son, things that will buy his way into the modern "civilized" world. Ironically, Kino is cautioned about this civilized world by Juan Tomas, his older brother, but Kino refuses to give in to fear. During the night, however, Kino is attacked for the second time. Juana again pleads to her husband to destroy the pearl, but Kino's will is hardened. He tells her that the next day he plans to go to the capital and sell the pearl.

By : Puan Zariah bt. Zainal