The Pearl: Chapter 1

It is very early in the morning near La Paz, when an Indian-Mexican known as Kino wakes up. He realizes that his wife is already awake as usual. Through the crack of his door, he can clearly see that is dawn. His house, just like those of his fellow villagers, is made up of brush straws. He looks at his son's makeshift bed, a box hanging on ropes, and sees his son sleeping comfortably.

Juana wakes up, checks on their son, Coyotito, sleeping in the hanging box and goes on to make a fire. Kino rises from his bed, wraps himself in a blanket and goes outside the house to admire the sun that is now rising and clouds hovering all over the sky. Outside, he finds himself in the company of a dog and a goat as he stares at hardworking ants underfoot.  He looks at them "with the detachment of God." He can hear Juana's song as she nurses Coyotito. It is a simple song but it arouses thoughts in his mind.

Kino goes back to the house, where Juana is busy working on her hair. They take their breakfast--pulque and corncakes, silently as everything is a routine to them. The only sound is Kino's sigh of contentment when he finishes his breakfast. A ray of light illuminates the box and a scorpion is seen walking on the rope to where the child sleeps. Both Kino and Juana are terrified. In her fear, she recites a prayer asking for Coyotito's protection while Kino attempts to kill the scorpion.

He reaches for the scorpion but coincidentally the child shakes in the box, aiding the scorpion to evade Kino's hand and land squarely on his shoulder. It strikes immediately and Coyotito screams. Kino grabs it and kills it with a severe beating. The damage has, however, already been done. The child is in so much pain.

Juana takes the child and sucks the venom from his body. Their neighbours are alerted by the child's wailing and they briskly come to their home in large numbers. Kino's brother Juan Tomas and his wife, Apolonia, are among them. As the child continues to wail in pain, Juana asks Kino to fetch the doctor. This surprises the neighbours because the doctor never visits the brush houses. He belongs to the race of Spaniards who colonized Kino and his people. Juana makes a resolution to take the child to the doctor, and they leave with the villagers trailing them.

They get to the town and more people follow them, including beggars.  The beggars know how to analyze the financial status of everyone passing by them. They quickly conclude that Kino and his family are poor by simply looking at their clothes. When they get to the doctor's home, they meet his servant at the gate. He's a member of their race but is not ready to speak to Kino in their language. The doctor refuses to attend to Coyotito and tells the servant to tell them that he's not in. However, the truth is that he believes Kino's race has never had money and always wants to be treated for free. Kino hits the doctor's gate in rage, injuring his knuckles.

Analysis

The chapter reveals poverty, racial discrimination, good relations among villagers, and cruelty. From the description of Kino, his wife and Coyotito, it is evident that they lead a very poor kind of life. Precisely, they live in a poorly built house (brush house) and their clothes are old and typical of poor people. In fact, the beggars quickly draw this conclusion upon looking at Juana's old blue skirt, her torn shawl, Kino's old blanket and the many washings that his clothes have undergone. This is the kind of life that all the other villagers of Kino's race live.

Racial discrimination is seen through the doctor's sentiments. He says, "Have I nothing better to do than cure insect bites for "little Indians? I am a doctor and not a veterinary." These words imply that the Indian in question is an animal and not a human being. Referring to a dangerous scorpion as an insect shows that since the doctor has money, dealing with its venom is a minor issue. When juxtaposed with Kino's life, the difference between their social classes becomes very clear.

From the chapter, it also emerges that the villagers have very good relations among themselves. They quickly rush to Kino's house when they hear Coyotito's cry. Besides this, they readily escort them when they decide to visit the doctor.

Cruelty is majorly exuded by the doctor. He considers Coyotito an animal and that is why he says that he is not a veterinary to cure him. He also instructs his servant to tell them that he is not in just because he believes they cannot afford to pay for his services.