My Book Report 4

Book Report

English Education Study Program

Name                           : Priska Kristanti

Date of submission     : May 12, 2011

    

BOOK REPORT FUN!

• Title of book               : The Pearl
• Author                         : John Steinbeck
• Publisher                     :  Penguin Books
• Year of publication     : 1992

Setting

The setting of the novel is in La Paz, Mexico.

Detail of setting: - In Kino’s brush house

                            - At the Gulf

                            - In a cave at a mountain

Major Characters

1. Kino

Description

      He is young and strong. He has black hair that hung over his brown forehead, thin and coarse moustache, and bright eyes. He loves his family. After finding the pearl, he becomes more care about the pearl than his own family.

2. Juana

Description

      She is Kino’s wife. She has dark eyes. She is obedient, respectful, cheerful and patient. She loves her family. She is very faithful although Kino has hit her. She doesn’t change when Kino finds the pearl. She still cares about her family rather than the pearl.

Summary

      In La Paz, there was a poor Indian pearl diver named Kino. He lived with his wife, Juana and their baby, Coyotito. They lived happily though they were poor.

      One day, Coyotito had been stung by a scorpion in their brush house. Kino and Juana were very worried about his condition so they went to a doctor. But, the doctor didn’t help them because they were poor. Then, Kino and Juana tried to find pearls so that they could pay the doctor to cure Coyotito. After trying to find pearls, they managed to find a great pearl. They were very happy because they would be rich. Kino imagined that he could get married in church, have new clothes and a rifle, and pay for Coyotito’s school fees. Now, everybody at that town knew about Kino’s pearl. After that, the priest came to Kino’s house, and the doctor also came to heal Coyotito. They wanted to get money from Kino.

      On the next day, Kino would sell the pearl to the pearl buyers. But, they just offered him 1500 pesos for the pearl. They said that the pearl was unworthy. Kino felt cheated by them so he decided that he would sell it at the capital.

      Before Kino went to the capital, there was someone that would steal the pearl. But, he failed because Kino could stop him although Kino was wounded by him. Juana was very worried about his condition, and she said that the pearl was evil, it would destroy them. She would to destroy the pearl but Kino managed to chase her. He was very angry with her then he hit her. After that, there were people that would steal the pearl but Kino managed to kill one of them. Kino and Juana were very afraid because Kino had killed a man. So, they decided to run away from there by their canoe. But, the canoe had been broken and their brush house was burned by someone.

      After that, they decided to walk to Loreto. But, there were three trackers that searched them. Kino was very afraid, and he planned to kill them. At night, he tried to kill all of them. But, before Kino killed them, one of them shot Coyotito because he thought that Coyotito’s cry was a coyote’s cry. Then, Kino managed to kill them all. After he heard Juana’s cry, he came to know if Coyotito died.

      On the next day, Kino and Juana carried the body of Coyotito to their town sadly. They looked so sad because of Coyotito’s death. Then, Kino gave the pearl to Juana because he felt the pearl was unworthy after Coyotito’s death, but she said “No, you”. After that, Kino flung the pearl with all his might to the sea. Finally, the pearl disappeared forever from his family.

     

What is the major conflict in the story?

      The major conflict in the story are man versus man and man versus himself. It happens when Kino finds the pearl. Many bad things happen when he finds the pearl. Everybody wants the Kino’s pearl. Some people try to steal it and try to take profit from Kino. Kino also becomes more care about the pearl than his own family.

How does the story end?

      It is sad ending because Coyotito died. Then, Kino and Juana went back to their town, La Paz. They lost their baby, canoe and house. So, Kino flung the pearl to the sea.

What is the theme of the book?

      Don’t be greedy because nothing is more precious than family.

Do you like the book? Why or Why not?

      Yes, I do. Because, the story reminds me that I have to care about my family rather than property. This book also very details in describing something such as place, situation, things, etc. It also makes me excited to follow the story.