The Peral by John Steinbeck

If a homeless man were to win a $1,000,000 lottery, how would he handle the circumstance? In The Pearl, John Steinbeck depicts the story of Kino, a destitute Mexican-Indian male who devotes his life towards his wife and newborn son. He discovers a great pearl that seems to have the potential to change his life for the better; however, Steinbeck shows how Kino’s discovery of a great fortune can lead to disaster. The pearl installs greed in Kino as he desires to improve his social status, and overall creates an evil corruption that destroys his family. The pearl has three primary functions. It causes man to become more impulsively animalistic, shows society’s corruption; greediness; and jealousy, and provides a false hope, an illusion that the pearl is infinitely valued, but in reality has no value at all. The discovery of the great pearl influences Kino to be more animalistic. “...Kino’s fist closed over the pearl and his emotion broke over him. He put back his head and howled. His eyes rolled up and he screamed and his body was rigid” (Steinbeck 11). Kino’s excitement of this discovery leads to his an impulsive wolf-like behavior, howling, which shows the power of the pearl in triggering man’s impulsiveness. The pearl also installs paranoia in Kino, as he fears others stealing his prized possession. “...a wild fear surged in Kino’s breast, and on the fear came rage...he sprang like an angry cat, leaped striking and spitting for the dark thing he knew was in the corner of