An allegory is an extended An allegory is an extended metaphormetaphor
A story where plot and A story where plot and characters are used to characters are used to highlight aspects of human highlight aspects of human existence.existence.
What is an allegory?
The Pearl The Pearl is a is a parableparable..
A parable is a brief allegory
that is used to teach
a moral lesson or a
universal truth and deep
lessons about humanity.
Ask yourself…
Considering the characters and the action (plot line) in the story, what lesson or moral do you think the author tried to teach?
LiteralLiteral Symbolic Symbolic ofof Explanation: Explanation:
The DoctorThe Doctor greed & evil greed & evil
He has the bower He has the bower to heal, but to heal, but
chooses to promote chooses to promote illness and illness and
ignorance. Uses ignorance. Uses his "power" for evil. his "power" for evil.
Examples from the story:
LiteralLiteral Symbolic Symbolic ofof Explanation: Explanation:
PriestPriest hypocrisyhypocrisy
He is a "man of God He is a "man of God "and should be "and should be
working to teach and working to teach and help the poor, but he help the poor, but he does the opposite. does the opposite.
He talks the talk, but He talks the talk, but doesn't walk the doesn't walk the
walk. walk.
Examples from the story:
LiteralLiteral Symbolic Symbolic ofof Explanation: Explanation:
Pearl Pearl dealersdealers
Colonial life-Colonial life-Society’s Society’s business business practicespractices
They play on They play on Kino's ignorance Kino's ignorance to make a profit. to make a profit. Use cunning and Use cunning and trickery to make a trickery to make a
profit.profit.
Examples from the story:
LiteralLiteral Symbolic ofSymbolic of Explanation: Explanation:
Kino's dreamsKino's dreams ambition ambition
Within the oppressed, Within the oppressed, there is a desire for there is a desire for more. They need more. They need
courage to fight for it. courage to fight for it. They risk all when they They risk all when they
do fight for more. do fight for more.
Examples from the story:
LiteralLiteral Symbolic Symbolic ofof Explanation: Explanation:
JuanaJuana motherhoodmotherhood
She is always She is always looking out for what looking out for what
is best for her is best for her family. family.
Examples from the story:
LiteralLiteral Symbolic Symbolic ofof Explanation: Explanation:
CoyotitoCoyotito InnocenceInnocence
The innocent are The innocent are often victims at the often victims at the hands of society. hands of society.
Society has a Society has a responsibility to keep responsibility to keep
them safe and them safe and healthy. healthy.
Examples from the story:
LiteralLiteral Symbolic Symbolic of …of … Explanation: Explanation:
Brush Brush Houses Houses
Lower Lower class, class,
ignorant & ignorant & savagesavage
Different types ofDifferent types of houses houses
represent represent different social different social
classes.classes.
Examples from the story:
LiteralLiteral Symbolic Symbolic of …of … Explanation: Explanation:
Stone and Stone and plaster plaster houseshouses
Upper Upper class, class,
educated educated & refined& refined
Different types Different types ofof
houses houses represent represent
different social different social classes.classes.
Examples from the story:
LiteralLiteral Symbolic of Symbolic of ……
Explanation: Explanation:
MusicMusicKino’s inner Kino’s inner
voice, intuition, voice, intuition, conscienceconscience
Most of the songs are Most of the songs are in Kino’s head. They in Kino’s head. They come from his soul. come from his soul. They are a part of They are a part of
him. Often, when he him. Often, when he “listens” to them, his “listens” to them, his life is good, when he life is good, when he ignores them, bad ignores them, bad things happen. things happen.
Examples from the story:
The pearl is a symbol of The pearl is a symbol of
dreams, hope, desire and dreams, hope, desire and
also materialism.also materialism.
the pearlthe pearlthe the scorpionscorpion
The scorpion is a symbol of evil. The bite
of the greedy townspeople are worse
than that of the real scorpion.
Chapter & page:
Quote: Meaning of the pearl
here:
Chapter one, pg. 701
Quote: "Eight, small, misshapen
seed pearls, as ugly and gray as
little ulcers, flattened and
almost valueless."
Symbolizes the value of the native Indian people to
the larger community after colonization by
Spain.
Chapter & page:
Quote: Meaning of the
pearl here:
Chapter two, pg. 705
"It captured the light and refined it and
gave it back in silver incandescence …
large as a seagull's egg…its curve was
perfect." " But pearls were
accidents and the finding of one was luck, a little pat on the back by God or the gods, or both."
The giant pearl symbolizes wealth,
health, and a mystical power of
some kind.
What does this reveal?
Chapter & page: Quote:
Meaning of the pearl here:
Chapter 3, pg 714
Juana says, “ The pearl is like a sin! It will destroy us.”
Kino says, “this is our chance…our son must go to school. He must break us out of the pot that holds us in.”
Juana thinks the pearl is a threat to their family’s safety.
Kino thinks the pearl is their key to rising up in the ranks of society.
What does this reveal?
Chapter & page: Quote:
Meaning of the pearl here:
Chapter 4, pg. 719
The priest tells a sermon that says, “The loss of the pearl was a punishment visited on those who tried to leave their station.”
The pearl symbolizes what might be, but those who are too ambitious will have their value stripped away and will have to return to the “old ways.”
What does this reveal?
Chapter & page: Quote:
Meaning of the pearl:
Chapter 4, pg 725
Juana says, “ Kino, this pearl is evil. Let us destroy it before it destroys us.”
Kino says, “No, I will fight this thing. I will win over it. We will have our chance… No one shall take our good fortune from us.”
Juana sees the pearl as a powerful token of evil that threatens her family’s well being.
Kino sees the pearl as a token of good luck, and if he tries hard enough they will prosper from it.
What does this reveal?
Chapter & page: Quote: Meaning of the pearl:
Chapter 5, pg. 726
Pg. 729
“Her arm was up to throw when he leaped at her and caught her arm and wrenched the pearl from her.”
Juan Thomas says, “There is a devil in this pearl. You should have sold it and passed on the devil. Perhaps you can still sell it and buy peace for yourself”
The pearl can divide husband and wife. It turns good men into savages.
Is the pearl a blessing from ‘God or the gods’ or an illusion. Is it really an instrument of the devil?
Chapter & page: Quote:
Meaning of the pearl here:
Chapter 5, pg. 730
“This pearl has become my soul…if I give it up I shall lose my soul.”
The pearl is the key to reach all of Kino’s dreams. In an effort to achieve these dreams, he has lost his soul to the sins of greed, murder and lust, so there is no going back now.
What does this reveal?
Chapter & page: Quote: Meaning of the pearl:
Chapter 6, pg. 741 Kino held the great pearl in his hand. He looked into its surface and it was gray an ulcerous. Evil faces peered from it into his eyes, and he saw the light of burning. And in the surface of the pearl he saw the frantic eyes of the man in the pool. And in the surface of the pearl he saw Coyotito lying the little cave with the top of his head shot away. And the pearl was ugly; it was gray like a malignant growth. And Kino heard the music of the pearl, distorted and insane.
The pearl has now become a “cancer” on the soul of humanity.
It made men crazy with greed and caused them to do unthinkable evil things.
wealthwealthWealth brings evil.Wealth brings evil.
People are not always what they seemPeople are not always what they seem
In human nature there always lies the In human nature there always lies the dark and ugly side (greed, snobbery, dark and ugly side (greed, snobbery, deceit, betrayal etc.).deceit, betrayal etc.).
humanhuman
naturenature
Evil can take on many formsEvil can take on many formsevilevil
peoplepeople
oppressioppressionon
Changes to society and social Changes to society and social status do not come easily, but at a status do not come easily, but at a great cost. great cost.
People are not always what they seemPeople are not always what they seem
ExplanationExample from
story
In human nature there always lies the In human nature there always lies the dark and ugly sidedark and ugly side
ExplanationExample from
story
Ignorance leads to oppression, but Ignorance leads to oppression, but knowledge doesn’t always result in knowledge doesn’t always result in goodgood
ExplanationExample from
story