How Does Steinbeck Characterize Kino's Greed

Kino should have listened to the better judgments of others before being consumed by greed. “The Pearl” taught me lots of motifs about good and bad aspects of life. I learned how people can easily experience greediness and how it affects their life. After I read this book, I realized that I should always give careful attention to other’s judgments even though I believe mine is right. This is because ignoring others’ decisions can lead us to bad situations like Kino went through. Kino should have listened to his family’s judgment to throw the pearl away. However, he kept wanting more and more. “‘We will be married – in the church…We will have new clothes.’ And the music of the pearl rose like a chorus of trumpets in his ears.” (Steinbeck, 28).

At first, I was told that Kino was the protagonist of this book, so I expected him to be a wise, good man. However, his actions and decisions made me feel stuffy. He never listened to Juana’s warnings about the pearl. “‘This thing is evil… the pearl is like a sin!...Throw it away, Kino. It has brought evil…It will destroy us.’” (Steinbeck, 41). Kino’s greed had already over-taken him by then. He had a fixed idea that the pearl could bring him a better life. There is a cycle or repetition where his family convinces him to throw the pearl away, but Kino always refuses to do so. I did not like this repetition because I also agreed with Kino’s family who opposed his judgment. Even though these parts made me react negatively towards the character, I tried to understand Steinbeck’s intention. The story was able to teach the readers about morals through Kino’s judgments such as his