The Pearl Greed

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The pearl, composed by John Steinbeck, highlights the journey of an impoverished family that struggles to save their child while ignoring the evils of their community. Kino, the father, discovers the Pearl of the world, which he desires to sell for maximum profit. However, the greed that follows him and the pearl corrupts the once content and happy family prior to the discovery of the treasure as they struggle to forsake the consequences of their creation. The author expresses changes in the pearl that can distinguish as opportunity, greed, and destruction.
Upon unearthing the magnificent pearl, it is seemingly an object of hope. “And in the incandescence of the pearl the pictures formed of the things Kino’s mind had considered in the past …show more content…

The people of La Paz foretold how Kino’s mindset would alter due to the greed the pearl incites. “All of the neighbors hoped that sudden wealth would not turn Kino’s head, would not make a rich man of him, would not graft onto him the evil limbs of greed and hatred and coldness.” As the neighbors chatted about how they would use the acquired riches from the pearl, an underlying thought of the consequences of discovering the pearl invaded their musings. The notion of Kino behaving similar to the wealthy discomforted them; for the wealthy only acted in self-indulgence and to benefit themselves. Not only do the villagers see the danger of the pearl, but Juana does as well. “Let us throw it back into the sea. It has brought evil.” Juana stated this to Kino when unidentified figures attempted to steal the pearl. Greed has swelled within the community as well as Kino. Kino’s life prior to the discovery of the pearl was simple, never having experienced a burglary. However, the pearl has provoked such greed within some members of the community that they have attempted to steal during the night when a person’s peripheral vision is substandard. Kino partially realizes the peril of keeping the pearl, but his greed for the riches has prevented him from throwing it away. Additionally, Kino’s greed is also expressed when he arrives at the buyer’s dwelling to sell the pearl. However, the buyer calls the pearl a monstrosity and offers low profit. “You thought it was a thing of value, and it is only a curiosity.” The buyer offered 1,000 pesos, a lot of money compared to what other villagers earn in months. Instead of being content with that money, greed clouds his thoughts to strive for more money for the

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