Essay

Alternate Ending

In the book "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck, the way the story ended really wasn't right I thought. I think that after everything that happened that was terrible to them, something good should happen in the end, even though that doesn't follow the tragedy mode of literature. A tragedy story has to end in death or death symbolism, and that's how the book ended. I am changing the way it ended by writing an alternate ending.

As Kino and Juana walked down the dirt road into the woods, Kino suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. A very soft noise like a scuffling sound was coming from behind them. He turned and lashed out with the knife. But there was nothing there. Quickly Kino turned back around. He sensed the danger before it hit him. As fast as he could he grabbed Juana and Coyotito and jumped in a bush. Gunshots exploded around them. The family waited for minutes but it seemed like hours. None of them dared to breath, and even Coyotito didn't move a muscle. Then some voice they had never heard before said, " they are gone, we have won!"

Although they had gotten out of that bad luck, there was more to come. Kino then waited with his family, and waited some more. Then he slowly rose out of the thick bush, and said" They think we are dead, we are free." Juana picked up the baby, and the family walked away from the site unhurt toward the big capital. Kino's plan was simple: he would take his family into the village, sell his magnificent pearl, and they would move away from there, into a giant house. As these thoughts were going through Kino's head, he realized they were only a mile from the city. Excitement surged through him as he broke into a run. Juana called to him and he waited patiently.

When Juana reached him they set off into a quick walk. Within 10 minutes they reached the edge of the large capital. Kino's heart filled with joy. That feeling did not last very long. As quick as a flash they were surrounded by a large group of trackers. They all had their guns raised and pointed at Kino and Juana. They only wanted the great pearl. Then Kino and Juana would be left alone. Kino took out a rock and chucked it as far as he could. Fooled by the trick, they all turned and ran to where the rock had landed. With a look of dismay, they saw that this was not the great pearl but a gray colorless rock. In one motion they turned and raised there guns once more. There was nothing to shoot at.

Even though Kino and his family fled, he had made a decision. He took out the pearl and chucked it at the ground as hard as he possibly could. It shattered, and all that was left were some tiny pieces of shiny scrap. Breathing heavily, Kino let the song of evil flow out of his mind. He felt much greater now, and much more free. He and his family stopped, and turned around. Even Coyotito let out a sigh of relief. This pearl, the pearl of the world was now gone. And it could bring no harm to them ever again. So in a single file line, the family walked back to their village without even looking back at the scattered remains of what had brought them evil.

Final Post on The Pearl

This is probably one of the weirdest books i have ever read in my life. The ending part was really creepy. When Kino killed all of those guys, that part was scary. But then when the baby got killed, that just didn't seem right. It was pretty gory when the author said that his head got shot off. That must have stunk for Kino. He just risked his life to save them and Coyotito died. Overall, i would not read this book again if i didn't have to, and would not recommend it to anyone who gets scared easily.

Journal Reflection

This book is very weird so far. When the baby gets stung by the scorpion, that took me by surprise. It was kind of creepy when Juana had to suck the poison out of the baby's arm. Then when the doctor says he won't have them as patients because they're Indian, that's just racist. It was odd when later he came baack to help the baby. I actually think he faked it to make the baby sick. Then later when he came back, he saved the baby. Kino doesn't trust him though. I also think that it was the doctor who tried to steal the pearl.

Refelctive question chapter 3: Will the pearl destroy the Family

In chapter 3, Juana thinks that the pearl will destroy her and kino because it has brought bad luck so far. When that thing came into their hut, she freaked out, and told Kino to destroy it. The pearl could bring much worse luck for them that could ruin their lives or kill them. To Juana the sooner they get rid of it ther better, that's why they were going to sell it the next morning. She thinks that the longer that they hold onto it, then more and more bad luck will keep coming. I think that Kino agrees with her too. They're both more worried about the baby than their own safety. First the scorpion, and then the break in. This story is too weird so far.