The

-John Steinbeck-
 summary
⊹ The Pearl, short story by John Steinbeck. It is a
parable about a Mexican Indian pearl diver
named Kino who finds a valuable pearl . Kino
sees the pearl as his opportunity for a better life.
When the townsfolk of La Paz knows about what
Kino’s found, he is immediately set upon by a
greedy priest, a doctor, and businessmen. After a
series of disasters, Kino throws the pearl back
into the ocean. 2
checklist
of Marxist Critical
Questions

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 What social forces are evident
1 in the story?
The dominant social force that is present in the novella is
the power of money to provide people’s needs and to give
access to particular services offered by institutions. This
factor greatly affected the main characters’ lives, the poor
Mexican family (Kino, Juana, and Coyotito) who lives in a
village far from town. Their attempts in accessing
healthcare for example, was declined because they have no
money. Even their wish to be wedded in a church was
disallowed too for they have no monetary contributions in
their church.
 To what extent are the lives of the
2 characters influenced by Political,
Social and Economic forces?
“
Kino and Juana’s lives were immensely impacted by he
interplay of their present political, social, and economic
forces. They, as villagers refuse to travel past the border
between their place and the town which denotes political
force in effect which is the distance or break between the
two classes of the rich and the poor. When Kino had the
pearl in his hands, his courage arise knowing he now have
wealth that could finally fulfill the dreams he has for his
family. This is wealth serving as an economic force
especially if one wanted to fully enjoy life.
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 characters influenced by Political,
2 Social and Economic forces?
“
However, reaching this goal would not be easy for
them since most people are after their prized possession
– The Pearl. Things began escalating and they were
forced in living like fugitives. They went into hiding
and are on the run from trackers who are bursting to
have the pearl through extreme means. Kino became
someone he is not in the process. He killed men and
beaten his wife who all attempted to steal the pearl
from him. This is social force through the pearl turning
people greedy and evil.
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 What does the text say about
3 economic and social power?
The text communicates the message of how wealth
makes you worthy of belongingness in the society.
It is the economic factor associated with wealth for
complete access in institutional services and
resources. Without it, one would experience
seclusion from society. Just like the village which
is like a cloud that separates them from the society,
people do not wish to go in town because they
know they will be ignored for having no money. 7
 What does the text say about
3 economic and social power?
Riches that the pearl could provide have
the capacity to turn its owner powerful
socially. With it, one can have the power to
affect the lives of others around them. This
explains why everyone turned desperate
and frenzy over their lust for the precious
pearl.
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 Marxist Analysis of The
Pearl
John Steinbeck’s novella The Pearl was a simple yet dramatic and
suspenseful piece that draws the interest of the readers from start
to finish. The plot flowed in chronological manner for its
straightforward unfolding of events. Issues covered includes
racism, oppression over the poor and ignorant, and greed.
Symbolisms placed build on the main theme greed intended by
the author. 9
 Marxist Analysis
of The Pearl
⊹ The boundary established in the first chapter
of the story, between brush houses and stone /
plaster houses clearly is a symbol of rich and
poor people’s class division. The two classes
do not blend in because the poor villages
cannot afford the services offered in the town.
Kino only became confident in going there
once he had the pearl in his possession.
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 Marxist Analysis of The
Pearl
The pearl symbolizes a lot of things. First, it represents beauty,
wealth, and goodness. Next it becomes hideous, evil and
destructive. It failed to fulfill the dreams of Kino for his family
because people began to steal the pearl from him by any means
even violence. Coyotito was the cost in pursuing such hopeless
dream. This made him decide to get rid of the pearl himself.
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Thank you!

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