The Pearl Women

The quote, “Behind every great man, there is an even greater women,” explains the role of women in John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. This short story was written in 1947 and reflects the thinking of a man during this time period. Kino, who is a poor pearl diver in a small town finds a pearl so great that he and his family would be set for life. But, the pearl ends up bringing more pain than hope to his family. Juana, Kino’s wife, watches as her husband gets more paranoid and cautious the longer they have the pearl. Juana’s actions in The Pearl, show how much the actions of one women can change a whole story. When Kino wakes every day, he is welcomed by the eyes of his wife, Juana. Juana is just like every other women of the time. A women, who is supposed to take care of the children and home while her husband works, she did this job very well. When Kino finds the pearl she supports his dreams the pearl allows Kino to have. Like being able to get married in the church and their son, Coyotito, being able to go to school. Juana supports her husband, but also warns him that the pearl could also bring bad luck upon their family. Juana is correct about their luck, the pearl makes her husband paranoid. Which he has a right to be.
Yes, men and women can have the same thoughts, but their actions are almost always different. Kino reacts outwardly with actions and Juana reacts inwardly with subtle words to Kino. Juana has a huge but subtle role in The Pearl. She watches but rarely speaks her mind, which is common for women in the 1940’s. Juana is the perfect women for this story. She is strong in a way that women today don not have to be. Today women can be strong on the outside, she could not. She has an inner strength that shows through the whole book. Her actions speak louder than her words ever could. Juana’s role in this story was to be a mother and care taker of her son. The question is did she succeed in filling that