Materialism in The Pearl

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In the novel The Pearl, Symbolism assists us readers in a way that allows us to be able to perceive things in a more understandable, insightful way. Instead of us only understanding a short story of a young man diving for pearls to earn a living, it helps give more detail on his personal life and surroundings. Symbolism is also another way for the author to further illustrate their ……… It causes us readers to ponder upon our person ideals of ourselves.
The main object in the novel The Pearl is the pearl itself. In the beginning of the novel, the pearl represents Kino’s lifelong dreams and hopes. At first he was mainly focused on worldly items such as a rifle for himself, brand new clothes, education for his son Coyotito, and money for his marriage. He attempted to make it seem like these items were for his whole family, but in the end the symbolism reverses and it is actually for Kino’s personal wants. The education he longed for Coyotito to learn would be for Coyotito to actually teach Kino for his own benefits, as well as his marriage, new clothing, and the rifle. Although in the end, the consumption of the greed Kino takes its turn and turns to his wife, Juana, being beaten and him losing his one and only son.
Throughout the novel, symbolism examples can be discovered. The images of Kino acting as an animal are prejudice. In the end of the novel, he is not the same man as he was in the beginning.
A major turning point in life is finding the true person you are. There comes a time in life when you change as a person and you wish to be in a different environment. You may notice it yourself, or you may not. Never the less, it is going to occur whether you want it to or not. This can either happen drastically or slowly, and...

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...longer superior and no longer human. Pride and arrogance narcism, conceit, self-absorption, self-regard, cockiness are characteristics of his personality that Kino has but does not intentionally live by these traits. Conceitedly, he thinks in his mind he can defeat the pearl and win over his misfortunes. He attempts to change Juana’s mind by telling her that he can defeat the pearl, ''Believe me,'' he said ''I am a man." ' (56). Animals do not have any trait like us humans do that relates to us being narcissistic. Animal only want what is necessary, unlike us. They are simple with what they need and we are complicated and have to have everything we want. As the drastic events are gradually becoming worse, Kino is becoming more like and animal and lives by their traits and needs.

Works Cited

http://vswolf.deviantart.com/art/The-Pearl-Kino-s-Revolution-170918252

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