Too much wealth satisfies individual’s heart desires but at times can bring worst out of him or her. The pearl is a novel written by John Steinbeck and examines a man’s own destruction through greed. In this novel, hope and evil consume Kino and the entire city of La Paz immediately information goes around that Kino found the pearl of the world. As asserted by Forman, greed, culture, anger, happiness, luck, death, mystery and evil are all major aspects in this book.
The story unfolds when Juan and Kino’s baby, Coyotito, is bitten by a scorpion. The doctor refuses to treat Coyotito as he knew that the Coyotito’s parents were poor and could not afford to pay for their son’s treatment. Kino discovers that he has to get something valuable to pay for his son’s treatment. While oystering, he gets a huge pearl. Hearing of the great find by Kino, the doctor decides to treat Coyotito with hopes of getting the pearl. However, Kino becomes avaricious and decides to sell the pearl.
Conversely, Juana believes that the great find by her husband is evil and decides to detach herself form it. Kino decides to vend the pearl for fifty thousand pesos; nonetheless, the highest bid was only fifteen hundred pesos. He makes his way to the city to get a higher offer. Unfortunately, the pearl only brings to him unhappiness. On his way to city, Kino is attacked by evil men who attempt to take away the pearl. Being unsuccessful, the evil men destroy Kino’s canoe and as well as the house.
Regrettably, Kino begins to understand that money cannot afford happiness, but it was too late. He decides to hide his kin. While hiding his family, Kino realizes that he is being followed by the evil men, and murder one of the evil men. Whilst attempting to kill the remaining evil men around their hiding place, Coyotito, Kino’s son was shot by the attackers and dead instantly. Kino and his wife goes home without their son and decides to throw the pearl back to the sea.
In summary, the novel attempts to elucidate that wealth and money cannot afford happiness. Kino gets the pearl and believes to have all reasons live a happy life, but he ends up living a miserable life. Therefore, people should always be contented with what have and appreciate the importance of everything in their lives.
OR
Introduction
Wealth and money cannot guarantee happiness. One may be rich but that does not mean he is happy. Juana and Kino have the pearl that if sold will earn them a lot of money thus liberating them from poverty. The Pearl in this case signifies wealth. This new found treasure however robs them of the happiness they had when they were poor.
Body
The pearl brings opportunists to Kino and Juana’s doorstep. They are only interested in Kino’s new found wealth. The priest, the shopkeeper, the doctor, the beggars outside the church and the pearl buyers scheme to benefit from the rare find.
The Pearl turns Kino’s friends into enemies, they are jealous of Kino. Kino believes his friends will protect him from the evils that might befall him from the pearl but their jealousy is too great that they turn against Kino and his family.
The Pearl turns Juana and Kino against each other. The evil power of the Pearl is strong enough to inspire violence between them. Juana and Kino are so close to one another that conversation isn’t even needed and yet the pearl is able to divide them. It has brought injury and danger and now it pulls Juana and Kino away from each other.
Kino and Juana suffer constant attacks because of the pearl. People are so anxious to get their hands on this jewel that they attackhim, ransack his house leaving Kino’s family in constant fear.
The pearl also brings death to Kino and his family. Coyotito is killed because of the pearl.
Conclusion
From the above illustrations it is clear that wealth does not bring happiness, and instead has the potential to wreak havoc in the lives of those who posses it.
Musyoxx answered the question on February 28, 2018 at 15:54
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The play ‘Betrayal in the City’ by F. Imbuga focuses on the problems facing a post-independence developing nation. Discuss any four of such problems using...
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The play ‘Betrayal in the City’ by F. Imbuga focuses on the problems facing a post-independence developing nation. Discuss any four of such problems using appropriate examples from the play.
Date posted:
February 28, 2018
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Discuss the role of family in the novel the River and the Source
Date posted:
February 28, 2018
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Date posted:
February 28, 2018
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Date posted:
February 27, 2018
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Read the Oral poem below and then answer the questions that follow.
HUNGER
Hunger makes a person climb up to the ceiling
And hold on to the rafters
It...
(Solved)
Read the Oral poem below and then answer the questions that follow.
HUNGER
Hunger makes a person climb up to the ceiling
And hold on to the rafters
It makes a person lie down.
But not feel at rest.
It makes a person lie down
And count the rafters.
When the Moslem is not hungry, he says:
“We are forbidden to eat monkey.”
When Ibrahim is hungry, he eats baboon!
When hunger beats the woman in the Koinange,
She will run out into the street in daytime.
One who is hungry does not care for taboos
One who is hungry does not care for death
One who is hungry will take
Out of the sacrifice money
Hunger will open it.
“I Have filled my belly yesterday”
Does bite with hunger.
We have to sacrifice daily to it.
Date posted:
February 27, 2018
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Answers (1)
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The River and the Source: Margaret A. OgolaRead the excerpt below and answer the questions that follow.“Hey, was an army passing this way, Mother?” asked...
(Solved)
The River and the Source: Margaret A. Ogola
Read the excerpt below and answer the questions that follow.
“Hey, was an army passing this way, Mother?” asked Aoro.
“It is not every day my grandchildren – all of them, come to see me; and I am a farmer; I have plenty of food – fresh from the garden, not like that frozen tasteless stuff you people eat in the city.”
“Agreed! Agreed!” answered her eldest son waving a juicy looking drumstick in the air. She noticed with motherly approval that he had started to fill out and his eyes were happy and settled. For a while, she had feared that this particular son was headed for trouble. But that had been long ago in his boyhood. She had been mistaken – happy mistake. She noted with concern, however, that Wandia seemed to have little to say. Something was a miss.
After the meal the children ran out to chase whatever farm animals they could find and to exercise their city cramped limbs. Aoro and Tony decided to take a walk together. Opiyo and his twin went to admire a herd of high breed cattle. Mark sat on the veranda admiring his scampering many hued grandchildren and Elizabeth and Wandia went to the kitchen – the only place where a woman can expect not to be disturbed for a while, especially when all are well fed.
“Yes tell me. Is he giving you a hard time or something?” Elizabeth asked and Wandia looked at her startled.
“No! No! I mean – gosh – am I so obvious?”
“ I can read you like a book, my girl.”
“I have a scholarship to study in America for a year.”
“And he is against it?”
“No! He is not. In fact he is all for it. But how can I leave him with five children?”
“Don’t worry about him. You see if you don’t go, it is something that will haunt you – a lost chance is very hard to live with. We will all chip in to give him a hand with the children. Mary is also there in Nairobi with absolutely no responsibility whatsoever. They will be OK. Just organize your affairs and go do what you have to do.
“Oh, thank you so much! Now I can tell the good news to my own family. I didn’t want to have to disappoint them.” The two women looked at each other with understanding. The leaving and cleaving was always more difficult for a woman who has to tear herself from so much, and give so much – which almost always went unnoticed.
The children, who apparently have some very powerful grinders in their tummies started rushing back into the house to ask for this, that or the other to eat and their solitude was broken as they attended to their needs, but Wandia was now at peace.
Father Tony and Aoro were reminiscing, about the escapades of their boyhood and each memory was punctuated by great gales of laughter. Eventually they got around to more serious talk.
“Great girl you have there.” Observed Tony.
“Yes. I am a lucky man. She does a wonderful job with the kids – Becky’s as well as ours. How about you Tony?
How’s the priesthood? Are you happy?”
“Absolutely. It is my life and it fulfills me completely. You know the priesthood is quiet like medicine.
Date posted:
February 27, 2018
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Answers (1)
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“Betrayal in the City” Francis Imbuga.
“When the Madness of the entire nation disturbs a solitary mind, it is not enough to say the man is...
(Solved)
“Betrayal in the City” Francis Imbuga.
“When the Madness of the entire nation disturbs a solitary mind, it is not enough to say the man is mad”. Basing your answer on Francis Imbuga’s Betrayal in the City show the validity of this statement.
Date posted:
February 22, 2018
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Answers (1)
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Read the article below and answer the questions that follow.
The Guilty of Giving
You've seen that heap of rags
That pollutes the air-conditioned
City Centre
That louse that creeps...
(Solved)
Read the article below and answer the questions that follow.
The Guilty of Giving
You've seen that heap of rags
That pollutes the air-conditioned
City Centre
That louse that creeps about
In the clean core of sophistication;
Youve seen him waylay his betters
And make them start
Especially when they have no change
You recall the day you came upon him
And were startled by his silent presence
Intruding into you preoccupation:
You hurled a coin
Which missed the mark
And rolled into the gutter
Where he groped for it
With a chilling grotesque gratitude
That followed you down the street
You dived into the nearest shop
To escape the stare
Of the scandalized crowd
That found you guilty
Of recalling attention
To the impenetrable patience
They had learnt not to see.
Laban Erapu
(a) Who is the Persona in this poem
(b) Paraphrase the subject matter of this poem
(c) Explain the title of the poem by discussing three different ' guilts'
(d) Identify three poetic devices used by the poet.
(e) What is the tone of this poem?
(f) Explain the meaning of the following lines:
And make them start
Which missed the mark
To escape the stare
Date posted:
February 16, 2018
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Answers (1)
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Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow:
Repentant
Yesterday my emotions
burst like a dam
and flowed violently
onto your innocent self.
Today deluged with
a deep sense of...
(Solved)
Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow:
Repentant
Yesterday my emotions
burst like a dam
and flowed violently
onto your innocent self.
Today deluged with
a deep sense of regret
I hold out my hand
a gesture of reconciliation.
Seeking to forget
The galling bitterness
Of that regrettable moment
When I caused you pain.
A.D. Amateshe.
i) Describe the rhyme scheme in this poem.
ii). Which word would you stress in line 2 of the first stanza?
a) What tone would you use to recite the poem and why?
(b) For each of the following words, write another word that is pronounced the same.
Sale:
Boos:
Cymbal:
Douse:
Morning:
(c) (i) Indicate and name the sound patterns used in the following proverbs:
(i) Better beg than steal.
(ii) Health is better than wealth.
(iii) Time and tide wait for no man.
(iv) Money makes money.
(ii) Give an illustration of the riddling process.
(d) Imagine you are narrating a trickster narrative to children.What would you do to make the performance interesting? Explain.
(e) For each of the following sets of words, underline the odd one out according to the pronunciation of the underlined sounds.
Knot Weapon Saw Breathe
Note Weed Sow Breath
Not Wed So Breadth
Date posted:
February 16, 2018
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Answers (1)
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The Whale Rider – Witi Ihimaera. Nani Flowers is the epitome of humour in Witi Ihimaera’s novel,The Whale Rider. Citing four major incidences from the novel, write an essay supporting this point.
Date posted:
January 23, 2018
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Date posted:
January 23, 2018
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Answers (1)
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The short story Emilia Ilieva and Waveney Olembo (Ed.), When the Sun Goes Down and Other Stories.
With illustrations from Sandisile Tshuma’s story Arrested Development, write...
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Date posted:
January 23, 2018
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Materialism breeds all forms of evils in the society. With close reference to Bertolt Bretch’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle, write an essay in support of...
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Materialism breeds all forms of evils in the society. With close reference to Bertolt Bretch’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle, write an essay in support of this assertion.
Date posted:
January 23, 2018
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Answers (1)
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Date posted:
January 23, 2018
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Answers (1)
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The author Margaret Ogola has effectively used oral tradition as a style. With illustrations from the River and the source,validate this statement.
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The author Margaret Ogola has effectively used oral tradition as a style.With illustrations from the River and the source,validate this statement.
Date posted:
January 19, 2018
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Answers (1)
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Date posted:
January 10, 2018
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Answers (1)
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Discuss the effects of superstition in human life. Base your illustrations on the 'River and the source' by Margaret Ogola.
(Solved)
Discuss the effects of superstition in human life. Base your illustrations on the 'River and the source' by Margaret Ogola.
Date posted:
January 10, 2018
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Answers (1)
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Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow
AN ELEGY
When he was here
We planned each tomorrow
With him in mind
For we saw no parting
Looming in...
(Solved)
Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow
AN ELEGY
When he was here
We planned each tomorrow
With him in mind
For we saw no parting
Looming in the horizon
When he was here,
We joke and laughed together
And no fleeting shadow of a ghost
Ever crossed our paths
Day by day we lived
On this side of the mist
And there was never a sign
That his hours were running fast
When he was gone,
Through glazed eyes we searched
Beyond the mist and shadows
For we couldn’t believe he was nowhere
We couldn’t believe he was dead
(Laban Erapu)
a)What is the message of this poem?
b)Comment on the use of repetition in line 1 of stanza 1 and 2
c)What is the significance of the last line of poem?
d)What would the persona miss in his friend’s absence?
e)Describe the mood of this poem
f)Paraphrase the following line: Through glazed eyes we searched
g)Which two lines in the poem show that the persona has nostaligic tone?
h)Explain the meaning of the following lines as used in the poem.
•Ghost.
•And there was never a sign: that his hours were running fast.
Date posted:
January 9, 2018
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Answers (1)
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The society depicted in Grace Ogot's "The Bamboo Hut" is chauvinistic.Support this assertion basing your argument on the story.
(Solved)
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Date posted:
January 9, 2018
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Answers (1)
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The author of the story "The Bamboo Hut" portrays a community that is rich in traditions.Using illustrations from the story,justify this statement.
(Solved)
The author of the story "The Bamboo Hut" portrays a community that is rich in traditions.Using illustrations from the story,justify this statement.
Date posted:
January 9, 2018
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Answers (1)