The Treasure Of Lemon Brown Character Analysis

“I conceive that the great part of the miseries of mankind are brought upon them by false estimates they have made on the value of things,” by Benjamin Franklin. This powerful quote can be used to describe the main conflict in Walter Dean Myers’s short story “The Treasure of Lemon Brown,” where Mr. Myers explores the ethics of Greg Ridley, a fourteen year old boy who wants to play basketball, but can't because of his low grades in math, and in The Pearl, a novel by John Steinbeck, which tells the story of Kino and his pearl, and how Kino’s song of good is mixed with that of evil and greed. In both “The Treasure of Lemon Brown,” and The Pearl, Kino and Greg have lost sight of what is truly important, and go through a series of events that make them regain it in the end.

For Greg Ridley in “The Treasure of Lemon Brown,” his father's lectures are tiresome and depressing because Greg's top priority, basketball, is not what his dad values. His dad values education and Greg’s failing grade in math stops him from playing basketball. So when it starts to rain, Greg makes an unwise decision. “He stood to go upstairs, thought of the lecture that probably awaited him if he did anything but shut himself in

his room with his math book, and started walking down the street instead.” Greg’s conflict is shown here because he abandons his warm, dry house to walk in the rain so as not to endure through another lecture, not realizing the wisdom of his father’s words. Had Greg not left, he would not have met Lemon Brown and would not have gained insight into what truly matters. By defying his father and leaving the house to escape a lecture, Greg puts himself in a dangerous situation that surprisingly leads to a resolution to his conflict.
Greg’s conflict is resolved when a homeless man named Lemon Brown shows Greg his treasure and tells him about the son he lost. “Greg pushed the button over the door marked “Ridley,” thought of the lecture his father would give him and smiled.” Because his internal conflict started with him not wanting to enter his house because of his dad’s lectures, this excerpt from the story signifies Greg’s change. Now he smiles because he realizes that his father’s love is what is motivating the lectures. Greg takes Lemon Brown’s words to heart because he now agrees that family is the most important thing. A chance conversation is all it takes to change Greg’s values so that he values family more than anything else. However, not all people change this easily.
Similarly, in The Pearl, Kino has a conflict that changes his views of what is truly important in life. After finding a great pearl, Kino begins to value the pearl more than his family. “Her arm was up to throw when he leaped at her and caught her arm and wrenched the pearl from her. He struck her in the face with his clenched fist and she fell among the boulders, and he kicked her in the side.” By striking his wife, Kino proves that he no longer has a conscience, and his wanting for the pearl is stronger than what is truly important; love for one’s family. Had Kino let Jauna throw the pearl away, they could have gone back to their original life, but when she fails to destroy the pearl, Kino hurts her, and their choice is made. From that point on they are stuck with the pearl and the sorrow it brings.
Unlike Greg’s conflict, Kino has to pay a great price to understand what is truly valuable. For only after losing his son does he agree to destroy the pearl. “Kino drew back his arm and flung the pearl with all his might.” Since finding the pearl Kino makes several remarks about how the pearl has become his soul and refuses to destroy it. Instead of selling his pearl and getting another opportunity to turn to greed, Kino permanently removes the temptation. Even though it takes a great loss, both Kino and Greg realize that family is the greatest treasure.
These two stories show how a person's values can be affected by anger, resentment, and greed.

The Pearl and “The Treasure of Lemon Brown” both have main characters that go through a series of events that change their perspective on true values. In “The Treasure of Lemon Brown,” Greg originally thinks that basketball is most important, but his chance meeting with a homeless stranger makes him realize that his dad and his advice are most important. Kino, the main character in The Pearl, finds a great pearl and loses his values only to regain them after the death of his son. So Kino and Greg’s experience can teach people not to be greedy and that the majority of us are rich enough as it is, for true wealth isn’t money or items, it the love and strength a family

gives.