The Pearl Greed Essay

Greed is extremely powerful, and can turn good men bad, and bad men even worse. Greed exists somewhat in everyone, strong in some and weak in others. However, In The Pearl, it reared it’s ugly head and showed itself everywhere. Nearly everyone was impacted by greed and nearly everyone ended up worse off because of it. Greed has the power to destroy all; in fact, the greed of the doctor, society in general, and Kino led to the destruction of Kino’s family.
The doctor was driven by greed, and his actions were immoral and dishonest because of it. When Kino and Juana beg to have their baby treated for a poisonous scorpion sting, the doctor replies, “Have I nothing better to do that cure insect bites for ‘little Indians’?... has he any money” (11)? Even when a sick baby’s life is on the

Kino first shows his greed when he turns down the original offer from the Pearl Buyers. Even though he has never had much money before, he still craves even more than they offer. His greed prevents him from accepting the offer, even though it would be plenty to support his family. Kino’s greed also causes him to beat his wife. When they argue about the Pearl, her arguments to give up the pearl and the destruction it brings enrage him. In a horrible lapse of reasoning he beats her instead of being the kind husband he should be. Kino’s greed was also displayed when he kills a man on the beach. When he is attacked on the beach, he goes far beyond just defending himself and murders his attacker. “He heard a rush, got his knife out and lunged at one dark figure and felt his knife go home…” (59). At this point, Kino’s greed has clouded his judgement and overpowered him. To him, the money that comes from the Pearl is of higher value more than a fellow man’s life; something he never would have considered before he found it. Greed brought out the worst in Kino, and his understanding of himself died as greed took over his