The Pearl Greed

It promises wealth and fame. It offers a new, luxurious life. It positively radiates joy. It is the Pearl of the World. In the book, The Pearl, by John Steinbeck, Kino, an impoverished pearl diver, has his life turned upside down, starting when his beloved son, Coyotito, gets stung by a scorpion. Kino then finds an enormous, perfect pearl, and the town started to get infected with greed. Then, Kino goes to the local pearl buyers, who, to Kino’s annoyance, attempt to scam him out of his treasured pearl. After Juana, Kino’s wife, tries to throw the pearl into the sea, Kino and Juana embark on a treacherous journey to the capital to sell their pearl. Before Kino finds the pearl, he is a caring and compassionate father who puts his beloved family

For instance, the doctor, a deceiving, greedy man has just left Kino’s house after giving medicine to Kino’s wounded son and talking to him about his spectacular pearl. Kino’s is suspicious of the doctor, and is at his door: “He smelled the breeze and listened for any foreign sound of secrecy or creeping...he was fierce and afraid” (36). Back when the pearl was not a part of Kino’s life, he would check on Juana and Coyotito before drifting off. Now, his life is revolving around the pearl. He never believes that he is safe, even in a neighborhood he has lived in for years. Even when he is surrounded by familiar people, he is afraid to sleep, as he believes it will let his guard down. Moreover, Kino has just dug up the pearl from its already secure hiding spot, and has just reburied it under his pillow. Juana, Kino’s wife, has just asked Kino, “Who do you fear?” Kino replies, “‘Everyone.’ And he could feel the shell of hardness drawing over him” (36). The lack of trust and fear of everyone is causing him to isolate himself from his community. He believes that everyone, even the innocent, is plotting to steal the pearl! The only way he will stop being overly suspicious of everybody is if there is nobody to fear. Finally, Kino, Coyotito, and Juana, are in a forest, on their way to the capital. Kino has just had a bad dream, and he is troubled by it as he eats. “But he was restless and...paused in his chewing to listen. He was uneasy...and glanced over his shoulder” (72). His crazed and frantic mind is always assuming the worst. Before, he could take pleasure in simple things, such as eating delicious cornbread. Now, he is only focused on the pearl’s safety, and feels he cannot enjoy those basic pleasures of life. No matter where he is, he always assumes that everybody is conspiring to bring him down, and he must have extra