The Pearl Symbolism Essay

The loss of innocence John Steinbeck’s book, The Pearl, is about a Mexican pearl diver, Kino, and his family. The story is told through the eyes of an outside narrator about his journey with “The Pearl of the World.” The main character is Kino, who is hardworking and desperate to support his family. In the book, the author uses revealing actions to show that disappointment and greed can make a man forget his purpose. Kino started as a family man, but by the end of the book, he was controlled by the greed he felt in his heart.

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 could see Juana in a shawl, stiff with newness and a new skirt, he could see himself dressed in new white clothes with a new hat, holding a new harpoon better than the one he had previously broken. He could see Coyotito, he wore a blue sailor suit from the United States and a little yachting cap, these are all things he wanted, that he could now have.” Kino states everything he wants and can now get in life which makes him more arrogant, leading him on a path of destruction. This also gives Kino something to look back on after it's too late. “In the moonlight he could see the frantic, frightened eyes, and Kino aimed and fired between the eyes. Suddenly he heard the keening, moaning, rising hysterical cry from the little cave in the side of the stone mountain, the cry of death. He hastily scaled the mountain and entered the cave to bear the sight of a small limp heavy bundle. The shawl was dried with blood, and the bundle swayed a little swayed a little as it was held.” Kino has sacrificed the one thing he cares most in the world about for a simple pearl which again proves the point that Kino is truly a tragic hero. Kino believes that if he can come out safely with both his family and the pearl intact that he can live happily ever after, but with the pearl comes evil and death. Later in the novel when Kino is forced to choose between his family and

He does this by showing the effects of greed on Kino’s relationship with his wife. For example, in the story it states “He struck her in the face with his clenched fist and she fell among the boulders and he kicked her in the side.” (59) When Kino’s wife tries to take the pearl his greed grows so strong that he hits her. Thus the greed of the pearl slowly starts to corrupt what's closest to him. Early on in the story Kino was so lovingly connected with his wife that they didn’t need words to communicate.

Every living thing, despite its beauty, is pursued. Even something as simple as a deer is hunted, but in The Pearl, a “Pearl of the World” is found. John Steinbeck, a famous American author, wrote the novella The Pearl. Kino, an American Indian man who would do anything for his family, finds a pearl of great value. The pearl changes the humble man into a greedy monster of a man.

The theme of The Pearl by John Steinbeck is oppression can be concealed or straightforward, regardless it always impacts the receiver. One event that demonstrates this theme is when the priest makes the sermon. It says, “And the Father made it clear that each man and woman is like a soldier sent by God… But each one must remain faithful to his post and must not go running about, else the castle is in danger from the assaults of Hell.” (pg. 46). This shows theme because the priest is explaining that Kino’s people are unable to move out of their social class without consequences. This type of oppression is concealed as the priest doesn’t directly state that Kino and his people must remain in their class. He is using his religious power to voice

That night, an intruder comes to the house searching for the pearl, but Kino wakes up and uses his knife to stab and make the intruder run away. Kino is wounded from the fight with the intruder, but Juana takes care of him and keeps his wounds from becoming extremely

In the final chapters of the novel, Juana recognized the evil of the pearl and tried to throw it in the ocean while Kino was sleeping. Before Juana could do this, Kino woke up and began striking and kicking her. “He struck her in the face with his clenched fist and she fell among the boulders” (Steinbeck 57). John Steinbeck used the literary device characterization here to show us that Kino’s personality was changing and he didn’t mind causing pain to those in came in his way. Kino killed four men, but the pain that Kino put his family through was much more pain that anyone could

What would you do if you had a pearl? The Pearl is written by John Steinbeck. Kino is the main character and is the one who finds the pearl that will change his life for the better or for the worse. Juanita is his wife who supports him through all the hardships and with their baby son Coyotito. Kino one day while pearl diving finds a clam that he believes will be the one. So when he comes out of the water to open up the clam, he finds the thing he had been looking for to save him and his family, a pearl.

The novella The Pearl, written John Steinbeck is a story where a poor family’s son gets bitten by a scorpion, they strike it rich with a beautiful pearl that then ruins their life. Through their greediness. Kino, Juana, and baby Coyotito are victimized for being Native Mexican, as a result, they live in poverty and get treated poorly by the Spaniards. The theme greed causes people to value money more than the important things in life is developed through the pearl and conflict.

When Juana tries to tell him that the pearl is evil, he doesn’t believe her. He says, “No one shall take our good fortune from us.” Kino is determined to sell the pearl and become rich; no one seems to be able to tell him otherwise. He also says, “This pearl has become my soul. If I give it up, I shall lose my soul.”

He imagined a better life for his family. Despite everything that went wrong, despite people telling him to throw the pearl away, Kino continued to believe in the value and importance of the pearl. Early on Juana tried to convince Kino to get rid of the pearl, “‘This pearl is a sin! It will destroy us,’ and her voice rose shrilly ‘ throw it away.’”(John Steinbeck 38). Kino would have ordinarily taken into consideration his wife’s concerns and this was out of character. While under the spell of the pearl, It didn’t matter to him that Juana had his best interest in mind when she advised him to get rid of the pearl. Even after Kino was attacked, he was unwavering in his conviction in the value of the pearl, “but Kino’s face was set, and his will was set” Kino was given many chances to throw away the pearl, but yet he was stubborn and continued to believe in the pearl even though his world was falling apart and even though he could lose

Kino a loving father and husband whom had dreams for his family, as shown in steinbeck’s The Pearl. But fate led him to a pearl of exqwizit magnificence. This pearl assured the dreams he wanted for his family, to marry ied to his wife Juana, and for his son Coyotito to get a proper education. But because of Kino’s obsessive attitude over the pearl it doomed his family to a different path, one with fear, death, and corruption. Juana his loving wife whom was spectacle of what Kino was doing and questioned him “Who do you fear?” (35) Kino answered with “Everyone”(36). You may argue that Kino’s actions are being based on greed therefore greed is responsible for the death of Coyotito and the destruction of the family, I invalidate that argument because greed is an emotion. Greed, is an emotion and emotions cannot control you, you have the ability control your emotions. DO NOT READ THE RED “In my target essay, I argued that emotions can be controlled, in the sense that we can shape or influence which emotions we have, when we have them, and how we experience and express these emotions.”

The Pearl by John Steinbeck, tells the story of Kino, a man who finds a precious pearl and hopes to sell it to help his family. However, it corrupts him and tears his life apart. In the beginning, Kino, Juana, and Coyotito, his wife, and son are simple people who see their life as a song. Once they discover the Pearl of the World, Kino and Juana become more vulnerable and start prioritizing over family. This quickly leads to death and demolition, ruining the world Kino and Juana has lived in their whole lives. This novella demonstrates how a presumed blessing can lead to overprotection and destruction.

The pearl then makes Kino impatient and desperate for good luck, therefore he resorts to violence. He “strike[s] [Juana] in the face with his clenched fist and she fell among the boulders, and he kicked her in the side” (Steinbeck 59). These violent outbursts of anger are unlike Kino. He has resorted to beating his wife, who he