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THE PEARL: LISTENING TO ADVICE

 

“When one fails to heed advice, they suffer.” With illustrations from John Steibeck’s The Pearl, write an essay to validate the above statement.

Sometimes it is important to heed advice from those around us. Even though we may think that we are right, the advice given may go a long way in helping us. According to the play, The Pearl, Kino did not heed to the advice of others and this led to disastrous outcome.

Kino comes out as a proud masculine man. It is for this reason that Kino does not want to listen to his wife. When Juana proffers an advice, Kino does not give it so much thought. He assures her that he is a man and he knows what he is doing. For instance, Juana observes that the Pearl they had found from the sea will bring evil to their family. While Kino can see the evil lurking in the darkness, he does not want to let go of his treasure.

Juan Thomas seems to know Kino well. As an elder brother, he keenly walks Kino into the history of their people and how they had been robbed blind by the pearl buyers and those whom they had sent to find better prices elsewhere. In this respect, Juan is cautioning his brother against taking drastic measures. Nevertheless, the thoughtless Kino refuses to take the price he had initially been offered for the pearl.

In his anger Kino forgot all the advice he had been given in the church and those of his brother. He is adamant. He decides to travel north and sell his pearl for better prices. The refusal to sell his pearl attracts attention to Kino and his family. He is attacked and kills a man trying to protect the pearl.

Having killed a man, Kino had nowhere to hide but emigrate. Together with his wife and son; Coyotito, Kino starts his journey northwards. As they are the most wanted people, Kino and family travel at night. In spite of this, they are followed.

In order to protect his family from the pursuers, Kino requests Juana to go ahead with Coyotito and the pearl while he deals with his enemies. Juana refuses. Shielded by night, Kino attacks his assailants killing them all. During the fight a stray bullet kills Coyotito.

The events leading to the death of Coyotito include Juana’s refusal to listen to Kino on two matters: running away to the city where the two will reunite and staying in the cave until when Kino came back. Had Juana listened to her husband, Coyotito would have been alive.

It is therefore important to listen to people who give us advice. We may never know how invaluable that advice may be in our lives.   

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