CHAPTER SUMMARIES
CHAPTER 1
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Kino, a fisherman, lives in a small fishing village by the sea. He awakes to the sound of the waves on the beach. |
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He is happy listening to the early morning sounds, which includes the Song of the Family. |
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Juana, his wife, prepares breakfast and sings to her baby, Coyotito. |
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After having breakfast, both Kino and Juana see a scorpion moving slowly down the rope of the hanging baby's box (crib). |
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The Song of Evil, a savage and dangerous melody and also the music of the enemy, plays in Kino's mind. |
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The scorpion falls into the baby box and stings Coyotito before Kino can kill it. |
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Juana tries to suck the poison from Coyotito's shoulder. |
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They decide to take the baby to the doctor in the nearby town. |
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All their neighbours follow - they want to know if the doctor will treat Coyotito. |
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The doctor refuses to treat Coyotito because Kino has no money. |
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Kino is angry. |
CHAPTER 2
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Kino loves his old canoe and takes very good care of it - it was given to him by his father (who inherited it from his own father). |
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Juana makes a poultice out of seaweed and applies it to Coyotito's swollen shoulder. |
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Kino takes Juana and Coyotito with him in his canoe when he goes diving for oysters. |
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As Kino dives into the sea for oysters, he hears the Song of the Pearl That Might Be in his head. |
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He finds a large oyster lying in an isolated spot. |
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Kino opens the oyster and finds the great pearl, as large as 'a seagull's egg', and as 'perfect as the moon'. |
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At the same time, Juana notices that the swelling on Coyotito's shoulder is going down. |
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Kino screams out with joy and the other fisherman rush to him. |
CHAPTER 3
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News that Kino has found the Pearl of the World travels fast around the town. |
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Everyone wants to sell Kino something or to ask favours from him. |
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Kino plans to sell the great pearl and dreams of living a decent life. |
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The priest reminds Kino to give thanks to God for his good fortune. |
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Kino hears 'the music of evil, of the enemy' faintly in his mind. |
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That night, the doctor and his servant appear at Kino's little brush house to treat Coyotito. |
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Kino does not welcome the doctor - he is still angry - but the doctor frightens him about Coyotito's condition. |
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The doctor gives the baby a capsule that contains white powder. He tells Kino that the poison will attack within the hour. He says that he will be back in an hour. |
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Later that night, after the doctor has gone home, the baby becomes very sick. |
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The doctor rushes to treat Coyotito as soon as he hears that the baby is ill but he demands payment from Kino. |
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Kino believes the doctor may have made the baby sick, but he promises to pay as soon as he sells the pearl. |
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The doctor offers to keep the pearl for him but Kino refuses the offer. |
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That night, someone tries to steal the pearl but Kino puts up a flight. The intruder hits him on the head and runs away. |
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Juana blames the pearl for the attack and asks Kino to destroy the pearl or throw it back into the sea but Kino refuses to do so. |