Analysis Of The Pearl By John Steinbeck
At the end of “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck, Kino felt guilty and decides to throw the pearl back into the sea. The pearl symbolizes greed and suggests wealth could bring contentment while also teaching a lesson.Kino fantasized all the possibilities for his family when Juan Tomas asked him, “What will you do now that you have become a rich man?” (pg 24) KIno then stated, “We will get married at the church”, “Have new clothes”, “Have a rifle”, and “My son will go to school.” (pg 24-25) When Kino tried to sell the pearl to fulfill his dreams, the dealer stated, “This pearl is like fool’s gold..It is large and clumsy, As a curiosity it has interest; some museum might perhaps take it to place in collection of seashells. I can give you, say, a
thousand pesos.” (pg 50) Feeling cheated, Kino left the dealers and decided to try to sell the pearl at the capital. Overtime, the pearl possesses Kino’s soul and was all he cared about. Juana noticed the evil power but was unable to stop the pearl’s control and the peculiar events that took place. One event was the destruction of the family boat which Kino discovered when he “stumbled toward the beach and he came to his canoe...he saw that a great big hole had been knocked in the bottom.” (pg 62) The cause of the wreckage remained unknown but was followed by another strange occurrence. Although the pearl may have caused these odd incidents, Kino refuses to destroy it. He held onto the pearl with greed but later regret his decision when Coyotito, his son, was shot in the head. The lesson of the story is to never let greed take full control or there will be consequences. Unfortunately for Kino, he did not realize greed was destroying him and everything he loved before it was too late.
thousand pesos.” (pg 50) Feeling cheated, Kino left the dealers and decided to try to sell the pearl at the capital. Overtime, the pearl possesses Kino’s soul and was all he cared about. Juana noticed the evil power but was unable to stop the pearl’s control and the peculiar events that took place. One event was the destruction of the family boat which Kino discovered when he “stumbled toward the beach and he came to his canoe...he saw that a great big hole had been knocked in the bottom.” (pg 62) The cause of the wreckage remained unknown but was followed by another strange occurrence. Although the pearl may have caused these odd incidents, Kino refuses to destroy it. He held onto the pearl with greed but later regret his decision when Coyotito, his son, was shot in the head. The lesson of the story is to never let greed take full control or there will be consequences. Unfortunately for Kino, he did not realize greed was destroying him and everything he loved before it was too late.