The Pearl Materialism
Would you ever harm someone to get something you wanted? Well that is just what the doctor, faceless attackers, and Kino did in the novella The Pearl by John Steinbeck. Kino constantly is willing to do anything to protect his pearl, even if that means harming his own wife and baby and killing and or stabbing six people. Other people will try to harm Kino too, like the doctor, attackers and other selfish greedy people. Juana, Kino’s wife, tried to throw away the pearl, but Kino punched and kicked her. He also stabbed three people that tried to take his pearl. Another thing is that he killed three pearl trackers with a rifle and caused his own baby to get shot.The author develops the theme that materialism and greed left unchecked, can lead
…show more content…
“He struck her in the face with his clenched fist and she fell among the boulders, and he kicked her in the side. (59) Juana, Kino’s wife, tried to throw away the pearl because she felt like it was evil, but Kino strongly disagreed with her and was violent towards her because of what she did. “I do not want to bring danger to you.” (65) Juan Thomas offered to take in the Kino’s but he knows the trackers will follow him. Kino did not actually bring danger or hurt Juan but there was a chance. The watcher knows the cry was not a coyote and he kills Coyotito. After Coyotito is dead, Kino realises he does not want the pearl anymore. “If it’s a coyote, this will stop it.” (86) Even though Kino just wants the best for his family through the pearl, it brings out the worst in him and gives the opposite of the best for his family. To sum up, materialism and greed left unchecked, can lead to immoral behavior and violence. The people that want the pearl for themselves will do anything to get it like attack Kino and his family. The pearl has made Kino into an animal because he almost instinctively kills anyone who tries to take his pearl. Kino will do anything to make life for his family better, even if by doing that, he hurts them. Kino and others have become so greedy and materialistic that they decided to hurt others to get
“He struck her in the face with his clenched fist and she fell among the boulders, and he kicked her in the side. (59) Juana, Kino’s wife, tried to throw away the pearl because she felt like it was evil, but Kino strongly disagreed with her and was violent towards her because of what she did. “I do not want to bring danger to you.” (65) Juan Thomas offered to take in the Kino’s but he knows the trackers will follow him. Kino did not actually bring danger or hurt Juan but there was a chance. The watcher knows the cry was not a coyote and he kills Coyotito. After Coyotito is dead, Kino realises he does not want the pearl anymore. “If it’s a coyote, this will stop it.” (86) Even though Kino just wants the best for his family through the pearl, it brings out the worst in him and gives the opposite of the best for his family. To sum up, materialism and greed left unchecked, can lead to immoral behavior and violence. The people that want the pearl for themselves will do anything to get it like attack Kino and his family. The pearl has made Kino into an animal because he almost instinctively kills anyone who tries to take his pearl. Kino will do anything to make life for his family better, even if by doing that, he hurts them. Kino and others have become so greedy and materialistic that they decided to hurt others to get