Theme Of Greed In The Pearl

Some people may say that human nature is to be greedy, whereas others say greed is developed over time. Whichever way it is, needless to say both Mrs. Loisel and General Zaroff, in The Necklace and Most Dangerous Game, natures were to be greedy. Bored of simple things Mrs. Loisel longed for a life of a queen. One day she got to live out her dream, she got a fancy dress, but it didn’t end there, she wanted more, she wanted jewels, which she then lost. Bored of normal hunting General Zaroff invented his own version of hunting where he hunted humans, which led to his battle of life or death with Rainsford. Even though in both the Most Dangerous Game and The Necklace, the antagonists, Mrs. Loisel and General Zaroff, experienced greed, and boredom of their lives, and neither got away with their actions, paying for their greed in the end, the two antagonists differed in their conflicts.

In John Steinbeck’s novella, The Pearl, he conveys that wealth can corrupt and change by displaying how the pearl changes the lives Kino, Juana, and Coyotito, leads to their downfall and how it also affects the town of La Paz.

Socrates once wrote, “He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.” The quote above shows how envy is able to take a toll on a person’s soul and is relevant to the story “The Necklace.” When Madame Loisel is invited to a prestigious party, she borrows a seemingly priceless necklace. Mathilde misplaces the incomparable necklace; thus Madame’s envy for the fame of the party and the accessory she desires causes her to plummet into deep poverty. She works and sacrifices for 10 years, suffering to pay off the immense the debt she dug for herself. Within the short story “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant, Madame Loisel presents many negative characteristics including greed, the importance of status, and insecurity through her desire to look wealthy and prestigious. She offers all she has to please those traits within her, to mute and cover the echoing voices that come from within.

In conclusion, Steinbeck’s novella demonstrates how innocence and hope is destroyed by greed and ambition. Kino seeks to gain wealth and status through the pearl. As he does so, he transforms from a happy father, who was content with his current life, to a greedy person, who can see no good in anything except for the pearl. The pearl, which originally represented Kino’s hope and innocence, is destroyed by

Biblical references act as focal points throughout Foster’s ‘How to Read Literature Like a Professor’ and are discussed in chapter seven’s ‘...Or the Bible.’ Ideas stemming from themes such as greed, sin, and sacrifice can be traced within Steinbeck’s ‘The Pearl’ as Kino, a poor man, is desperate to reap the riches of “The greatest pearl in the world (pg 34)” and save his only son from imminent death. At first glance the pearl can be recognized as a symbol for greed----Which is true, because Kino goes to severe lengths in order to preserve the pearl’s worth. Consequently, this results in the gruesome demise of his child and the disposal of the pearl. The idea of greed surrounding the pearl also applies to minor characters. An example of this can be identified with the beggars of the church as they heard the news of the pearl, “For they knew that there is no alms giver in the world like a poor man who is suddenly lucky.” (pg 11) However, the pearl’s symbolism goes further beyond a simple theme.

Greed is perhaps one of the most destructive forces in this world, it breeds anger, hate, jealousy, and more. The novella “The Pearl” is based on how the finding of a pearl causes greed to be awakened in the hearts of people and cause them to commit evil. During the Novella, Steinbeck develops the theme that greed left unchecked can cause immoral behavior and that is show in the doctor, the attackers, and Kino. All of them are forced by greed to commit sins that they otherwise would not do.

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

In the Pearl, the author uses greed and want to show how the doctor is a very sneaky and selfish person. We notice this when this when Steinbeck uses the doctors greedy and selfish thoughts about paris. The quote reads, “the doctor looked past his aged patient and saw himself sitting in a restaurant in paris and the waiter was just opening a bottle of wine.” This shows me how Steinbeck really wants the reader to see that the doctor is a greedy person. When he talks about the doctor overlooking his aged patient, it shows me how the doctor only cares for himself. It also shows how the doctor only cares about paris. The doctor is also very greedy when he says, “when do you think you can pay this bill.” This shows how the doctor doesn't care about

In the book, The Pearl, there is one main instance where Kino, Juana, and Coyotito gain something and it changes them and their lives throughout the whole book. There are many themes, what the characters gain and how it changes them, how does gaining and losing wealth and power affect people, and how the story compares to today’s society.

. . . Humans are caught—in their lives, in their thoughts, in their hungers and ambitions, in their avarice and cruelty, and in their kindness and generosity too—in a net of good and evil. . . . There is no other story. A man, after he has brushed off the dust and chips of his life, will have left only the hard, clean questions: Was it good or was it evil? Have I done well—or ill (Steinbeck)”? In the Pearl, Steinbeck depicts the everlasting battle of good and evil and the power of greed. Steinbeck shows Kino’s struggle between himself and society and his journey to overcome man's greatest evil; greed. Using elements such as characterization and symbols, John Steinbeck creates the theme of good vs.

“Have I mastered the mathematics of a passive disaster, adding my selfish ambition, all the while subtracting what matters?” - Lecrae. In his song “Fear”, Lecrae tells us that a catastrophe is created when we focus only on our “selfish ambitions”. These desires we have often create greed. In The Count of Monte Cristo and “The Necklace”, characters receive consequences due to their avarice. Both authors use diction and imagery to portray the idea that greed brings misfortune.

The dictionary definition for the word greed, is excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions. In many stories, greed plays an important role. Usually when a character is overcome with greed, it leads to a horrendous downfall of some sort. In the story “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant, the author acknowledges that the main character Mathilde is very greedy. The author lets the reader compare Mathilde to a foolish person taking life for granted instead of her realizing she already has everything she needs. Mathilde finds herself wanting a fantasy life that she did not have, when in reality her future fades it away. In “The Necklace”, Maupassant is able to show that Mathilde learns a devastating lesson because of her

Materialism. Greed. Something everyone faces at least once in their life. Will you let it consume you? In the novella The Pearl, by John Steinbeck, we meet a Mexican native named Kino.

Oppression is a very difficult obstacle for people to overcome and conquer. In The Pearl, the town people suffer many economic and social oppressions in their lives. Kino, a townsman, lives with his wife, Juana, and his newborn son, Coyotito in Mexico. They are a very poor family who cannot afford the best materials life has to offer them. Thier friends, the town people, help encourage and support them with their everyday lives. They soon learn to adapt to the rocky lifestyle, but still struggle to rid the oppression that haunts them. Major problems Kino’s family has are they do not have money, education, and equality.

In The Pearl, by John Steinbeck, evil transforms certain humble citizens into envious savages. It is this evil which moves the story along and adds drama. It causes the beginning of a happy spirit, but the downfall of goodness and humanity.