Summary
ThePearl,whichtakesplaceinLaPaz,Mexico,beginswithadescriptionofthe
seeminglyidyllicfamilylifeofKino,hiswifeJuanaandtheirinfantson,
Coyotito.KinowatchesasCoyotitosleeps,butseesascorpioncrawldownthe
ropethatholdsthehangingboxwhereCoyotitolies.Kinoattemptstocatchthe
scorpion,butCoyotitobumpstheropeandthescorpionfallsonhim.Although
Kinokillsthescorpion,itstillstingsCoyotito.JuanaandKino,accompaniedby
theirneighbors,gotoseethelocaldoctor,whorefusestotreatCoyotitobecause
Kinocannotpay.
KinoandJuanaleavethedoctorsandtakeCoyotitodownnearthesea,where
JuanausesaseaweedpoulticeonCoyotito'sshoulder,whichisnowswollen.
Kinodivesforoystersfromhiscanoe,attemptingtofindpearls.Hefindsavery
largeoysterwhich,whenKinoopensit,yieldsanimmensepearl,whichKino
thereforedubs"ThePearloftheWorld".Kinoputsbackhisheadandhowls,
causingtheotherpearldiverstolookupandracetowardKino'scanoe.
ThenewsthatKinohasfoundanimmensepearltravelsfastthroughLaPaz.The
doctorwhorefusedtotreatCoyotitodecidestovisitKino.Kino'sneighbors
begintofeelbittertowardhimforhisgoodfortune,butneitherKinonorJuana
realizesthisfeelingtheyhaveengendered.JuanTomas,thebrotherofKino,asks
himwhathewilldowithhismoney,andheenvisionsgettingmarriedtoJuana
inachurchanddressingCoyotitoinayachtingcapandsailorsuit.Heclaims
thathewillsendCoyotitotoschoolandbuyarifleforhimself.Thelocalpriest
visitsandtellsKinotoremembertogivethanksandtoprayforguidance.The
doctoralsovisits,andalthoughCoyotitoseemstobehealing,thedoctorinsists
thatCoyotitostillfacesdangerandtreatshim.Kinotellsthedoctorthathewill
payhimoncehesellshispearl,andthedoctorattemptstodiscernwherethe
pearlislocated(Kinohasburieditinthecornerofhishut).Thatnight,athief
attemptstobreakintoKino'shut,butKinodriveshimaway.JuanatellsKino
thatthepearlwilldestroythem,butKinoinsiststhatthepearlistheironechance
andthattomorrowtheywillsellit.