The
Pearls
Are these real or fake?
How do pearls represent the main theme of the poem?
The problem with making judgments
- Things are not always what they seem to be on the outside.
- Cultured pearls are made to look like pearls on the outside.
- But, just like the characters in the story, they may be either fake or the real thing.
Imitation Pearls
The Beginning
- At the beginning, Mr. Kelada seems like the “fake pearl”
- He is not a “real” Brit.
- He is a know it all about everything.
The End
- At the end, it turns out that Mrs. Ramsay is the “imitation”
- She keeps secrets from her husband.
- She cannot account for where she got a very expensive gift.
Real Pearls
The Beginning
- At the beginning Mrs. Ramsay seems like the “real pearl”.
- Quiet and modest
- A traditional wife
The End
- At the end, it turns out that Mr. Kelada is the “real pearl”
- He decides to forsake his need to be right in order to save Mrs. Ramsay.
- He has a kind heart