Theme Theme of Family

The idea of a close-knit family is conveyed throughout the story. In the beginning, Kino and his family are described in their simple basic surroundings - their routine as they got up in the morning; Juana tending to the baby and preparing breakfast. Amidst all this, Kino heard a song The Song of Family, which reinforces the feeling of warmth and security in being a part of the family. Another evidence which portrays the theme of family is the unity shown by Kino and his family during troubled times. When Kino lost all hope when he first thought that he had lost the pearl after being attacked by an intruder, Juana stood by his side, comforting him and made him felt like a man again. Subsequently, after Kino killed the intruder and when his house was burnt down with his canoe vandalized, the family ran away together into the darkness. Even when they were pursued by trackers, Juana refused to leave Kino when Kino devised an escape plan for Juana and the baby whilst he leaded the trackers away. Although the unity and strong foundation of the family is threatened at several points in the story by the presence of the pearl, it managed to survive the turmoil. For instance, family disunity is shown when Juana urged Kino to get rid of the pearl twice on the grounds that the pearl brought out the worst and greed in people, but was refused stubbornly by Kino. The family conflict continued when Juana finally tried to throw the pearl into the sea but was stopped by Kino who exercised domestic violence on her. Yet, this action of Juanas was to actually keep the family away from harm. Theme of Greed The theme of greed emerges the moment the people of La Paz learnt about Kinos pearl. From that point onwards, the greed in the characters is vividly pictured. All of the people had their own selfish schemes when they learnt about Kinos pearl. Even the priest, a person highly regarded in the community, started planning on the use of the money for the church from the sale of the pearl. Since Kino is the only one who stood in the way of others possessing the pearl, he became a public enemy. Consequently, Kino faced many vain attempts made to get rid of him. Greed influenced people in sacrificing anything in the attempt to possess the pearl. For instance, the doctor made Coyotito ill so that he was able to seek payment from Kino for the medical treatment. Out of greed, he had betrayed the nobility of his profession. The pearl buyers also conspired to cheat Kino so that they were able to make bigger profits, without a thought of the injustice and exploitation they were committing. Subsequently, unidentified people who were envious of Kino attacked him physically and damaged his possessions. As a result, Kino and his family were forced to abandon the safety of the community to escape from the relentless pursue of the trackers who were determined to possess the pearl. Greed brought by the pearl had also taken its toll on Kino. Although Kino initially planned to use the pearl to liberate his family from poverty, he became obsessed with it and turned violent, even against Juana. His obsession with the pearl had turned him from a loving, protective family man into a paranoid, defensive person who was constantly living in fear of attack. In the act of protecting his pearl, he had forgotten his humane qualities and became merciless. For instance, he beat up Juana who tried to get rid of the pearl. He also killed three trackers who were pursuing his pearl.

Theme of Hope The theme of hope is most strongly portrayed by the presence of the pearl. For many people, the pearl is the symbol of hope for a better life. For Kino, the pearl brought a significant hope for liberating his family from poverty and ignorance. With his new fortune, he was now able to provide good education for his son, Coyotito. He also planned to marry Juana properly in the church and to get Coyotito baptised. He hoped to provide financial security for his family now that luck had struck him. On the other hand, the pearl also brought hope to people around Kino. First, the beggars on the street hoped to receive generous alms from Kino as there is no one more generous than a poor man who had suddenly become rich. Next, the doctor hoped to relive the Paris experience he had so lustfully reminisce about by seeking payment for curing Coyotitos illness. The pearl buyers were also eager to receive good commission on the sale of the pearl. At the same time, each of them hoped to replace the patron and monopolize the pearl trade. Moral Values The Importance of the Family Unit The importance of the family unit should be recognised and appreciated as it is an important core of life. Family values such as love, respect and support for family members are demonstrated through the actions of the main characters. From the beginning, we are drawn to the simple routine of Kinos family - Kino looking at this baby and wife with undisguised love when he first woke up; Kino aware of his wifes routine although he only heard the sounds and not see her. As the plot develops, the unity of the family unit is clearly depicted. For instance, when Kino was pursued by trackers who had their eyes on Kinos pearl, Juana refused to leave Kino although he had devised an escape plan for Juana and the baby whilst he leaded the trackers away. Apart from the immediate family unit, Kino also maintained close ties with his brother, Juan Tomas. When Kino was pursued by trackers, Juan was the first person Kino turned to for help and shelter before he escaped. Obsession with Objects of Material Nature We should not be obsessed with objects of material nature as the preoccupation towards materialism will consume our humane qualities, causing us to neglect everything else. Kino became obsessed with the pearl when he first obtained it as he saw it as a way to liberate his family from poverty and ignorance. His obsession with the pearl had turned him from a loving, protective family man into a paranoid, defensive person who was constantly living in fear of attack. In the act of protecting his pearl, he had forgotten his humane qualities and became merciless. For instance, he ignored Juanas pleas to get rid of the pearl which existence endangered their family. Subsequently, he beat up Juana who tried to throw the pearl into the sea. He also killed the three trackers who were pursuing his pearl. It was when his baby was killed that he realized what his obsessions had led to, consequently causing him to get rid of the pearl. Honour and Respect Living in an interconnected society, we must learn to respect a persons culture and way of life. For Kino and the pearl-fishers, the canoe is their means of survival - to catch fish and search for pearls. When he found his canoe damaged and vandalized, Kino felt a surge of great sorrow and rage that someone could do such a disrespectful and dishonoring act. This is because

Kino and his people viewed the act of damaging the canoe as serious a crime as committing murder. It was also out of respect to his culture that the thought of stealing another canoe to escape from the trackers pursue never crossed Kinos mind. Equality We should treat everyone equally without discrimination as each human being deserves the same opportunities and treatment. However, equality was not practised by the people of Spanish descent who treated Mexican-Indians like animals. The Spanish descent thought them as simple, ignorant folks who did not deserved to be treated as an equal in the society. Even the priest, a person highly regarded in a community, was injustice in treating the Mexican-Indians by advising them to stay as they were and not to want changes. Due to poverty, the MexicanIndians were unable to afford an education, therefore preventing them from liberation from the injustice treatment they received.