Symbolism of the Pearl in The Pearl by John Steinbeck Essay

Kino in The Pearl creates the theme of greed and power can make one’s downfall. In the book Juana (Kino’s wife) hears evil music with the pearl and fears it will tear apart the family and the village. So she sneaks out in the early morning with it and tries to get rid of it to free her family from evil but gets caught in the action by her husband who goes savage. “Her arm was up to throw when he leaped at her and caught her arm and wrenched the pearl from her. He struck her in the face with his clenched fist and she fell among the boulders, and he kicked her in the side...Kino looked down at her and his teeth were bared. He hissed at her like a snake…”(page 58-59) This shows how greed and power can make one’s downfall because the greed of the pearl and the idea of what riches it could bring to the family and the whole village which makes Kino fill with rage when he sees Juana trying to get rid of

At the beginning of the story they both felt content and happy as show in this quote “Sometimes it rose to an aching chord that caught the throat, saying this is safety, this is warmth, this is the Whole.”. They did not even speak because their understanding was so great. But after Kino found the pearl his relationship steadily deteriorates as shown in this quote “"Kino," she said huskily, "I am afraid. A man can be killed. Let us throw the pearl back into the sea." "Hush," he said fiercely. "I am a man. Hush.”. That shows that as time goes by Kino is acting ruder and harshly to Juana all because of the greed the pearl caused. Another example is "This thing is evil," she cried harshly. "This pearl is like a sin! It will destroy us," and her voice rose shrilly. "Throw it away, Kino. Let us break it between stones. Let us bury it and forget the place. Let us throw it back into the sea. It has brought evil. Kino, my husband, it will destroy us." And in the firelight her lips and her eyes were alive with her fear. But Kino's face was set, and his mind and his will were set” this quote shows that Juana is becoming increasingly fearful yet Kino is sure this is the way and is willing to do whatever is necessary to become wealthy. This causes a strain between their relation. Finally the worst thing Kino commits is the act of attacked Juana. He is described as a snake hissing at her and hitting her that makes her fall. He even continues to kick her after she has fallen and she accepts it and knows he may even murder her. This shows that Kino has broken all limits of humanity and is being consumed by

Kino was attacked by mean trying to steal the pearl. He killed one of them in self-defense but Juana tells him that does not matter. He will still face consequences from the townspeople once the body is found in the morning.

Many people in the world today grow crazy and mad when surrounded by even the slightest bit of wealth and good fortune. Even a strong person who recognizes their priorities can still become corrupt with too much power. There is no better example of a person falling into the path of evil and corruption than in a novel written by John Steinbeck. In the novel The Pearl, by John Steinbeck, the author writes about a poor Indian man named Kino who becomes corrupt from the wealth of a magnificent pearl. Steinbeck uses the motifs of music, light and dark imagery, and values to develop the theme that good fortune, wealth, and prosperity steer even the most innocent of people towards a path of evil and corruption. The reader learns that one

However, Kino was enraged with anger at Juana for trying to throw away his pearl. The pearl had changed him for the worse, it had become part of him he loved the pearl. Kino would do anything to make sure that nothing would happen to it, even if it meant beating up his wife in order to save his pearl.

Juan Tomas who is Kino’s older brother, warns him about the peculiarity about the unusual events that happen to him due to discovering the pearl. He says “ There is a devil in this pearl. You should have sold it and passed on the devil” (Bender 98). This quote shows Juan his happy for his brother and wants him to be wealthy but he is also nervous about how society and his life will change around him because everyone wants the pearl.  He hides Kino and Juana in his house after he finds out Kino had killed someone to protect himself. Apolonia who is Juan’s wife warns Kino as well about the dangers of the pearls discovery. She has four children too and agrees to give Kino and Juana housing if they need it. Those characters are well aware of the strange occurrences that follow the finding of the pearl. Steinbeck has included them in his book to show that greed can come of a situation like as illustrated in the book. Another character the doctor, is represented in the book as selfishness and greed in the society. He does not agree to treat Coyotito after he has been bitten by a scorpion until he finds out Kino has a pearl that is worth great fortune. Most people in the book become close to Kino to be closer to the pearl. This demonstrates the lust for currency, which Steinbeck truly despises. The priest as well tries to get close to Kino in hopes he can receive some money. The trackers and

Although Kino performed many heroic acts, he also acted foolishly in various circumstances. He lives with his wife Juana and his son Coyotito. The novel tells his story when he happens to find a large pearl in the beach that has the capacity to either bring him death or happiness. After finding this big pearl, he believes that this is going to the beginning of a new chapter for him and his family because poverty was eventually going to leave them. His foolishness was first seen when he announced the pearl that he had found making everyone to try to steal it from him. Knowing the worth of the pearl, he should have kept the information to himself and sold it later. After seeing what people were able to do to him because of the pearl, he should have just sold it at the price the buyers said because it eventually led to the death of his son. The buyers only referred to it as a ‘fool’s gold’ and that it was not worth anything. Kino’s greed put his family in danger and caused the death of his only son. Even after he was convinced that the pearl was evil by his wife, he says, "The pearl has become my soul. If I shall give it up, I

As soon as everyone found out, he found a huge pearl, the doctor came hoping to get it or get payed (Steinbeck 702). Kino was anger he had never felt that kinda anger before; after everything that happened to his son now he is willing to help because they will be rich. The doctor some how convinced Kino to let him help by; getting him sick again to then heal him (Steinbeck 701). Later one once Kino goes to the capital to trade his pearl once he left, after turning down there offers, a man tried to jump him and steal the pearl. Kino then stabbed a man out of rage and self defence (Steinbeck 704). This was just the beginning of Kino’s anger and and bad luck. Then his wife Juana tried to take the pearl away from him and drop it into the ocean, but Kino pushed her to the ground and beat her. Kino had all the anger and rage in the world right now, and he took it out on his wife that he loved (Steinbeck 708). Once the family arrived home; they realized there house was on fire and they had to hide hoping to get away from everyone that wants the pearl. They hide once the people new where they were they ran and so did

As more and more bad things happen to Kino like hurting his wife he realizes that the pearl is evil and runs away from his burned down home only to realize that hunters are after him. Kino quickly realizes that he has to kill them but in the process they kill the baby. Kino looks at the pearl and only sees darkness and evil, not the joy and pride he use to and throws it away so he can go back to his old life. In this book the author attacks the church, medical profession, capitalism, and class

Aware of Kino’s family and their values of religion, the priest uses that to convince Kino to pay for repairs and possible selfish needs. When he wonders about the pearl’s value, it shows him as a possible candidate for the mysterious intruders. Greed affects everyone in The Pearl, but one character loses everything in the pursuit of

Kino’s search for money and power results in the destruction of his family. Before finding the pearl, he is kindhearted and loving. His wife, Juana, and his infant son, Coyotito, are his whole world. After Kino is attacked by someone trying to take the pearl, Juana tries to throw it back in the ocean.

Another example of greed is shown when Juana takes the pearl from Kino to throw back into the sea. Kino realizes what she is doing and goes after her. Just as Juana is about to discard the pearl, Kino grabs her arm and wrenches the pearl from her. He punches her in the face and when she falls on the boulders, he kicks her in the side. The following quote establishes the violence that Kino unleases on his wife in order to protect his precious pearl from harm, due to his greediness of what the pearl will bring to him and his family: “…Rage surged in Kino. He leaped at Juana and wrenched the pearl from her…with clenched fists, struck her in the face…kicked her in the side…Greedy fingers went through his clothes” (58-59).

After fighting battles with himself, Kino began to lose his ability to control himself because he was set on his plan for his family that he once saw in the pearl. “He struck her in the face with his clenched fist and she fell among the boulders and he kicked her in the side.” (Steinbeck 59). Multiple instances have occured since Kino first got the pearl, including two attacks to steal it during the night, as well as thousands of eyes that have stared through him and looked into his soul full of secrets, making him feel scared throughout the day and night, worried that those eyes would turn into attacks on his pearl, which holds the future for his family. After Juana, Kino’s wife had enough jealous stares and greedy attacks, she took the pearl and boldly planned to throw it into the water, for it to drown with the wealth and the struggles attached to it. But, as Kino was constantly aware of everything occurring with the pearl, he didn't care whether it was his wife or a stranger, because he knew he had to attack and prevent the loss of the pearl, especially since he has such a close connection to it. “The pearl has become my soul. If I give it up, I shall lose my soul.” (Steinbeck 67). Kino cannot live without the pearl and as everyday goes by, his connection with the pearl grows stronger, and his

In the novel Kino talk to buyers who want to buy the pearl from him and when a few buyer approached him, the first buyer made no offer because he said the earl is a monstrosity. The second buyer said that the pearl would die within a few months. The third but last buyer offered Kino five hundred pesos. Juana knew that the pearl was evil because when Kino and Juana were sleeping at night they heard some noise going on outside there house and when Kino went out there with a knife and Juana came out there with a stone, she saw Kino lying on the ground all bloody and beaten down. At that time when Kino was beaten down, Juana asked Kino to destroy the pearl, but Kino still feels that the pearl would bring good for Coyotito, so Kino decided to go

Another character who longed for similar esteems was the rich doctor. The doctor was the opposite of a doctor that you would anticipate. He was a perplexing character who only cared about things such as pleasure and wealth. When Coyotito was ill, he wasn’t concern and declines to treat Coyotito. Before long as he found out about Kino’s pearl, he talks as though he proposed on curing Coyotito from the start, however his goals were only to track the pearl. Particularly in chapter 1, The doctor communicates, “No, they never have any money. I, I alone in the world I am supposed to work for nothing—and I am tired of it. See if he has any money (Steinbeck 11)! Furthermore, the novelist affirms that the doctor is so greedy to the point that he refuses to cure the defenseless newborn child since they are fiscally poor Indians that don’t have much to offer him in return of his