Pearl (Bilingual Reading: Chinese and English)

Author: Steinbeck
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: A child follows a hunting party into the great forest, where their great and noble opponent is a massive and ancient bear. How does the child complete his education during the tracking process?
A young American boy named Isaac has been accompanying the hunting party to the undeveloped forests of Mississippi since he was 10 years old, going there to hunt a bear known as "Old Ben." The bear is a noble opponent of humanity, and they must deal with it with lofty principles and just actions. Isaac learns humility and self-esteem from the old black man Sam, who taught him that "humility is forged through hardship and self-esteem through endurance," and from an unconquerable old bear in the wild. At the age of 16, the hunters, with the help of a trained dog tamed by Sam, kill Old Ben. However, Sam also passes away almost at the same moment—the great enemy is gone, and the natural hero has no intention of lingering in the world. Isaac once again learns the true meaning of life from the sorrow.
In the pearl-fishing center of Tubac City in northern Mexico, the Chin family lives a poor but peaceful life. One day, Chin's son, Little Dog, is stung by a scorpion and his life is in danger, but they have no money to seek medical help. Chin finds a huge pearl in the sea and believes it will bring him a happy life. However, the pearl merchants to drive down the price, and someone even steals his pearls at night. Chin's wife, Juanita, thinks it is an inauspicious object and plans to secretly throw it back into the sea. Chin chases after it and retrieves it. On the way home, they are ambushed again, and Chin kills his enemies. When they return home, they find their hut has been destroyed by fire, and their small boat, which they rely on for survival, has also been ruined.
During their escape to the capital, the Chin family of three encounters another pursuit. Little Dog is hit by a stray bullet and dies, and Chin kills several enemies before setting off on the return journey. He returns the great pearl that brought him disaster to the sea.