THE CONTRIBUTION OF PLOT, SETTING
AND MAIN CHARACTERS TOWARD THE THEME
SEEN IN STEINBECK’S
THE PEARL
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree ofSarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
SRI GUNAWAN
Student Number: 984214055
Student Registration Number: 980051120106120055
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
THE CONTRIBUTION OF PLOT, SETTING
AND MAIN CHARACTERS TOWARD THE THEME
SEEN IN STEINBECK’S
THE PEARL
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree ofSarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
SRI GUNAWAN
Student Number: 984214055
Student Registration Number: 980051120106120055
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
Urip mung sak dermo mampir ngombe
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It is a great chance that I can give my appreciation to those who have accompanied and supported me in finishing my thesis. I thank my God, Allah SWT for the blesses and also Mohammad the prophet for his taught.
I also dedicate my thanks to my family, my parents Bp Widodo and Ibu Yamini who always love and support me for all the time, also for my sisters who always love and help me. I love them all.
I would like to thank my advisor, Drs. Hirmawan.W, M.Hum, for his guidance, helps, and patience. I believe without all his helps I could not finish this thesis. I would also like to thank Dra. Th. Enny Anggraini, MA., my co-advisor, who has kindly given correction and advice for my thesis.
My deep gratitude goes to my special friends, Cantik, Devita, Sari, Ade, Cicil, Heni, Dista, Ratih, Putri, The Gandarias: Bonex, Brain, Poki, Babe, Komo, Simbah, Bobo, Homer, Tedjo, Djekek, Thonklang, Drajad, Andri, Gendut, Eser, Kutut The Ijhos: Cepot, karjo, Kambing, Ipoy, the secretariat of English letters department Mbak Nik, the secretariat of MPK Pak Bambang, Bp Y.R. Subakti and others that I cannot mention one by one. Thank you for all your kindness, supports, lessons, and time. I hope all the time we have shared lead us to a better life.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. Background of the Study……….. 1
B. Problem of Formulation……… 3
C. Objectives of the Study………. 4
D. Definition of Terms……….. 4
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW……… 6
A. Review of Related Studies……… 6
B. Review of Related Theories………. 8
1. Theories of Character……….……. 8
A. Object of the Study………. 19
B. Approach of the Study……… 20
C. Method of the Study……… 20
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS……….… 22
A. Plot, Setting and Main Characters description……….……… 22
1. The Plot of the Novel………..……….. 22
i Exposition………. 22
ii. Complication………..…… 23
iii. Climax……….. 27
iiii. Denouement………. 29
2. The Setting of the Novel……….…………..….. 30
3. The Analysis of the Main Characters……..………..…….. 33
i. Kino’s Character……….…….. 33
ii. Juana’s Character……… 39
B. The Theme of the Novel………..………. 46
ABSTRACT
SRI GUNAWAN. The Contribution of Plot, Setting, and Main Characters toward the Theme Seen in Steinbeck’s The Pearl. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2007.
This thesis analyzes the contribution of plot, setting and main characters toward the theme in Steinbeck’s The Pearl. A literary work is one of the tools of communication between author and his or her readers. The theme is one of important aspects of the story. The theme is a kind of message which the author wants to tell to the readers.
This thesis has two problems. The first problem is, how are the main characters, plot, and setting of The Pearl described? The first problem tries to show the description of main characters, plot and setting in Steinbeck’sThe Pearl. The second problem is, what is the theme of The Pearl based on those elements above? In the second problem, the writer tries to draw the theme taken from analysis of first problem.
This thesis applies formalistic approach because the object of the discussion merely focuses on the intrinsic elements of the story such as plot, main characters, setting and theme. In analyzing those two problems stated above, the writer uses library research, it means that the writer collects data and references to support his analysis from the library.
ABSTRAK
SRI GUNAWAN. The Contribution of Plot, Setting, and Main Characters toward the Theme Seen in Steinbeck’s The Pearl. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Ingris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2007.
Skripsi ini menganalisa tentang kontribusi alur cerita, latar belakang dan tokoh-tokoh utama terhadap tema dalam Novel berjudul The Pearl karangan Steinbeck. Karya sastra merupakan salah satu alat berkomunikasi antara pengarang dan para pembacanya. Tema adalah salah satu hal yang penting dalam sebuah cerita. Tema adalah pesan yang ingin disampaikan oleh pengarang kepada para pembaca.
Skripsi ini mempunyai dua rumusan masalah. Rumusan pertama adalah, bagaimana penggambaran dari tokoh-tokoh utama, alur cerita dan latar belakang di dalam novel The Pearl? Rumusan pertama mencoba menunjukkan deskripsi dari tokoh-tokoh utama, alur dan latar dalam novel The Pearl. Rumusan kedua adalah, apa tema dari novel The Pearl berdasarkan tiga hal diatas? Dalam rumusan kedua, penulis mencoba untuk menyimpulkan tema berdasarkan rumusan pertama.
Skripsi ini menggunakan pendekatan formalistic karena objek diskusi hanya difokuskan pada intrinsic elemen seperti alur, tokoh utama, latar, dan tema. Dlalam menganalisa dua rumusan diatas, penulis menggunakan penelitian kepustakaan, maksudnya adalah penulis mengumpulkan data dan referensi untuk mendukung analisisnya dari perpustakaan.
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Reading a work of literature has its own pleasure. Raphael stated that the primary function of literature is to entertain (1960:3). From the statement above it is concluded that reading a work of literature should be enjoyable and entertain us. A literary work is one of the tools of communication between author and his or her reader. The work carries the idea of the author. However, the idea written in a literary work is not a final idea meaning that an author does not state his or her idea directly, what an author does is only providing a bridge by which the reader can come to the idea of the author. The author describes in his or her work concrete event in which there are some devices he or she uses like characters, plots, setting, symbols, images, metaphors, and so on. The readers use these devices to interpret the meaning of a work (Guerin 1993:12).
To get the theme of the work is one of the main purposes when a reader reads a literary work. Theme means what an author wants to tell in his or her work. If the readers are able to get what the theme of the work, it means they have read the work successfully.
problems, advantages, disadvantages in life. Through the novel Steinbeck tries to show to the readers about human behaviors. The title of the novel does not just simply show worthy thing that everybody wanted, but it has other meaning.
Steinbeck major works including The Crysantemums (1937), Red Pony (1938), Tortilla Flat(1935),Cannary Row(1945), in Dubious Battle(1976),East of Eden, Sea of Cortez, The Pearl(1947)
The Pearl (1947) tells about poor pearl diver who find a great pearl and about his effort to keep his pearl from other people although it brings evil to his family. His ambition is simple, that is, he wants to make the condition of his family better. Kino, the major character in this novel, is a poor man that is always laughed at by people around him who have higher social level.
In this novel, the fortune that the main characters have got, brings him a lot of troubles. Fortune, in this case is a pearl, does not bring happiness to his family but the reverse. Because of the pearl a lot of people try to trick Kino. Kino also loses his house, including his canoes and his beloved son because some greed people burn it..
In The Pearl, Steinbeck tries to give reflection to the reader that in this life, we need to listen to other people’s suggestion in deciding our idea. Here, Steinbeck also describes the characters have to struggle to maintain their most valuable value and the society becomes a battle ground in which the main characters have to do something if they want to survive.
of society. Kino, as a pearl diver, he totally depends on his luck in getting any pearl under the sea, it means that he also depends on his luck in earning money for his family.
Since the novel reflects people’s problems, the writer interested to reveal the theme of the story. Through the setting that depicted in the novel, the main characters Kino and Juana, who take significant roles of the story, and the plot, which show the arranging events of the story, the writer tries to reveal the theme. Those intrinsic elements support each other and become important element in order to find out the theme. Since there is still no thesis discussing about this study, the writer inspired to go deeper in analyzing the contribution of plot, main characters, and setting in order to find out the theme of the story. The theme of the story is important because it kinds of message from author to his or her readers. Therefore, the theme will not be stated easily. It needs careful reading and a lot of attention to the novel. Those intrinsic elements above are needed to help the writer find out the theme. Moreover, the writer believes that understanding the theme of the story means understanding the main point of the story.
B. Problem Formulation
1. How are the main characters, plot, and setting ofThe Pearldescribed? 2. What is the theme ofThe Pearlbased on those elements above?
C. Objectives of the Study
then the writer tries to draw the theme based on the main characters, plot and setting description which are discussed before.
D. Definition of Terms
In order to avoid misunderstanding of terms used here, the writer tries to explain the definition of terms.
The first term is plot. Stanton in his book An Introduction to Fiction defines that the plot of a story is causally linked events, events that caused or result from other incidents (1965:14).
Abram in his bookA Glossary of Literary Term says that plot of the story is the structure of narrative work’s action. It is ordered and rendered toward the important achieving of emotional and artistic effect. It shows that the arranging of the events are not only the elements of temporal series, but under the emphasis on the function. It is like the pattern of cause and effect (1981:137).
The second term is setting. According to Abrams (1981:175) in his book A Glossary of Literary Terms, setting in a novel refers to the general locale, historical time and society circumstances in which its action occurs. Meanwhile Stanton states that setting of a story is the environment of its events, the immediate in which occur. He further adds that part of the setting can be the visible background, the time of day or year, the climate, or historical period (1965:18)
interpreted by the reader as being endowed with a moral and dispositional quality, that are expressed in what they say –the dialogue- and by what they do the action (1981:20).
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
According to Watt (1962), Steinbeck involved and experienced with poor people and lowly workers and he worked with them. Watt states,
“The novelist’s portrayal of machines, animals and the lower orders of humanity are built on the same substantial basis: an intimate knowledge and love of the subject. His imagination was at home in the day time practical world where manual works is done-picking fruit or cotton, ploughing, milking herding cattle, slaughtering chickens and pigs, carpentering, driving trucks and buses or taking them apart and repairing them. He knew ordinary people well because he was of them, hard worked with them and had never, either as artist or intellectual, dissociated himself from them (Watt, 1962:22).”
Edmund Wilson also gives opinion on Steinbeck that his interest in plants and animals life influence Steinbeck’s work. Wilson also compares Steinbeck’s work with other writers.
“Mr. Steinbeck almost always in his fiction is dealing either with the lower animals or with the human beings so rudimentary that they are almost on animals level…”
“Mr. Steinbeck does not have the effect, as Lawrence or Kipling does, of romantically raising the animal to the stature of human beings, but rather of assimilating the human beings to animals…(Lisca, 1958:7)”
arguments about Steinbeck’s animalizing in this novel is also showed by presenting the doctor’s dislike toward Kino’s race by considering that Kino has the same level with animal. It is proved when Kino needs the doctor’s help to cure his son from insect bites.
“I am a doctor, not a veterinary (p. 11)”.
Meanwhile, Meriam Webster in her book Encyclopedia of Literaturesaid that the pearl is a parable about a Mexican Indian pearl diver named Kino who finds a valuable pearl and is transformed by the evil of it attracts (1995:867). Webster also adds that Steinbeck’s works are rich of symbolic structures, effectively convey the mythopoetic and symbolic qualities of his characters. Steinbeck’s immediate postwar works contained the familiar elements of his social criticism but were more relaxed in approach and sentimental in tone (1995:1064-1065).
In The Pearl, Steinbeck shows about the poverty of main characters. The author describes the life condition of Kino and his family clearly. He clearly describes about Kino’s house, job and appearance. In The Pearl, Steinbeck also describes about the life of rich people in town who overturn with Kino’s life. The rich people always treat Kino and their race badly because they are poor and uneducated.
animalizing in The Pearl also shows the racial issue and rude treatment of higher class society to lower class society. The higher class society uses many ways to keep their status, even if they have to cheat poor people. In this thesis the writer is going to find out how Steinbeck illustrated the main characters, plot, and setting of the novel The Pearl. Finally the writer tries to reveal author’s messages by drawing the theme of the story.
B. Review of Related Theories
Writing this thesis, the writer would like to use some theories that are needed for analyzing Steinbeck’s The Pearl. Those theories are the theory of character, setting, plot and theme.
1. Character
In this theory of character, the writer would like to use Abrams who state in his book AGlossary of Literary Terms. He defines character as a person that is presented in a dramatic or narrative work. The reader interprets them as being endowed with moral and dispositional qualities. They are expressed in the dialogue and the action (1981: 20).
order to describe and evaluate the motives and dispositional qualities of his characters (Abrams:1981: 21).
Roger explained in Reading a Novel: An Introduction to the Technique of Interpreting Fiction, that character consist two types, main character and minor character. Firstly, main character can be the center of the story. The acts of the character from the beginning to the ending part are the focus of the story. The gist of the story is important thing to the character’s experiences. He also said that the major characters are the most complex character in a novel. They can be described as characters through the complexity of their characterization. Secondly, the minor characters have more limited function in ways and the major characters are not. Their responses to the experience are less complex and necessarily to become the background for the major character (1977:97-97).
In his book Aspect of the Novel Foster divides character into two kinds, flat character and round character. Flat character is built around a single idea or quality. It is presented without much individualizing detail. The reader is easier to remember the character, because there is no change in the character from the beginning until the end. Round character is more complex. The complexities of the character are in the temperament and motivation. It is represented not with clear facts (1974:46-51).
2. Characterization
Rohrberger and Woods in the bookReading and Writing about Literature, note that characterization is the process of how the author creates a character. They also divide the principle ways in to direct and dramatic character. First, direct principle is describing physical appearance. Second, dramatic principle is describing character’s behaviors or speaks.
In Understanding Unseen, Murphy (1972: 161-173) defines nine ways to make the readers easier to understand the character. Those are:
a. Personal description
It is and author’s description of person’s appearance and clothes. The author describes the character in details; the face, skin, eyes, and the castaway’s extraordinary clothing, for example young man wears a knightly cloth
b. Character as seen by another
The author tries to describe a character through the eyes and opinion of another. Through the other’s eyes and opinion, the readers may get a reflect image. The author succeeds in conveying to us through his choice of words and phrases; for example, another woman is seen through a man’s eyes.
c. Speech
The author gives us keys or clues to any events that have helped to shape a person’s character so that we can learn something about a person’s life. This can be done a few ways, such as direct comment by author, through the person’s thought, through his conversation or through the medium of another person. e. Conversation of Others
Through the conversation of other people and the things they say about someone, the author can also give us the clues to person’s character. People do talk about other people and the things they say usually can give us a clue to the character of the person spoken about.
f. Reactions
Knowing a person’s character can also be observed by knowing how that person reacts or respond to various situations and events that are presented by the author.
g. Direct Comment
The author can describe or comment on a person’s character directly. By giving comments explicitly, the readers will not be left in doubt to know what sort of a person he is.
h. Thoughts
i. Mannerism
Knowing a person’s character by observing his mannerism, or habits that are given by the skillful author.
The direct explanation is not always given by an author toward the character in his or her novel, to closer description, Barnet, et al in Literature for Composition suggest four points. Those are what the character says, what the character does, what other characters say about the character, and what other character do (1988:71).
3. Setting
Kenney in his book How to Analyze Fiction divides setting into three types, they are neutral setting, spiritual setting, and setting as dynamic. Neutral setting means the reflection of the truth that things can happen somewhere. The principal concern of the author is in plot character and not really interest in the setting, because the fiction has unclear contemporary’s urban or rural setting (1966:38).
The spiritual setting is the values that are embodied or implied by the physical setting. The spiritual setting is the rural setting that does not only describe about grass, cows, and barns, but the important thing is a certain value (1966:40).
According to Kenney, the function of setting as metaphor has a purpose in the character’s internal states or a pervasive spiritual condition. For example, in Charles Dicken’s Bleak House, the fog lingers with oppressively. It describes about the character’s confusion and the metaphor shows the spiritual malaise. It means that the fog has no contribution to the character’s malaise.
The use of setting to create atmosphere is more talked than defined. It focuses on the suggesting than the setting. There is one critic that describes the creation of the atmosphere. It is kind of mood or emotional feeling of the setting and also helping to establish the expectation of the reader.
Setting as dominant element consists of two kinds. First, time, as the dominant element is the time when the action occurs in the importance of many work of fiction. Second, place, as the dominant element is the place dominates in the whole story that tries to find out the effects in a particular character of geographical setting.
Murphy in his book Understanding Unseen said that the setting of the novel is the background of the characters lives. In novels, the setting is important, while in other work of fiction are not too important. The setting can be concerned with the place and time where character’s live. These have an important effect on personalities, action, and the character’s way of thinking (1979:141).
4. Plot
Knowing the plot of whole stories helps us to understand the events one by one. It means that plot distributes the structure of action or conflicts in the story. Therefore, the existence of plot is important for a deeper understanding the whole story. When readers understand what is going on with the character or what conflict might happen to them and those actions structurally arranged in the plot, it means that to understand the plot will also understand the story.
Abram in his bookA Glossary of Literary Term says that plot of the story is the structure of narrative work’s action. It is ordered and rendered toward the important achieving of emotional and artistic effect. It shows that the arranging of the events are not only the elements of temporal series, but under the emphasis on the function. It is like the pattern of cause and effect (1981:137).
The writer also uses the theory of plot in How to Analyze Fictionwritten by Kenney. According to him there are three parts of plot, the beginning is describing the exposition of the novel. From the exposition, the conflict has happened. The middle describes about the conflict that become the complication of the climax. In the end of the story, the resolution is stated (1966:14-19).
exposition usually provides seeds of conflict. Therefore, exposition affords the readers introduction to face a situation in which there is conflict from which suspense arises (Little, 1981: 83).
The second part in the construction of plot is the middle part. One of the elements of this middle part is the conflict. According to Stanton (1965: 16), conflict moves the story because it is the generating center out of which the plot grows which becomes the core of the story’s structure. The conflict can be internal that is a conflict between two desires within a character, or external that is the conflict between characters or between a character and his environment, or both. It is also added by Perrin that the conflict, which happens to the characters can also be physical, mental emotional, or moral (1974: 44).
The second element of the middle part is complication. It refers to the step of the initial statement of conflict to the climax. It means that complication is an introduction of climax. It arranges the events step by step and leads the readers to the climax. Therefore, this step keeps increasing in order to prepare the readers in facing the climax of the story.
Climax is the last element of the middle part. Little suggests that “climax is the highest tension in the story, the point at which the fatal step is taken, the essential decision-made which results in the action concluding (1981:84)”.
After the climax, the plot moves to the end of the plot or denouement. The denouement or also called resolution of the plot consist the result of the story by represented how the conflicts experienced by the characters are settled down.
5. Theme
Perrine in his book Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense defines the theme as controlling or the central idea of a fiction. It describes the life generalization that is stated and implied by the story. It means that the author tries to present that the theme is the idea of a story. The theme will happen when the author tries to explain the truth of life and to introduce a certain concept of life (1974:49).
The theme has some principles they are:
a. The theme must be stated in a statement form and concern with the subject and predicate.
c. The generalization of the theme should not be larger that is justified by the term of the story. The use of terms like some and sometimes are more preferable than term like every, all, and always.
d. Theme is the central and unifying concept of the story. So the theme must be related to something that exists inside the story.
e. There is no one way of stating the theme of a story.
f. The theme should not be expressed in familiar expression or sentences because it will make the essential meaning of the story not conveyed (1974:107-109).
Stanton in his bookAn Introduction to Fictionstated that the story’s theme tells something about life in general. A theme can take the form of life generalization, which may or may not imply a moral judgment. A theme can describe or explore from a single fact of human experience. Such as courage, disillusion old age, and others. The theme of story can be taken from the event of one of the character’s personality. The readers must start with a clear idea of the character, the setting or situation, and the plot (1965:4-5).
From the theories above the writer can conclude that the theme is the central idea of the story which can describe the life in general. It can also give the understanding the focus the story that will be analyzed.
C. Theoretical Framework
Analyzing the main character in the story, the writer will be based on the Abrams’ theory of character. The writer focuses on the main characters, Kino and his wife Juana, because the story tells about their struggle of keeping the pearl. Their struggle will analyzed by the writer to reveals the theme of the story.
To find out the setting of the story, the writer uses Kenney’s theory of setting in order to support the analysis. The writer also reads the novel carefully to describe the important setting, such as the time, the location, the condition and the society. From the experience of the main character, the writer can get the important setting in the story and focuses on the setting of place and the setting of time.
The writer uses Kenney’s theory to find out the plot of the story. The writer can understand the story deeply in order to arrange the important events that are related with each other.
To find out the theme, the writer has to understand the meaning of the theme that can dig the important things of the story clearly. The writer tries to find out the relation of the main character, the setting of the story and the plot.
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The thesis deals with literature and the object of the writer’s thesis is a literary work of John Steinbeck entitled The Pearl. The writer uses The Pearl which is published by Penguin Books in 1992. It consists of 90 pages and it is divided into 6 chapters.
The Pearl’s plot is based on the life of a poor pearl diver whose name is Kino. He finds a big pearl, which the neighbors call it the pearl of the world. He imagines that after finding the pearl he will be a rich man. He can send his son Coyotito into school. He can buy a rifle and can celebrate his marriage in church.
B. Approach
This thesis uses formalistic approach in order to get the deep understanding of plot, setting, character and theme and to support the analysis. Looking at the problems and the work, the formalistic approach was the best approach in analyzing the study.
This approach is chosen because the object of the discussion in this thesis in the inside of the story. It means that all the answers which are proved in this thesis are on the text it self. Rohrberger and Wood’s in their book Reading and Writing about Literature said that formalistic approach examined the literary piece without references to the genre of a piece or its place in the development of the genre or in literary history, and without reference to its social milieu (1971:7)
The formalistic approach invites us to analyze the story by looking at the intrinsic element of the story. It can be found in the dialogue, actions or the author’s narration. In this study, the writer analyzes John Steinbeck’s The Pearl and it is also concentrated on those works. Therefore, the formalistic approach could support this analysis because it emphasizes intrinsic elements and does not refer to extrinsic elements such as the biographical of the writer, history and social background.
C. Method of the Study
several times to get a deeper understanding of the story. The writer tried to focus on the content of the story, especially everything that connected with the plot, setting, main characters and theme.
The second step is data collecting. It is obtained by taking up the data from the novel it self and from books on literature and also any books which might be relevant to the analysis and be able to contribute to answer the problems as stated in the first chapter.
The third step is analyzing the plot, setting and the characters and how they depicted in the novel. It is done by noticing how the author describes the characters, how the development of the plot and the setting of time and place where the events happened. Then the writer start to connect the contribution of all those aspects toward the theme
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
In this chapter, the writer analyzes the problems that have been formulated in the previous chapter. The analysis begins with the explanation of the plot, then the explanation about the characters depiction, setting description and the contribution of plot, characters and setting toward the theme of the story.
A. The Plot of the Novel
Referring to theoretical review on the theory of plot previously stated in chapter II, the examination on the plot will be divided into exposition, conflict, climax, and then resolution.
1. Exposition
Beside Kino there is also a character that gives major influence to the story. The other character is Juana, Kino’s wife that always stands beside him and support him. Juana also a good wife and loves her son very much.
2. Complication
The conflicts are developed gradually and intensified. The conflict begins when the doctor refuse to cure Kino’s son, Coyotito, who is stung by a scorpion. The doctor demands money from Kino but he does not have it. The doctor’s rejection makes Kino angry and struck the gate.
It is a little Indian with a baby. He says a scorpion stung it.” The doctor put his cup down gently before he let his anger rise. “Have I nothing better to do than cure insect bites for ‘little Indians’?” I am a doctor, not a veterinary.” Yes, patron,” said the servant. “Has he any money?” the doctor demanded. “No, they never have any money….”
Now Kino reached into a secret place somewhere under his blanket. He brought out a paper folded many times. Crease by crease he unfolded it, until at last there come to view eight small misshapen seed pearls, as ugly and gray as little ulcers, flattened and almost valueless (p.11).
From the quotation above, I can conclude that in the society where Kino’s live there is a social distinction that differentiates lower class society and higher class society, those differences switch a conflict between them. The doctor thinks Indians like Kino is poor people that not worthy for his help. The doctor also considers Kino and people like him as an animal not man.
strong man Kino will not let anyone else get the pearl, which he has depend on, away from him.
But now, by saying what his future was going to be like, he had created it. A plan is a real thing, and things projected are experienced. A plan once made and visualized becomes reality along with other realities-never to be destroyed but easily attacked. Thus Kino’s future as real, but having set it up, other forces were set up to destroy it, and this he knew, so that he had o prepare to meet the attack. And this Kino knew also-that the gods do not love men’s plans, and the gods do not love success unless it comes by accident. He knew that the gods take their revenge on a man if he be successful through his own efforts. Consequently Kino was afraid of plans, but having made one, he could never destroy it. To meet the attack, Kino was already making a hard skin for himself against the world. Hi eyes and his mind probed for danger before it appeared (p.29).
Several conclusions can be derived from quotation above. The pearl can lead Kino into several conflicts, whether it comes from other people or from himself. He is an obedient person toward his religious believe or his gods, but in this case he has to face people who wants his pearl, those people will use many ways including stealing or cheating. His great motivation to keep his hopes and his dreams through the pearl makes him defend it with all causes that might happen.
Moreover, he feels afraid of his decision too, because as an obedient man toward his believes, he cannot harm anyone else. Bu he realize that he will face the conflict which is involves anyone else as an impact of the pearl. The thing that he is afraid of is the consequences of his decision in defending the pearl.
him a new world which is a lot of bad people with their dishonest and rude attitude. Kino prepares him self for those attitudes, he will also act in those attitudes. Kino has a bravery to keep the pearl from bad people, because only with the pearl he can bring his hopes and dreams come true.
Kino’s decision to defend the pearl leads him to face several conflicts as the consequences in defending the pearl. The conflict first caused by the pearl is between him and the doctor who is going to cure his son. The doctor comes to Kino’s house and offering a treatment for Coyotito who is stung by a scorpion. Actually, the doctor comes to his house to investigate where Kino puts his pearl and to cheat him in order to posses the pearl. Kino knows the doctor’s hidden goal, and it makes conflict between them.
The doctor looked surprised. “I had not heard of it. Do you keep his pearl in a safe place? Perhaps you would like me to put in my safe?”
Kino’s eyes were hooded now, his cheeks were drawn taut. “I have it secure,” he said. “Tomorrow I will sell it and then I will pay you.”
The doctor shrugged, and his wet eyes never left Kino’s eyes. He knew the pearl would be buried in the house, and he thought Kino might look toward the place where it was buried (p.35).
Kino is starting his decision to keep the pearl, it shows that he insist to keep the pearl and will sell it in the next day.
The next conflict is happened between Kino and his wife, Juana.
“This thing is evil,” she cried harshly. “This pearl is like a sin! It will destroy us,” and her voice rose shrilly. ” throw it away, Kino. Let us break it between stones. Let us bury it and forget the place. Let us throw it back to the sea. It has brought evil. Kino, my husband, it will destroy us.” And the firelight her lips and her eyes were alive with fear.
But Kino’s face was set, and his mind and his will were set. “this is our one chance,” he said. “Our son must go to school. He must break out the pot that hold us in.”
“Hush,” said Kino. “Do not speak more. In the morning we sell the pearl, and then evil will be gone, and only the good remain. Now hush, my wife (38-39)”.
Juana starts to realize that the pearl will bring bad effects, but Kino insists on keeping the pearl. Juana prefers to live in poverty but peace rather than rich but has no peace in life. Juana thought that living in poverty means far from the complication of life. Juana wants a peaceful feeling but it does not come when Kino finds the pearl. She starts to think that probably the pearl will not bring the peaceful life for them. However, Kino’s stubborn in keeping the pearl because he thinks that the pearl is going to bring good hopes and good dreams for him, his wife and his son.
The conflict between Kino and Juana rise again when someone wants to take the pearl roughly but Kino succeeds in defending the pearl. From that point Juana once more ask Kino to throw the pearl away.
“Kino, this pearl is evil. Let us destroy it before it destroys us. Let us crush it between two stones. Let us-let us throw it back in the sea where it belongs. Kino, it is evil, it is evil!!”…(56-57)
“No,” he said. “I will fight this thing. I will win over it. We will have our chance.” his fist pounded the sleeping mat. “No one shall take our good fortune from us,” he said. His eyes softened then and he raised a gentle hand to Juana’s shoulder. “Believe me,” he said. “I am a man.“ And his face grew crafty (p. 57).
The conflict also raises between Kino, pearl buyers and the thieves who want to cheat and posses the pearl.
“I am cheated.” Kino cried fiercely. My pearl is not for sale here. I will go perhaps even to the capital.”
Now the dealers glanced quickly at one another. They knew they had played too hard;…(p. 52)
And now a wild fear surged in Kino’s breast, an on the fear came rage, as it always did. Kino’s hand crept into his breast where his knife hung on a string, and then he sprang like an angry cat, leaped striking and spitting for the dark thing he knew was in the corner of the house (p.37).
Kino can survive from those conflicts, he can defend the pearl from the bad pearl buyers and the thieves.
3. Climax
The climax in this novel shows when Kino has to kill bad people who want to posses the pearl. He does that in order to keep the pearl in his hand.
Kino moved sluggishly, arms and legs stirred like those of crushed bug, and a hick muttering came from his mouth. Now, in an instant, Juana knew that the old life was gone forever. A dead man in the path and Kino’s knife, dark bladed beside him, convinced her (p.60-61).
Kino has to kill a man who wants to posses the pearl. He defends the pearl with all his strength and he will do everything even he has to kill someone for it.
The most significant and important point that can see about why Kino defend the pearl with his life is the pearl may bring him a lot of money, happiness, and makes his dream come true.
“This pearl has become my soul,” said Kino. “If I give it up I shall lose my soul. Go thou also with god (p.67)”.
enemy who wants to posses the pearl. Kino has left his faith toward religious norm because right now he thinks that the pearl has become his soul, it means that the pearl has become his faith to create his better life. Kino will defend his new faith and ignore his previous faith that is religious and god.
The assassin makes Kino run away. He runs with Juana and his son, Coyotito. Kino runs to avoid the trackers who after him. Kino thinks that they become nearer and nearer, Kino starts to think about the plan to stop them from chasing him and his family. Kino leaves Juana and Coyotito in a cave and approaches that group while they are sleeping. He plans to take the rifle from that group, but the plan doesn’t go smoothly.
And then from above came a little murmuring cry. The watcher turned his head to listen and then he stood up, and one of the sleepers stirred on the ground and awakened and asked quietly, “what is it?”
“I don’t know,” said the watcher. ”it sounded like a cry, almost like a human-like a baby.”
The man who had been sleeping said, “You can’t tell. Some coyote bitch with littler. I’ve heard a coyote pup cry like a baby.”
The sweat rolled in drops down Kino’s forehead and fell into his eyes and burned them. The little came again and the watcher looked up the side of the hill to the dark cave.
“Coyote maybe,” he said, and Kino heard the harsh click as he cocked the rifle.
sound-the keening, moaning, rising hysterical cry from little cave in the side of the stone mountain, the cry of death (p.87).
Kino can kill all the group members but he cannot save his son, his son is killed and it shocks him he realize that when he hears cry from the place where he leaves his son and his wife
4. Denouement
In the end of the plot, Kino returns to La Paz. He returns with his wife and his son’s dead body.
It was late in the golden afternoon when the first little boys ran hysterically in the town and spread the word that Kino and Juana were coming back (P.87)
Kino had a rifle across his arm and Juana carried her shawl like a sack over her shoulder. And in it was a small limp heavy bundle. The shawl was crusted with dried blood, and the bundle swayed a little as she walked (p.88).
Kino returns in La Paz accompanies with tragedy of his family. He has to lose his son during his flee. The pearl which he whishes can bring happiness, in fact, creates misery for his family.
Kino finally decides to throw the pearl back into the sea. He realizes that the pearl has bring a lot of troubles in his life, the pearl has make him kill somebody else, has make his wife travel on the hard journey in order to support him, and finally the pearl has make him lost his beloved son. He decides to back to his old life, because even he lives in a poor condition, his previous life can bring him happiness, warmness and calmness.
He looked into its surface and it was gray and ulcerous. Evil faces peered from it into his eyes, and he saw the light of burning (P.89).
They saw the little splash in the distance, and they stood side by side watching the place for a longtime (P.89-90).
B. The Setting of the Novel
Kino as a pearl diver who depends all his life in his environment has a close relationship with the nature around him. The nature around him is the setting of his life. Kino lives as a fisherman and he lives with his wife, Juana, and his baby, Coyotito.
They tell of the Kino, the fisherman, and of his wife, Juana, and of the baby, Coyotito (Steinbeck, preface).
Kino lives in a gulf near the beach, the setting in which Kino lives has three parts, there are the gulf, the beach, and Kino’s place. There Kino and other people around his place live in poverty and they also know few about modernization.
The roosters had been crowing for some time, and the early pigs were already beginning their ceaseless turning of twigs and bits of wood to see whether anything to eat had been overlooked. Outside the brush house in the tuna clump, a covey of little birds chattered and flurried with their wings (p.1).
The doctor never came to the cluster of brush houses. Why should he, when he had more than he could do to take care of the rich people who lived in the stone and plaster houses of the town (p. 7).
The place where Kino lives reflect to Kino’s character, modernization has not come to Kino’s place yet. Kino lives in fisherman’s village. The quotation above shows about the differentiation between Kino’s place and town. In Kino’s village poverty is common among the villager, town is identical with prosperity.
Kino heard the little splash of morning waves on the beach. It was very good-Kino closed his eyes again to listen to his music (P. 1-2).
The setting gives good atmosphere to Kino. It means that Kino can feel settle, and peace because of the harmony of the nature. Good harmony of the nature creates peaceful music in Kino’s mind. In Kino’s world, good live means engage with harmony of nature.
Gulf is another setting in this story. Living in traditional society in the gulf build Kino’s mind to believe in spirit.
The uncertain air that magnified some things and bottled up others hung over the whole gulf so that all sights were unreal and vision could not be trusted; so that sea and land had the sharp clarities and the vagueness of a dream. Thus it might be that the people of the gulf trust things of the spirit and things of the imagination,… (p.14).
The spirit may be the important thing for Kino and the villager. His life is based on the spirit. Kino will not believe in physical appearance because physical appearance might cheat him. Their belief in spirit becomes the characteristic of the place where Kino lives, moreover, they are belief in religion and the rules of it.
And if Kino’s planning come to nothing, those same neighbors would say, “there it started. A foolish madness came over him so that he spoke foolish words. God keep us from such things. Yes, god punished Kino because he rebelled against the way things are. (p. 26)
“…And the Father made it clear that each man and woman is like a soldier sent by God to guard some part of the castle of the universe. And some are in the ramparts and some far deep in the darkness of the walls. But each one must remain faithful to his post and must not go running about, else the castle is in danger from the assault of hell (p. 46)”.
Under the breath Juana repeated an ancient magic to guard against such evil, and on top of that she muttered a Hail Mary between clenched teeth (p.5).
They believe much in destiny like their religious taught them. Their attitudes and their behaviors all should based on the religious norm. Religious rules become a fundamental element of their life. The different believe of the villager and the town people can be seen from quotation below.
“Has he any money?” the doctor demanded. “No, they never have any money. I, I alone in the world am supposed to work for nothing-and I am tired of it. See if he has any money! (p. 11)”.
According to the religion taught, helping another people who is needed is a must, without seeing who he is. The taught is not important anymore in the town, people in town thinks that religious norm is not very important. They think that money is more important than anything, so they have get money as much as they can.
Spiritual setting is surrounded Kino’s life. It means that the setting represent in Kino’s attitude. Kino believes much in religious teaching.
“I know,” said Kino. “I have heard our father tell of it. It was a good idea, but it against religion, and the Father made that very clear… (p. 46)”. Kino believes that a good life means blend with nature, obey religious rules. Those believe will bring safety and happiness in life.
C. The Analysis of the Main Characters
161-171) mentions nine ways of how an author conveys the character personality to the readers by giving personal description, character as seen by another, speech, past life, conversation of others, reaction, direct comment, thought, and mannerism. The pearl presents Kino as the main character and Juana as his wife.
1. Kino’s Character
a. Poor man
The character of Kino portrayed as a poor man who lives in a brush house with his wife Juana and his son Coyotito. They are the members of people who live in a slum area. His life is very close to nature even it could say that he depends on it. Living in a brush house make Kino has to deal with some insects such as ants and scorpions. Kino has nothing beside his clothes that has been washed thousand times, his brush house. But he has a canoe that he considers as the most valuable property. He uses it to earn a living and support his family daily needs.
The ants were busy in the ground. Big black ones with shiny bodies, and little dusty quick ants…(p. 3).
Kino squatted by the fire pit and rolled a hot corn-cake and dipped it in a sauce and ate it. And he drank a little pulque and that was breakfast. That was the only breakfast he had ever known outside of feast days and one incredible fiesta on cookies that nearly killed him (p. 4).
The sun was warming the brush house breaking through its crevices in long streaks (p. 4).
At the very first time the readers will know that Kino is belonging to the member of the lowest class in the society. From his physical performance, it shows that all the things that he and his wife wear are already faded, torn and old fashion. Even the beggar in the town who has the same level in the society will recognize that Kino’s family is having the same class with them.
…looked quickly at the Juana blue skirt, saw the tears in her shawl, appraised the green ribbon on her braids red the age of Kino’s blanket and the thousands washing of Kino’s clothes, and set them down as poverty people…(p. 8).
b. Devoted father
As shown by encountered the scorpion which stung his son Coyotito, Kino is clearly a devoted father who protects his vulnerable son, he dedicates his life to Coyotito.
Kino’s hand leaped to catch it, but it fell past his fingers fell on the baby’s shoulder, landed and struck. Then, snarling Kino’s had it, had it in his fingers, rubbing it to a paste in his hands. He threw it down and beat into the floor with his fist, and Coyotito screamed with pain in his box. But Kino beat and stamped the enemy until it was only a fragment and a moist place in the dirt. His teeth were bared and fury flared in his eyes and the Song of the Enemy roared in his ears (P. 5-6).
Kino does not have a fixed job. He only depend his and his family life from the money that he gets as a pearl diver. Even though Kino has nothing for his family, he does not let his family starving. The canoe is the source for his family. The whole family depends on the canoe and it is the only source that protects the family member from starvation.
…Kino’s canoe, which was the only thing value he owned in the world. It was very old. Kino’s grand father had brought it from Nayarit, and he has given to Kino. It was at once property and source of food, for a man with a boat can guarantee a women that she will eat something (p. 14).
The canoe becomes the main means to support Kino’s family life. Even though the canoe’s condition is old, Kino’s family is still able to depend on their life to that canoe. Kino has to repair and refinish the canoe every year, because the canoe’s condition is very old. It becomes something like partner ship between Kino and his canoe in earning food for his family, because as a head of a household he has to earn some food to make his family survive.
The family life depends on how Kino can get something to eat. Kino, as the pillar of his family, has a heavy burden to make his family survive and keep them far away from starvation.
d. Responsible man
It was at one property and source of food, for a man with a boat can guarantee a woman that she will eat something. It is the bulwark against starvation…(p. 14).
Despite his lack of material possession and difficult existence, he has Juana and Coyotito whom he devotes, so he never makes them starving. He never complains about the hard work he conducts.
Kino and Juana came slowly down to the beach and to Kino’s canoe, which was the one thing of the value he owned in the world. It was very old. Kino’s grand father and so it had come to Kino. It was at once property and source of food, for a man with a boat can guarantee a woman that she will eat something. It is the bulwark against starvation. And every year Kino refinished his canoe with the hard shell like plaster by the secret method that had also come to him from his father (p. 14-15).
From quotation above I think that Kino is careful with his only heritage, the old canoe. He extremely take care for his canoe, he always makes it looks new every year. It seems that Kino is proud of his old canoe which he considers as food provider of his family, and he always take care of it.
Kino is a responsible and also a hard working man. Because he feels responsible to the whole family member, he is eager to work hard. As described by Steinbeck that he is a pearl diver, so everyday he goes to the sea to find some pearls. In addition Steinbeck also describes Kino as a strong young man.
Kino, in his pride and youth and strength, could remain down over two minutes without strain, so that he worked deliberately, selecting the largest shells (p. 18).
Kino had two ropes, one tied to a heavy stone and one to a basket. He stripped off and trousers and laid his hat in the bottom of the canoe. He took his rock in one hand and his basket in the other, and he slipped feed first side over side and the rock carried him to the bottom (p. 16).
His high responsibility is also showed when the doctor refuses him to cure his son Coyotito because he has no money. He does not give up, so he tries to look for a pearl harder and harder so he can get some money to make the doctor cure his son. Kino has high responsibility to earn some money to pay the doctor, it is show that Kino is such a responsible man and responsible father. Kino’s burden is heavier after he finds a huge pearl because he also has to protect his family from the people who want to steal the pearl from him. As a man who has high responsibility to his family Kino decides to go to other city in order to keep his family safe. He got a lot of danger in facing greed people who want to own his pearl.
“I will go,” and that make a real thing too. To determine to go and say to be halfway there…(p 75).
“I will go. I will go soon,” said Kino…”some deep outrage is here. My son must have a chance. That is what they are striking at. My friends will protect me (p. 54)”.
e. Brave man
Kino is illustrated as a brave man. He opposes against the wrong thing. He knows that the pearl buyers are manipulative professional man. They obviously tries to cheat Kino out of his money by offering for a price which is not equal to the big of the pearl, they use the size of the pearl make the pearl is cheap.
“It is large and clumsy,” said the dealer (p. 50)
with Kino, he neglects their low price offer and would prefer to sell that pearl in the capital.
“I am cheated,” Kino cried fiercely. “My pearl is not for sale here. I will go, perhaps even to the capital (p. 52)”.
Kino is very brave, sometimes his bravery blinds his mind, he is ready to take a serious risk, and he does not listen to Juan Thomas that warning about the dangerous thing might come. He also a kind of stubborn man, if he has a will there is nothing can change it. His bravery and his stubborn sometimes make him cannot thing properly, whether it is a good or bad decision.
“I don’t know” Said Juan Thomas “but I am afraid for you. It is new ground you are walking on, you do not know the way”. “I will go. I will go soon,” said Kino (p 54).
People that follow Kino in town thinks Kino as a brave man. They think that Kino’s bravery will give advantages for them.
And others said, Kino is a brave man, and a fierce man; he is right. From his courage we may all profit. These were proud of Kino (p.53).
Kino’s neighbors think that after Kino dares to reject pearl buyers’ offer, the pearl buyers will give them good price for the pearl they get.
2. Juana’s Character
a. Good house wife and Good mother
Juana is described as a good house wife, she is really liable to her duty. Every morning she wakes up early and prepares breakfast for her family.
Juana went to the fire pit and uncovered a coal and fanned it alive while she broke little pieces of brush over it (p. 2).
“Kino squatted by the fire pit and rolled a hot corncake and dipped it in sauce and ate it. When Kino had finished Juana came back to the fire and ate her breakfast (p. 4).
It clearly shows that Juana serves her husband well, she gives priority to her husband because Kino has to work hard and he will needs enough energy to do his work.
After their house burned down by the enemy who wants the pearl, Kino decides to run away. Along the road Kino walks carefully and tries to erase his foot prints so their enemy cannot find them, Juana imitated what Kino did.
Kino walked carefully in a wheel rut, and Juana followed in his path. One big chart, going to the town in the morning, could wipe out every trace of their passage (p. 69).
Here Juana tries to imitate Kino, do the best thing of her family and tries to place her family in the safe condition.
Juana realizes that as a wife, she has to help her husband. She does not let Kino struggle alone. Juana really realizes how hard his husband burden as a head of the family, so she participates to help Kino in searching a pearl in the sea. She positioned herself as a work partner for her husband.
Then co-ordination Juana and Kino drove their double-bladed paddles into the sea, and the canoe creased the water and hissed with speed (p 15). Then Juana steadied the boat while he climbed in. (p 18).
As a wife, Juana loves her husband very much and very proud of him. She is not disturbed with her husband’s rude attitude, in fact she always needed Kino to protect her from danger. She considers Kino as a hero that she always needs and follows, she thinks she would never live without her husband.
might be puzzled by these differences between man and woman, she knew them and accepted them and needed them. Of course she would follow him, there was no question of that. Sometimes the quality of woman, the reason, the caution, the sense of preservation could cut through Kino manness and save them all (p 60).
Juana understands that as a good wife she should be able to serve his family well, it means that when her husband or her son needs her, she has to ready to serve them.
Behind him he heard Juana patting the cakes before she put them down on the clay cooking set. Kino felt all the warmth and security of the family came from behind him, and the Song of the Family came from behind him like the pouring of a kitten (p 29).
Juana is a good mother. She knows how to behave as a good mother. She takes care of her son Coyotito well. Every morning she baths him and determines that he is satisfied.
Kino heard the creak of the rope when Juana took Coyotito out of his hanging box and cleaned him and hammocked him in her shawl in a loop that placed him close to her breast (p 3).
Juana’s dedication to Coyotito can be seen from the whole story. There is no event that shows Kino’s contribution in nursing Coyotito. In every occasion Juana always takes care of Coyotito. She carries him on the small of the hip. She never complains even though it is tiring her.
From the quotation above I can conclude that as a mother, Juana places Coyotito’s safety in the very top of her priority, she does something that may reduce the bad effect of the poison, besides it shows her dexterous in taking action toward something that needs quick solution.
However Juana realizes that everything she has done cannot completely secure her son from the effect of scorpion’s venom, she knows that her son should be taken to the doctor, because only medicine from the doctor can secure Coyotito.
“The doctor,” she said. “go get the doctor.”
And they repeated among themselves, “Juana wants the doctor”. A wonderful thing, a memorable thing, to want the doctor, to get him would be a remarkable thing. The doctor never came to the cluster of brush houses.
“The doctor would not come,” Kino said to Juana. She looked up at him, her eyes of lioness. This was Juana’s first baby- this was nearly everything there was in Juana’s world. And Kino aw determination and music of the family sounded in his head with a steely tone.
“Then we will go to him,” Juana said, and with one hand she arranged her dark blue shawl over her head and… (p 7).
From quotation above it is clearly seen that Coyotito nearly means everything to Juana and as a mother Juana will tries every possibility to safe Coyotito. She does not care about impossibility of her decision. She is willing to do everything that enabled Coyotito to be recovered. Her love to her son pushed her to be a brave mother, she will goes to the doctor’s house even though the doctor may refuses to cure her son.
Kino was finished and was rolling a cigarette when Juana spoke sharply. “Kino”. He glanced at her and then got up and went quickly to her for he saw fright in her eyes (p. 33).
b. Obedient woman
Juana is obedient to god, since she believes that all thing in the world under God’s power. That is why Juana prays that Kino may find a pearl, so they are able to pay doctor to treat Coyotito. Juana knows that God will gives them the best and most appropriate way.
She had not prayed directly for the recovery of the baby-she had prayed that might find a pearl with which to hire the doctor to cure the baby for the minds of people are as unsubstantial as the mirage of the gulf (p. 15). Juana obedience also described when she and Kino tried to save Coyotito from the stung. In this case, Juana extremely believes to God’s greatness that will help them.
Under her breath Juana repeated an ancient magic to guard against evil and on top of that she muttered a Hail Mary between clenched teeth (p. 5).
Then, in the critical situation, when the trackers almost find their hidden place, Juana still uses the time to ask for help to God through intermediary of Hail Mary. From this event, Juana shows that a prayer and an effort should be done together.
She could feel his warm breath against her skin and Juana whispered her combination of prayer and magic her Hail Mary and her ancient intercession, against the black inhuman thing (p 84).
Juana’s obedience to God makes her afraid in God, if she wants something, she does not hope it too much because she trusts it as the fate or luck, and Juana also seems just accepted whether God give much or a few, she will always thanks to him.
It is not good to want a thing too much. It sometimes drives the luck away. You must want it just enough, and you must be very tactful with God or the Gods (p 18).
Not only to God does Juana obey, but she also obeys the priest. When the priest comes to her brush house and asked Juana and Kino not forget to thank to God because of His greatness they can find a huge pearl.
Kino nodded dumbly and it was Juana who spoke softly “We will father, and we will be married now. Kino has said so. She looked at the neighbors for confirmation and they nodded their heads solemnly (p 28).
From the quotation above, I can notice that Juana is very happy. She is enthusiastic to get married in the church.
Juana also obeys Kino. In some cases Juana often goes along with what Kino said. When the doctor comes to check Coyotito up, she does not let him. Juana feels annoyance and hates him for the reason of his run away, then she changes her mind when she looks at Kino, then Kino lets the doctor to do his job.
And when the doctor went to her and held out his hand, she clutched the baby tight and looked at Kino where he stood with the fire shadows leaping on his face. Kino nodded, and only then did she let the doctor take the baby (p 30-31).
c. Inexperienced woman
failed asking for the doctor’s treatment for Coyotito. She tries to give her son traditional medicine.
She gathered some brown seaweed and made a flat amp poultice of it and this applied to the baby’s swollen shoulder, which was a good remedy as any and probably better than the doctor could have done. But the remedy locked his authority because it was simple and did not cost anything (p 15).
Actually the remedy that Juana gives for her son is effective, but because it is made from natural recipes and does not cost any money, so Juana thinks it will not works. Juana inexperienced drives her to think that something will not have any good values if it is cheap. Her scared of loosing her baby and also her inexperienced makes her act doubtfully.
Juana’s inexperienced is also depicted in her admiration to the doctor’s success. When Coyotito gets vomited and gets spasm, gradually it is subsided after the doctor gives a bottle of white powder. Because of that Juana admires the doctor and she even forgets about his rejection when she asking for his help just after Coyotito got sting by the scorpion. The doctor’s knowledge and ability make Juana thinks that he is a good person.
D. The Theme of the Novel
According to Kenney, theme or the central idea of the story is the meaning the story has and it may be the meaning the story discovers. Theme can be discovered through the relations of the parts to the whole, they are character and theme, plot and theme, style and theme, tone and theme, values and theme (ibid:22). Through this thesis the writer tries to focus on finding the theme of the story through the study of relationship of main characters, setting and plot.
In the previous analysis, the writer has analyzed about the plot, setting and main characters. Those elements are related and supporting each other. Besides, the existence of those elements is giving significant contribution for finding the point of this discussion.
In the analysis of characters, it is told that the two main characters, Kino and Juana are experiencing some important events in their life. Kino and his wife try to find some helps to the doctor in town when his baby stung by a scorpion. But the doctor refuses them because they do not have money, so Kino tries earning some by diving and search a pearl luckily he succeed to find a huge pearl.
his family is threatened by a group of assassin that wants to posses the pearl, once again Kino’s bravery is proved here, he succeed killing all the assassin.
Juana as Kino’s wife, she always support what Kino does. Even from the first time Juana realize that the pearl will only bring suffer to them. Juana loves his baby very much, she tries to do the first aid after her baby stung by scorpion. She also helps Kino in doing his job, while Kino dive into the sea to find a pearl, Juana stays in on the canoe waiting for her husband, She will tries to stabilize it when Kino comes up on the canoe. Juana also serve the breakfast for Kino first, she gets her breakfast after her husband finishes his breakfast.
The writer has mentioned above that the discussion of the elements of characters, setting and plot are related each other. The setting that exists in the story is not only the background of the story. They can be the representation of the characterization of Kino’s character.
other setting is place where Kino confronts the assassins and the cave where he leaves his wife and his baby in order to stop the trackers to follow them, but in the cave is also place where Kino lost his baby.
After the discussion of setting, the thesis comes to the discussion of plot that leads to the theme as the final objective of the study. We see that there is a relationship of intrinsic elements, especially the relationship of plot and setting. In the plot, there is Kino who wants to break the boundaries between him as a poor man and the people in the town illustrated as a rich and educated people. The struggle starts in the brush house where Kino lives.
said that he has been cheated. Kino said that he will not sell his pearl to the pearl buyers even they have increased their offer. Kino will sell it in the capital which he thinks will not cheat him.
In order to defend the pearl Kino has become a murderer. In the confrontation to a group of man who want to posses the pearl Kino successfully kills one of them and caused the others to flee. Because of that accident, Kino has to move from his village, but he find his canoe has destroyed by someone and his house is burned too.
At nightfall, Kino, Juana, and Coyotito set out for the capital. They travel north until sunrise. They sleep for most of the day and are preparing to set out again when Kino discovers that three trackers are following them. Kino attempts to confuse the trackers by creating a false trail up the mountain. Kino, Juana, and Coyotito then hide in the cave and wait for an opportunity to escape.
The trackers are slow in their pursuit. Finally they take a rest and make camp nearby, two of the trackers sleep while the third stands watch. Kino decides that he must attempt to attack them in order to stop them chasing Kino and his family. Just as Kino prepares to attack, Coyotito lets out a cry, waking the sleepers. When one of them fires his rifle in the direction of the cry, Kino makes his move, killing the trackers in a violent fury. In the aftermath, Kino slowly realizes that the rifle shot struck and killed his son in the cave.
of his cloth. Then, with all his might, under a setting sun, he throw the pearl back into the sea.
From the explanation above, in the first time Kino really love his family. He works hard to make his family survive from starving. But after he finds the pearl his character has change, for the first time he wants the pearl to make his dreams and his hopes come true. Later on, he hopes he can to send his baby to school and he does not live in poverty anymore. But during the way selling the pearl his attitude has change. He accused Juana wants to throw the pearl and beat her violently, but Juana still support him and accompanied him after he kills one of the men who want to posses the pearl. The setting of Kino’s back ground as a poor pearl diver has a contribution of Kino’s changing passion, from responsible father to selfish and greedy man.
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION
The Pearlis a story about a pearl diver who finds a huge pearl. That pearl is called the pearl of the world. This novel tells about his adventure with his wife and also the social treatment to him after he finds the pearl and before he finds the pearl. The story describes about passion and greed as human basic character.
This thesis focuses on the analysis of the elements of the story, which are the character, setting and plot. It discuses how those elements can give contribution toward the theme of the story.
