The Pearl Greed Quotes

Family is a strong connection to life. I feel that family roles in the book The Pearl show how they can affect the main character such as, Kino with the problems that he’s going through. In the book Kino murders a man with his knife in chapter five. The loyalty with Kino and his family members is that the all support him if he make any decisions on his own. Even though, Kino wants to make his own decisions he also want support from Juana and Juan to make sure he’s doing the right actions. Juan and Kino are true family members and his loyalty to Kino are capable by helping him shield Kino from committing murder even though it’s a crime. It is appropriate for Juana to take submissive to Kino because when taking a massive problem such as, murder

Of all the symbols that are in Steinbeck’s story, the pearl of the world is the most important because of its direct impact on Kino, Juana, and Coyotito. The Pearl is about a poor diver, Kino, who gathers pearls for a living. Then, on a day like any other, Kino comes to the surface of the sea with a pearl as large as a seagull’s egg. Kino thought it would be a source of wealth, hope, and comfort, whereas it was actually the evil that destroyed their family.

John Steinbeck’s The Pearl follows the story of a Mexican-Indian family who lived in a small village on the coast of the Baja peninsula during the colonial era in Mexico. Kino works tirelessly as a pearl diver to provide for his wife, Juana, and Coyotito, his son. Although he was poor, he and his wife were initially satisfied with their lives. However, Coyotito’s scorpion sting and the discovery of the Pearl of the World opened Kino’s eyes to a much larger world. His simple, peaceful life was marred by the violence and conflict that the pearl brought. The pearl, which incited greed in all who come in contact with it, changed from a symbol of hope to that of chaos and misfortune.

Steinbeck begins the novella by introducing the type of life that was lived by Kino before the discovery of the pearl, and the effect it had not only himself but its effect it had on his family. As Kino watches the ocean he remembers an ancient song from his culture the “Song of the Family” as he remembers this song he takes pleasure in watching his wife do her chores. Kino remembers this moment has a perfect morning like any other mornings. As Kino eats his breakfast he is aware of a scorpion that arrives at Coyotito crib. As the scorpion bit Kino’s son he remembers another ancient song the “Song of Evil”. Steinbeck presents the divides the town in two types - the old natives and the new Christian settlers. Steinbeck uses techniques to distinguish between the native Indians and the more cultured Europeans.

Kino is beginning to realize how at first the pearl seemed to have brought fortune and good to his family, but it really had only brought evil to the family. By the end of the story, Kino and Juana have lost their son, Coyotito, and they wish things were back to the way they were before they found the pearl. Kino then throws the pearl back out into the ocean where he had found it: “And the music of the pearl drifted to a whisper and disappeared” (90). The music disappearing as the pearl sink back into the ocean symbolizes the evil leaving the family: now that the pearl has left, so has the evil. Kino now understands that their “wealth” has brought nothing but evil and has destroyed both himself as well as his family. Not only does Steinbeck use the motif of music to express the theme that good fortune, wealth, and prosperity steer even the most innocent of people towards a path of evil and corruption, but he also uses the motif of light and dark imagery.

“Don’t educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be happy, so they know the value of things, not the price” Victor Hugo stated. Kino and Juana did not have the values or money that many people had, but they had Coyotito. Coyotito shows many symbols such as love, devotion, dedication, and affection towards Kino and Juana throughout the book. In The Pearl by John Steinbeck, Coyotito's illness and characteristics had an impact on Kino and Juana’s decisions.

The person that greed affected the most was Kino. He wanted all the treasures of the pearl, and became a vicious and slightly insane man because of it. In the beginning, the pearl gave him happy thoughts, such as him and his wife getting married. He also saw through the pearl: his family affording new and clean clothes, and Coyotito receiving an education. He then started getting greedy and desiring the deepest riches of the pearl. He wanted a rifle, and then went on from there. This quote from page 12 can prove so, “Then to the lovely gray surface of the pearl came the little things Kino wanted: a harpoon to take the place of one lost a year ago, a new harpoon of iron with a ring in the end of the shaft; and - his mind could hardly make the

For example “Kino this pearl is evil. Let us destroy it before it destroys us.” (Steinbeck, 55). This quote, said by Juana, is foreshadowing the future that is ahead of them. Before the pearl has come into their life Kino was a family man, he loves his wife, loved his son, and loved his life.

In The Pearl the protagonist finds the pearl of the world and is faced with many dangers and adventures after. Throughout the story Kino kept fighting the challenges he faced. He avoided death, escaped burning his burning house and fought and killed trackers to evade capture all in the hopes for a better life for his family. In the first quote it is during the night, Kino feels an evil presence outside their hut. He rushes outside knife in hand only to be jumped by an unknown assailant.

When Kino finds the “Pearl of the World,” they’re faced with conflict. Throughout the scenario “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck, Juana traverses through advancements of realization of what is actually occurring, and what is best for her family. “Kino had wondered often at the iron in his patient, fragile wife. She, who was obedient and respectful and cheerful and patient, could bear physical pain with hardly a cry. She could stand fatigue and hunger almost better than Kino himself.

Steinbeck uses the Pearl as a symbol to communicate the theme greed is not a good thing by making it almost corrupt Kino, making him very greedy for wealth. Throughout the book The Pearl, Kino is doing things that are influenced by the pearl, starting with heading to the capital to eventually killing a man, all for is greed. Right before Kino attempts to sell the pearl in his hometown, he is not blinded by anger at being cheated. When his brother indirectly suggests he go to other places to know the true price of the pearl, Kino refuses. “’How can we know what is a fair price, if we do not know what the pearl buyer gets for the pearl in another place.’

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

It was the greatest pearl in the world (19).” This quote symbolizes the importance and potential financial value the pearl depicts. One can also infer that the pearl will also bring misfortune upon Kino, as his newfound pearl can spark jealousy and hatred. Later on, this does happen, and the pearl then

Juana rises to check on Coyotito and also starts a fire. Kino also gets up and wraps himself in a blanket and slides into his sandals. In the company of a goat and a dog, Kino stares “with the detachment of God” at a group of industrious ants underneath his feet. Behind him Kino hears Juana singing and nursing Coyotito.

sell the pearl in order to pay for a doctor Coyotito needs, but the pearl buyers