What is the meaning of the songs in The Pearl?

The songs in this book are important because they add historical and cultural depth to both the setting and the characters. We are told that no new songs are being created, but the old songs remained important.

The songs remained; Kino knew them, but no new songs were added. That does not mean that there were no personal songs. In Kino's head there was a song now, clear and soft, and if he had been able to speak of it, he would have called it the Song of the Family.

The songs themselves serve as a way to more deeply build Kino as a character and his family, and the Song of the Family remains important through various parts of the story. The song serves as a way to remind readers of the thematic importance of family, as well as being important to the family itself. For example, we are told early in the story that a simple three note song was capable of endless variety and therefore was able to endlessly function as a binding tie to the family.

Kino could see these things without looking at them. Juana sang softly an ancient song that had only three notes and yet endless variety of interval. And this was part of the family song too. It was all part. Sometimes it rose to an aching chord that caught the throat, saying this is safety, this is warmth, this is the Whole.

What is the meaning of the songs in The Pearl?

The way Steinbeck discusses music in The Pearl allows readers to believe that there is almost a "soundtrack" to this story. If you imagine any movie you've watched and pay attention to the background music, or score, you'll realize that when things are going well the music tends to be light and happy. However, when something horrible is about to happen the music turns ominous and suspenseful.

In The Pearl, readers are introduced to the songs in Kino's head at the beginning of the story. These songs are always there, passed down from generation to generation and creating what Kino refers to as the "whole." Every piece of his day is a piece of his song.

The first song that is mentioned by name is the "Song of the Family." This is the tune he hears in his head as his wife is cooking breakfast, as waves lap gently on the shoreline, and as his baby sleeps. It indicates his happy and peaceful life and connects him to his ancestors.

Later he hears "The Song of Evil" which starts when he realizes that there is an immediate threat to his child's life. It indicates danger and anything that might be a threat to his family's welfare. When he identifies this danger as a specific threat (the scorpion), the song turns even more telling, "The Song of the Enemy." When he hears this song, it is about something that must be immediately destroyed.

Kino also hears these songs later in the novella when he is threatened yet again. You can see the summary of the story here. 

How many songs are mentioned in Steinbeck's "The Pearl"?

The main song that is mentioned is the Song of the Family. This doubles as both Kino's personal song and family anthem. It materializes itself throughout the story. The song can take on a happy rhythm or wailing tones. During peaceful moments, it speaks of safety, warmth, and wholeness. Juana also contributes to this family song by singing a variation of its theme using only three notes and endless varieties of intervals. She sings her own version of the Song of the Family to Coyotito (to comfort him), as he suffers through the effects of the scorpion's poison.

Despite its power, the Song of the Family can be drowned out by the Song of Evil, "the music of the enemy, of any foe of the family, a savage, secret, dangerous melody." The Song of Evil accosts the family when the scorpion first stings Coyotito. As Kino grabs the offending arachnid and grinds it into the ground, the Song of the Enemy roars in his ears.

Kino's people have always sung about "everything that happened or existed." So, when Kino fills his basket with oyster shells, he hears the Song of the Pearl That Might Be mingling with the Song of the Undersea.

Later, when Kino faces off with the trackers, the Song of the Family becomes a warrior anthem. It is "as fierce and sharp and feline as the snarl of a female puma." After Coyotito's death, Kino decides to return the great pearl to the sea. As he prepares to throw the pearl into the waters, he hears the Song of the Family as a battle cry. It is fierce and resolute, urging him towards his mission of returning the ill-fated pearl to the sea.

So, there are at least five songs mentioned in the story:

1)The Song of the Family and its variations.

2)The Song of Evil.

3)The Song of the Undersea.

4) The Song of the Pearl That Might Be.

5) The Song of the Enemy (which appears to be a variation of the Song of Evil).

How many songs are mentioned in Steinbeck's "The Pearl"?

This is, in reality, sort of a trick question. In chapter one of John Steinbecks' The Pearl the narrator states that all of the songs sung are considered part of the Whole. Therefore, if looking at the question from this perspective, only one song is sung. 

Another trick to this question is that Kino recognized life as songs. For example, the cooking of breakfast was a song too. Therefore, if looked at in this light, there are far too many songs to name because everything is a song. 

The first actual song mentioned in John Steinbecks' The Pearl appears in chapter one. Here, Juana sings "The Song of the Family." Very soon afterward, she begins to sing an "ancient song that had only three notes." 

Later, when the scorpion approaches Coyotito, the "Song of Evil"  and the "Song of the Enemy" are both heard.

Other songs heard in the novella are as follows.

-"The Song of the That Might Be"

-"The Song of the Undersea"

Therefore, there are three answers to the question: 1) too many songs to count (for everything is a song); 2) only one song (because everything is part of a single song); or 3) there are four songs (as named above).  

What is the function of songs in The Pearl?

When I first read Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, I was struck by the power putting the songs in there had.  I think this is similar.  The songs simultaneously establish the setting and comment on the themes of the book and, as number 4 points out, the tone.

What is the function of songs in The Pearl?

The songs mimic the tone of the novel, and they also serve as an entry, if you will, into Kino's mind.  He himself does not speak much, but the songs serve as a portal to what he is thinking and feeling at the time.  Much the way a music score accentuates the action in a movie, Kino's song accentuate whatever is happening to him at the moment. I love having my students write their own songs of their lives as an activity to go with this novel. 

What is the function of songs in The Pearl?

I learnt long time ago, that Negro Spirituals served to comfort  black slaves as they worked and to assure them of a promised freedom that one day would come.

I believe that the Songs in "The Pearl" serve to operate on a similar level. The mexican-indian people used songs to express their emotions. These songs became part of their existence for so long and this seemed to be Steinbeck's way of showing this aspect of mexican indian culture to us. Hence, when Kino dives in search of a pearl, he hears the song of the undersea and this is mirroring the anticipation he feels as he searches with deliberate care. In that song, the music of another song emerges. That is the music of the pearl that might be. After finding the pearl, Kino and Juana sit in their brush house, surrounded by neighbours who they think share their joy. Again we are told that they hear the music of the pearl and that the music of the family merges with it and beautify each other.

The songs /music even alert kino to impending evil. As kino sleeps that night, he is troubled and the music of evil plays in his dream. This is what causes him to wake up and it is then that he discovers that someone is in his hut. This intruder wants to steal the pearl. In a later instance, when Kino looked into the pearl to find the images of the positive dreams he has of his future, he only sees his misfortunes and the music of the pearl is then blended with the music of evil.

Which songs are mentioned in The Pearl?

There are three main songs in this book. 'The Song of the Family' represents the protagonists, Kino and his wife and son. 'The song of Evil/the enemy' denotes anything that threatens the security and happiness of Kino and his family. Finally, there is the music of the pearl which at first appears positive as it promises to bring wealth and freedom to Kino and his family.

To begin with the song of the pearl is part of the whole 'Song of the Undersea,' a part of nature that appears beautiful and beneficent. However, by the end, having brought nothing but misfortune to the family, its music becomes 'distorted and insane' (chapter 6), merging into the song of the enemy, of evil.

'The Song of the Family' also changes in the course of the book. At first it is gentle and soothing, but by the end it takes on a whole new quality as the family is left without support, cornered, hunted down.

The Song of the Family had become as fierce and sharp and feline as the snarl of a female puma. (chapter 6)

At this point, then, this song is figured as a fighting animal, full of rage and desperation as it struggles for survival.

 Kino and Juana do survive, but only at the cost of losing their son and the former friendship of their neighbours. At the end they are depicted as being fundamentally alone, cut off from other human beings. Although they cannot undo the harm done by the pearl, they extinguish its evil music by casting it back into the sea.