The Pearl: Building a Background

John Steinbeck

Getting to Know: JohnSteinbeck

American NovelistWrote Of Mice and MenBorn in Salinas, California on February 27,

1902Was fascinated with marine life and spent a

great deal of time at Monterey Bay, CaliforniaLoved vacationing at the beach in MexicoWrote mostly about common people down on

their luck

The Baja Peninsula: Key Facts

Located in Northwestern MexicoPeninsula-a piece of land that juts out into the

water and is surrounded by water on three sides

Separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez)

Climate: The north is tropical and the south is hot and dry

The primary language spoken is SpanishEnglish is commonly spoken as well

Indigenous Culture

“Indigenous” is defined at m-w.com as “produced, growing, living, or occurring naturally in a particular region or environment.

Therefore, to be part of an indigenous culture means to be native to a land or region, especially before intrusion of foreign culture.

Scorpions

Have eight legsTwo grasping clawsCurved tail w/ venomous stinger at the end Found on every continent but Antarctica

More Scorpion Facts

Scorpions live mostly in warm habitatsNocturnalPredatory creaturesAmbush prey (insects, spiders, mice, snakes,

etc.) with claws and immobilize them with their poisonous tail if needed

Fast-acting venom used to hunt and defend

Effects of Scorpion Sting

Swelling and pain at puncture wound

Sweating, Vomiting, Shock, Death

Treatment=antiserum from doctor

How are Pearls Formed?

A grain of sand slips into the oysterThis foreign object irritates the flesh of the

oysterIn its defense, the oyster releases a cement-

like substance that covers this foreign objectResult? A Pearl

OYSTER

Diagram of Oyster

Oyster with Pearl

OYSTERs ready to eat

Pearl Diving in Mexico

Two types of oysters that form pearls are indigenous to Mexico

Mexico was once the leading country in pearl diving

Free-divers dove to depths over 100 feet on a single breath

Pearls were initially found by bringing up tons of oysters in the hopes of finding a handful of pearls

Very dangerous job: drowning and dangerous animals

Pearl Diver

Natural Pearls

Pearls formed in the wild are extremely RARE and therefore EXPENSIVE. Many fisherman on the Baja Peninsula made a living fishing and diving for pearls.

Pre-Revolution Post-RevolutionMexico Mexico

Ancient Mexico=Peace and Harmony

Simple, tranquil way of life

However, the Aztec Indians were treated as inferiors and were poor

Wealth lived in hands of few Spaniards

Despite previous oppression of the indigenous culture, a great civilization has been built and will continue to grow.

Mexican people can fuse these two cultures, Indian and Spanish, together.

THE END