Student Question
What is the main conflict in "The Black Pearl": Ramon diving against his father's wishes or finding the black pearl?
Quick answer:
The main conflict in "The Black Pearl" is Ramon's desire to learn pearl diving against his father's wishes. His father wants him to manage the pearl business, not engage in the dangerous and laborious diving. This conflict is driven by concerns for Ramon's safety and family pride, as diving is seen as beneath their status. Ramon's disobedience in learning diving leads to the family's downfall, highlighting the story's primary conflict.
The conflict would have to be Ramon wanting to learn how to dive. Ramon's father wanted him to learn how to run the pearl business, not actually do the pearl diving himself. Part of his wish that Ramon not learn to dive was fear for Ramon's safety in a dangerous job. The other reason was one of misplaced pride. Ramon's family was now considered to be wealthy. Therefore, Ramon must uphold the family status and not "get his hands dirty" working as a menial laborer. Ramon disobeys his father and sneaks off to learn the trade of pearl diving from an old Indian. His disobedience and the greed of the Spaniard causes the downfall of his family's business. None of this would have happened if Ramon had followed his father's wishes. That is conflict, the main problem in a story.
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