What Does Coyotito Symbolize In The Pearl

In the book The Pearl by John Steinbeck, Kino is a pearl diver who lives with his wife Juana and baby boy, Coyotito. While searching for a pearl to save Coyotito, Kino discovers the pearl of the world. Within hours the whole town of La Paz hears of Kino’s new discovery, everyone wants a piece of the Pearl of the world. The idea of getting a piece of the pearl places a longing desire in the townspeople's hearts, this changes the way kino and his family live day to day and how the whole town functions. Though the pearl is seen to be a great symbol of hope, it has shaped into a sign of darkness. Once Kino found the pearl of the world, the townspeople grew an overwhelming curiosity for him. “All manner of people grew interested in Kino-people with things to sell and people with favors to ask. Kino had found the Pearl of the World”(23). The priest wonders if he baptized their son, the doctor says to the people that he is treating Kino’s son Coyotito, who was stung by a scorpion. This one pearl is what everyone in the town’s talking about. Where did Kino find the pearl? Does Kino owe anyone anything? Would …show more content…
He and Juana will be married in the church, they will have new clothes, Coyotito will go to school and learn to read and write but, most of all Kino wanted a rifle. Without knowing, Kino was making promises he could not keep. With all of the power of the Pearl, Kino is blinded by his imagination, he does not see the reality that society is not as fair as it seems. Juana is also caught in the moment but, she soon realizes that the pearl has an evil drastic effect on Kino, she attempts to cast away the evil by throwing the pearl into the sea. Kino catches Juana doing this and punishes her; after this Kino is attacked, out of self defense and anger, Kino kills a man. “Now the darkness was closing in on his family; now the evil music fill the night, hung over the mangroves, skirled in the wave