Steinbeck leads some of us to believe the main comflict of the book is Coyotito's scorpian sting, but its just a complication. What is the major conflict of the book, as established in the end of the first chapter? How does Kino feel about this conflict?
The real conflict is the oppression of Kino's race through over 400 years of mistreatment. Kino finds that no one will treat him fairly until he finds the pearl; the priest has refused to marry Kino and Juana; the doctor will not treat the baby; people only become interested in him once he has something that they greedily want. Kino wants more for his family: a marriage, an education for Coyotito, treatment like a man and not a peon.
