The Pearl: What? So What? Now What?
Something that really stands out to me from The Pearl was Coyotito’s death after the rifleman shot him even though Kino tried to wrestle the gun away from him.
It really stands out to me because this is the point where Kino finally snaps out it and realizes that this is not a game. Finding the pearl, risking his families lives, all for the sake of getting money that could improve their lives but make them new enemies. It is not a game. Coyotito was the reason for trying to get the money in the first place after he was stung. What Kino saw in the pearl was warped from his greed. The things turned bad that he saw, and he no longer saw the beautiful things he wanted to because his heart was no longer grateful.
Kino loves his son with all that he is. His song of family is really important to him. Once Coyotito was gone, it hit him like a rock that his song of family was no longer as strong, and that the pearl had turned him into a man who’s eyes were filled with greed. It impacted him in a huge and sudden way that he had not expected. It showed him what happens when you chase the things that you want instead of what you need.
I think that now I’ll put even more value into every single moment that I can have with my family and friends, also knowing that the things I do can affect them, the same way Kino’s actions affected Coyotito. It makes me sad to think that if Kino hadn’t taken the pearl, if he hadn’t let himself become an animal whose only desire was money, if he hadn’t taken unnecessary risks, Coyotito would still be alive. But Kino took the pearl, let himself become like an animal with greed, and took risks that could’ve been avoided. Coyotito died, and Kino was forced to face the after effects of it.