Greed In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

The vital theme that John Steinbeck has examined was Greed, Greed as a Destructive force in Kino’s life. Kino seeks to gain wealth and status through the pearl and he transforms from a happy and comfortable father to a brutal criminal, and it is demonstrating that desires and greed are the root of all evil. As well as it destroys the innocence, and it is found in the New Testament in Paul’s first message to Timothy (1 Timothy 6:10) “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” This was the exact situation that happened to Kino. Kino’s greed led him to behave violently towards his spouse; it also led to his son’s death and it detached
him from his people and their cultural traditions. The pearl also brought Kino to fear everyone in chapter three “Who do you fear?” Kino searched for a true answer, and at last he said, “Everyone.”

The pearl is a very complicated symbol in John Steinbeck’s novel. It creates a variety of themes and it collects new meanings as the story continues. During the first time Kino opens the oyster in which it lies, the pearl appears to mean that the Gods are looking favourably on Kino and his family. And soon it becomes clear that finding the pearl was not a good omen for Kino and Juana. After facing a number of troubles through the pearl, Juana asks to throw the pearl away in chapter four “I am afraid. A man can be killed. Let us throw the pearl back into the sea”. “Hush,” he said fiercely. “I am a man. Hush.” Kino’s greed did not allow him to throw the pearl back into the sea, he acts upon greed above the love for his wife Juana. Then it shows the evil and greedy desires of every person that comes into contact with the pearl and therefore it represents the materialism and selfishness of people’s greed and desires. The novel tells a moral, being rich won’t make a family stronger or happier. Kino dreams about having several things, a rifle, a marriage, education, but none these things can make Kino’s Family a happy strong family, but if he had followed the traditions of his community and if he listened to his wife, his family could have been a strong, peaceful and happy family. The greed only brought him griefs and loses, it didn’t make him rich, but he lost several things, he lost his culture and traditions, peace and above all he lost his beloved son.

Racism was another theme that took place in the novel.
One notable character who was racist was the doctor, his attitude towards the Indian community was very mean and cruel. In chapter one When Kino asked him to treat Coyotito, he refuses to do it, saying “Have I nothing better to do than cure insect bites for 'little Indians'? I am a doctor, not a veterinary”, he regarded the Indians as animals, and he loved money more than saving lives. He was also a greedy person, he only treated the rich people who possess money, he knew that the Indians do not have any money and he won’t get anything if he treats the Indians. But the doctor treated Coyotito, in order to gain the access to Kino’s Pearl. The pearl buyers in La Paz were also cheating Kino, they were willing to pay only a little as possible to Kino, even though the pearl worth more than that.

Within the Pearl John Steinbeck uses quite a few techniques to show the cause and effect of such misfortune and imperfection. John Steinbeck evokes themes of the destructive power of greed, wealth, racism, and the loss of innocence and contentment within the Pearl by showing it through the dialogues and characterisations of individuals, for example the Doctor, by looking at the dialogues and characterisation of the Doctor, readers can easily figure out that he is
racist.