THE PEARL In this book, I believe that people show how there prejudiced against other people.
The doctor refused to treat Coyotito, because his parents had no money. When the doctor heard of Kino and Juana's fortune in finding the pearl, he acted as if they were patients of his while thinking of a better life for him.
"The doctor was not of his people". The doctor was of a race, which for nearly four hundred years had beaten and starved Kino's people. I believe this shows that the doctor was very prejudiced against all of the people, not only Kino, but many more. This makes you understand that he did not help very many people unless they were wealthy like him. He must have treated the people with no respect at all because of their poverty and the people felt that they were been treated like animals.
Juana on Zicatela beach
Black pearl and its shell
UK Edition of The PearlThe night the trackers learned of Kino's pearl, they tried to steal it and they also destroyed his canoe. When Juana went back to their home their house was up in flames. This all goes to show that everyone was prejudiced and greedy at the same time. Nobody wanted to deal with Kino because he was poor, but they also would have been happy to help him if he had money.
In the Pearl, it appears to be that the people had a desire for greed. Juana had lived a spiritual life. When her son Coyotito fell ill from the bite of a scorpion, she turned towards her religion. She began to pray for her son's life. The doctor who lived in the upper-class section of the town, refused to help out the child, turning them away when they arrived at the door. They turned to the sea for spiritual help. When Juana set sight of the "Pearl", she felt as though all her prayers had been answered. Juana's husband was caught in imagining beautiful things for his family and wanted everything.
In the village of La Paz, was a doctor who had earned his wealth by helping those that were ill but could afford his services. However, when Kino arrived at his door with a poisoned child he refused them by saying, "Having I nothing better to do than cure insect bites for "ÃÂlittle Indians'? I am a doctor, not a veterinary" for the doctor knew that they had no money. He did not want to deal with less fortunate people. On the other hand, when he had heard about the discovery about the great pearl he rushed to go to Kino and his family who had knocked upon his door earlier that day. Showing his greed, he offered his services to the family.
God had always been there in their time of need. The first reaction of Juana when seeing the scorpion is a good example, rather than attempt to kill the scorpion she began to pray to God for a quick healing. In La Paz, the only form of god that the people knew was that of their pastor in the church. To the people the priest was so god-like that they were unable to see anything wrong with any of his actions. He looked at Kino's hand and told him that, "It has come that thou hast found a great fortune, a great pearl." The priest was also set on getting money.
In "The Pearl", it is expressed that man's search for wealth could lead to his self-destruction, both mentally and physically. The priest of La Paz, the doctor and Juana were all affected by the affects of greed because all they could think of was to improve there own lives. The pearl also affected Kino himself. He wanted to sell the pearl and use the money to better his family's life. He had dreams and goals that all depended on the pearl.
Throughout this book, it was demonstrated that people were affected by the influence of money in a negative way.
English: 061220-N-4965F-006 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii -...
The Doctor, by Sir Luke Fildes (1891)
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