The Pearl Greed Essay

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In the novel The Pearl by Jon Steinbeck, the author tells a story on how greed and money can get in the way of happiness. The main characters are Kino, a pearl diver, Juana, Kino’s wife and Coyotito, their infant son. In the beginning of the story Kino and Juana live a happy humble quiet life. “Kino heard the little splash of the morning waves on the beach. It was very good- Kino closed his eyes again to listen to his music.” (Steinbeck 1-2). Everything seemed to go perfect for Kino and his family until Coyotito got stung by a scorpion. Kino was unable to pay for Coyotito’s medical attention so he took his wife and son and headed to the sea determined to find a pearl to save his sons life. Kino ends up finding a big pearl the size of a seagull’s egg, and after finding “the pearl of the world,” Kino and Juana are troubled with violence and setbacks that all came from this pearl, and ultimately it all leads to Coyotito’s death. When Juana tries to get rid of the pearl, Kino acts …show more content…
Greed is what drives Kino to change his personality completely, because before the pearl was found, people in the town were nice, including Kino himself, but after finding the pearl, people became blinded by greed and that lead to jealousy. The town was in complete disorder and confusion. When the town finds out that Kino found a huge pearl that has value, everyone starts thinking on how they can profit from the pearl. Corruption then comes into the story fueled by greed. The doctor is corrupted being blinded for the love of money and having fine possessions. Pride is also an important theme. When Kino is turned away with a lie by the doctor’s servant, he feels humiliated that he lets rage overpower him, and that was the beginning of his violent actions. He stands at the gate to the doctor’s house for “a long time,” puts his “suppliant hat on his head,” and then strikes the gate with “a crushing blow.”(Steinbeck
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