The Pearl Analysis

The Pearl, written by John Steinbeck, tells the story of a young man named Kino and the great misfortune his family endures upon discovering a magnificent pearl within the waters of his hometown La Paz. Originally perceived as a sign of fortune, the pearl slowly begins to shape the lives of Kino, his family, and the community into a worse state. The pearl quickly becomes a symbol of greed and destruction, a greed that destroys Kino and his family, and a destruction that forever alters the lives of the people living within the community. Many of these symbolic aspects worsen throughout Kino’s journey as he attempts to restore the pearl’s symbolic meaning of hope. Once knowledgeable of Kino’s discovery, the poor people of La Paz deem it to

For instance, “The news… washed in a foaming wave into the town… it came to the priest… and it put… a memory of certain repairs necessary to the church… the news came to the shopkeepers, and they looked at men’s clothes that had not sold so well” (Steinbeck 11). In the piece of textual evidence above, the perspectives of the pearl are clearly conveyed to the reader as they are described in the view of individuals living within the community. This depicts the ambitions of a select few of the people in La Paz, whose plans for the future are based upon the happiness the pearl will bring to them. Therefore meaning, that they view the pearl as an opportunity rather than a threat. Kino, too, views the pearl

Several instances occur in the text during which greedy darknesses attack Kino. For example, “He… got his knife out and lunged… greedy fingers went through his clothes, frantic fingers search him, and the pearl, knocked from his hand…a dead man in the path and Kino’s knife, dark-bladed beside him…” (Steinbeck 31& 32). In the combined quotes above, detail of Kino’s altercation with a mysterious stranger are described as an act of greed. This exemplifies the negative impact the pearl is having on the citizens of La Paz by portraying how greed has altered their character, as well as Kino’s. After he attempts to abscond with the pearl, Kino leaves the stranger in critical condition. Something he would have never done had the pearl not been of such importance to him. Therefore portraying how Kino’s contorted actions have been influenced by the pearl entirely. Another instance during which the pearl’s influence drove Kino to commit a crime of hatred is described in the following piece of text, “…through the holes in the brush house Kino saw Juana arise silently from beside him… and rage surged in Kino… he struck her in the face with his clenched fist…and he kicked her in the side…and hissed at her like a snake…” (Steinbeck 30 & 31). Upon discovering Juana intends to get rid of the pearl, Kino is instantaneously driven by