This week our class read the first chapter of the Pearl, by John Steinbeck. My mom said this was a sad novel. I can see why. I am just into the first chapter and a baby has been stung by a scorpion and the doctor will not help him. There is Kino, an Indian pearl diver, Juana, his wife, and Coyotito, their baby. They are a poor family living in a brush house. Kino is eating his small breakfast and Juana is mashing corn with a mortar and pestle when a ray of light shines on one of the ropes of Coyotito's hanging box. Juana and Kino are frozen when they see a scorpion climbing down towards Coyotito. Kino slowly approaches the scorpion but Coyotito hits the rope, the scorpion falls and strikes Coyotito on the shoulder. The baby screams and draws attention to the little hut. Juana tries to suck the venom out of Coyotito's shoulder while she tells Kino that they have to bring him to the doctor. The crowd follows Kino's family to the doctor's manor. Kino is greeted by an Indian who is the doctor's servant. He tells the doctor the emergency, but the doctor is greedy and selfish and doesn't treat the baby because they do not have any money. Kino is so angry at the doctor that he punches the gate made of steel. He looks down and his hand is bleeding. I thought the first chapter was very dark but still interesting to read.
http://www.shmoop.com/the-pearl/chapter-1-summary.html
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May 2017
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