A very dark tale

The story, as the author mentions in a very short preamble, is now unsubtle, with a fairly clear line between good and evil. But, this is without taking into account the genius of Steinbeck that manages to infuse his characters a very fair personality.

The tale begins with a very detailed description of the landscape: the author takes the time to absorb it (the story takes place in Bolivia, near the capital in a small village that houses the Indian fishermen), so that is swept away by the magic of this landscape, the silence to which it relates. Dialogue is not a pronouncement of the entire first chapter: only the description of the calm and serenity of the morning seems.
Until Coyotito, little Kino and Juana, takes place stung by a scorpion, forcing parents to make arrangements as soon as possible. They go to the city, to see the only doctor in the area, no money to pay. Monte then the rage in Kino who goes to sea to find oysters that may contain a pearl that would allow them to care for the child. During this fishery, it is the largest pearl in the world, returns and begins to imagine what he will do with.

But little by little, Kino becomes increasingly suspicious, scrutinizes everyone with suspicion, refused to close my eyes for fear of seeing the fly. Therefore, it becomes (metaphorically) into a fawn, constantly on the alert, ready to pounce.

Writing Steinbeck makes wonderfully slow, deep metamorphosis Kino, described so far by his peers as a kind man, attentive: the "good guy" par excellence. Only Juana sensed that this pearl carries the evil eye and desperate to get rid of, regretting that her husband does not have sold at misery prices proposed by the pearl buyers. It will even get up quietly at night to reject the sea. But the eye Snoop Kino finds out and runs after her and strikes to prevent it. This brutality is an important stage of its transformation into fawn.

Pearl also stirs the envy of city people who suddenly show interest for Kino. Some even sneak home at night to find the pearl. But Kino feels their presence, like a predator lurking and trying to kill them. Alas, he eventually achieve the point that he becomes a fugitive. Fleeing his village with his wife and child, he began the long path that will lead him to the mountains to escape justice. From there, Steinbeck's description Kino, has nothing human. And those who stalk become the hunters with guns, dogs and horses.

But, a character appears left-nots: Coyotito. And sadly, it will be the sad victim of the forfeiture of his father, who will recover (too late) his spirits, and a wry gesture will eventually do what he should have done right away: at the sea fruit of its loss.

Steinbeck never seems exaggerate and yet nothing of what he writes is lost. Nothing escapes it: the progress of the story to the turn to the dark shades of the end; the games of light and shadow, in perfect agreement with the evolution of history; Chants Kino, first evoking the safe cocoon but which gradually turn into misfortune songs, predator. This book is a real gem. As for the lessons of this book, they are many: to each to find his message, in the words of the author.