...In his novel, The Pearl, John Steinbeck uses characterization to develop the idea that greed is a destructive force. A second example of destructive greed in The Pearl is the character of the doctor. First, during the procession led by Kino towards the doctor’s house, as they pass by the church and the beggars, John gives insight to the beggars’ knowledge of the whole town, “They knew his [the doctor] ignorance, his cruelty, his avarice, his sins. They knew his clumsy abortions and the little brown pennies he gave sparingly for alms,” (9). The beggars describe the doctor; his greed and cruelty, how he cares not for the well-being of his patients, but for how much money he can make and keep from them. The patients having the abortions lives’...
Words: 337 - Pages: 2
...In the world, greed is very powerful and takes over people very easily. It is not something that people can overcome quickly, and this is beautifully portrayed in The Pearl. In The Pearl, greed overtakes a man named Kino who has a wonderful family. He ends up finding a pearl and wanting more than he can get. This quickly destroy his family and shows him that he should be grateful for what he has. Some of the ways the author showed how greed took over kino by using characterization, foreshadowing, and symbolism. One way the author showed how kino was overtaken by greed, was by characterization. In the beginning of The Pearl, Kino was very humble and cared about his family very much. “Kino’s eyes opened, and he first looked at the lightening...
Words: 338 - Pages: 2
...point that the author is trying to get across. John Steinbeck’s novel The Pearl is abounding with literary devices that are used to show greed. Greed had a very important role in this novel. The main character, Kino, had found what he called ‘the pearl of the world’ and was overcome with greed because of this relic. Kino originally wanted to use this pearl’s wealth to heal his son, Coyotito, who was stung by a scorpion. However, it wasn’t just Kino that was overcome with the power of the pearl-some characters in the book felt its pull indirectly. This novel shows symbolism, foreshadowing, and character reactions to the power of the pearl. Symbolism in this novel is extremely...
Words: 803 - Pages: 4
...Theme Art Explanation One of the themes of the pearl is greed that corrupts the minds of people and makes them want more and greed is a corruptive influence. The doctor, the priest, and the people envy for the pearl’s wealth and want things from the wealth of the pearl. The pearl’s wealth changes the good people to become greedy for wanting money and wealth from the pearl. The picture shown shows the greediness of the doctor, the priest, Kino, and one of the townspeople and how the wealth of the pearl made them want to take it from Kino, become richer and have more wealth. Greed corrupted the minds of the people in La Paz, from them becoming envious of the pearl to trying to take the pearl from Kino. The theme of the pearl is the greediness...
Words: 482 - Pages: 2
...Drew Forbes English 1 Honors 12/30/14 Theme Essay The Pearl Theme "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck is said to have many themes or lessons to it, but which was the main/most important one? I think the main theme in the book is greed. Kino defended his pearl from those who wanted it, killed people just so he can keep it safe, he also started thinking/acting differently because of the pearl. Lastly Kino's greed led him to kill his son, the one who he had many hopes and dreams for because of the pearl. An example of greed in the story is when people desire for the pearl was too great that they attempted to steal Kino's pearl but Kino defended it with his life, "But Juana's hand came creeping over to him in warning, and then the sound came again! the whisper of a foot on dry earth and the scratch of fingers in the soil" (Steinbeck 37). He also killed just to keep the pearl safe even though all of those around him told him it has brought evil, "He heard the rush, got his knife out and lunged at one dark figure and felt his knife go home, and then he was swept to his knees and swept again to the ground" (Steinbeck 59). Kino also stated how he has become every single man’s enemy, “Every man suddenly became related to Kino’s pearl, and Kino’s pearl went into the dreams, the spectacles, the schemes, the plans, the futures, the wished, the needs, the lusts, the hungers, of everyone, and only one person stood in the way and that was Kino, so that he became curiously every man’s enemy”...
Words: 740 - Pages: 3
... The Pearl written by John Steinbeck is a parable, a story that teaches a moral lesson. The focus of this novel is on a poor Indian family. The family consists of three members: Kino, a husband, father, and fisherman, Juana, his wife and loving mother; and Coyotito their infant son. This indigent family lives in a small brush hut along the Gulf of Mexico by the town of La Paz. One day a scorpion bites Coyotito; a scorpion sting can be deadly to a baby. Kino and Juana are very worried over the health of their baby; therefore, they hope to find a pearl worthy enough for the doctor’s payment to the doctor to treat Coyotito. With luck on their side, Kino finds a pearl the size of a seagull’s egg; he calls it “The Pearl of the World.” This novel like others is centered on a major theme; the theme of a literary work is defined as the main idea, concern or purpose about life that the author wants to convey to his or her reader. John Steinbeck in his novel The Pearl reveals the vital theme of Kino and his family’s struggle with greed and ambitious, meanwhile they had already had everything they needed it. Yet illustrates the readers a valuable lesson the character learn thought out the struggles Kino and Juana go through. Thanks to their desire on materials, they never needed in the first place. This major theme of greed presented throughout the novel is a common human Phenomenon that most people have experienced in their lifetime. One example of this vital theme of greed occurs...
Words: 951 - Pages: 4
...The destruction of society Steinbeck explores the cause of greed in the society of La Paz as the result of colonial capitalism , thus through the destruction of society Steinbeck is cautioning the consequences of societal structures fundamentally based around the procurement of personal desires and therefore greed. In The Pearl, Steinbeck creates a microcosm of human interactions; these interactions form the basis of society in both the native and Spanish community, thus Steinbeck’s dysfunctional portrayal of the relationships within society is ultimately a reflection of the problematic nature of capitalism. Moreover, Steinbeck’s view of capitalism is also highlighted by how easily the society of La Paz deteriorates when the character’s...
Words: 751 - Pages: 4
...Racism and greed are two of the world’s major issues today. Many people are not aware of how much racism still exists in our schools, workplaces, and elsewhere where social life lives are occurring. Unfortunately, racism is just as bad today as it was many decades ago even though people are educated way more then they were back then. In the novel "The Pearl", it shows you how kino's race and it's people were treated. The author of "The Pearl" Steinbeck described every little thing that happens in there life after they found the evil pearl. Racism and greed are two major themes in the story. It also plays a huge role in real life in the present day and back decades ago. Racism, a discrimination of different groups of people, is terrible in...
Words: 1045 - Pages: 5
...“Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do.”There is good in every man and I think this shows that there is good in Kino unless he does not show it.In the book The pearl by John.Steinback,their is a fisherman who is named Kino.He has a wife named Juana,and a baby boy named Coyotito.They are poor,and Kino fishes for pearls to support him and his family.Some key points that are in the book have to do with selfishness,greed,and loyalty. I think kino gets caught up with greed in the story and has trouble thinking of his family.He puts more thought into the pearl rather than the people closest to him.”How can we know what is a fair price if we do not know what the pearl buyer get for the pearl in another place?”pg.43-Kino is trying to get a good price,but he is risking what he can already get for it by wanting to go to another place than just selling it for...
Words: 683 - Pages: 3
...Essay Topic Discuss the effect of the pearl on Kino and the townfolk. 1. INTRODUCTIONIt helps to think of the introduction as having three parts- a) a general statement or background about the issue in the topic , b) an outline of various possible arguments c) a clearly indicated viewpoint or opinion | In John Steinbeck’s “The Pearl” Kino and the townfolk were deeply affected by the discovery of the pearl. The pearl had negative effect on people. It brought out evil, greed and jealousy. This was evident in the change of attitude towards Kino from the priest and the doctor. Further example of the effect of the pearl was shown in the way Kino was treated by the pearl dealers. The effect of the pearl was also revealed in the change of Kino. It led to the great tragedy of the family. | 2. BODYA good method to use for the body is the so-called TEEL method:T=topic sentence, E= expansion or explanation,E= example or evidence, L= link | To begin with, people changed their attitudes towards Kino after he found the pearl. The priest was one of them. He was well respected by Kino and his people as he was considered to be the representative of God, and therefore the most powerful person in town. The priest, however, abused his power and people’s trust. He did nothing to help Kino and his family when they were poor. For example, he didn’t marry Kino and Juana in the church. Neither did he baptize Coyotito. When the baby was stung by the scorpion, he offered...
Words: 888 - Pages: 4
...Desire and Consequence in‘The Old Man and the Sea’ and ‘The Pearl’. Summary of stories: Steinbeck’s touchingly simple novella ‘The Pearl’ was written in 1945, and explores the destructive effect of capitalism on a traditional Mexican village, around the turn of the century. It tells the story of Kino, an Indian pearl diver who discovers a massive, beautiful, and extremely valuable pearl. The pearl fills Kino with a new desire to abandon his simple, idyllic life in favor of dreams of material and social advancement, dreams to give his son and wife everything they desire, but dreams that are oppressed by the social hierarchy of Kino’s village. Although Kino has discovered this beautiful pearl worth more than anything he has found before, it only leads to death and destruction and eventually leaves Kino and his wife with nothing, and their beloved son dead. ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ is another novella, the story of an epic struggle between an old, seasoned fisherman and the greatest catch of his life. Written in 1952 by Ernest Hemingway, it was the last major work of the author before his suicide, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. It is the tale of a fruitless and ancient fisherman named Santiago. Santiago had spent eighty-four days without a catch, and, confident that his unproductive streak will come to an end, sets sail farther out than usual. He places his bait deep into the water and a few hours later an enormous marlin takes the bait, however...
Words: 1886 - Pages: 8
...Conversation – Priest: He works in the chapel and wants the pearl to have more money for the church. Doctor: poisons his baby to make it look like his baby is sick do that he will get money from the pearl, he is greedy, he wants to steal the pearl. The doctor wants to tell the priest about his thoughts and he wants to clear his conscious so he tells everything to the priest. One morning the doctor comes to the priest while he is preparing for his sermon. The doctor says, “Father, I must confess something to you. There have been many bad thoughts in my mind revolving around the pearl that Kino has found. My thoughts contain greed. I want the money from the pearl because I need wealth and I must buy things. When I am able to buy these things I will truly feel happy.” The priest responds, “It is important to know that coming to me is a good thing. It is good that you want to confess to me. Greed is something that can happen to the best of people. You must know that Kino also needs the money. But money does not always give you happiness. Some of the happiest people are those who have very little” The doctor says, “But, I have not come to you only because I am feeling greed, there is something else that I have also thought about. I want the pearl so badly that I have even thought about killing him. The idea of killing him for the pearl makes sense to me. It is the only way that I can have the pearl and all that the pearl can give. If Kino is gone I will not have to share anything...
Words: 900 - Pages: 4
...What drives Kino? Is it family? Greed? Pride? Fear? Make a case for one answer and provide references from the novel to back your position up. John Steinbeck, in his book “The Pearl”, showed us the history of Kino’s family. They faced a hard situation in which his son was stung by a scorpion and they didn’t have money to pay a doctor. Then, they found a big pearl and they would try to sell that to get money. In my opinion, this is the moment in which the history started to become hard for the Kino’s family because the feeling of greed and ambition drove Kino. After Kino finds the pearl, he just think in get a lot of money selling that. He also wishes in stay in a good financial situation. A passage that describes this is when Kino says “We will have new clothes” and “A rifle, perhaps a rifle”. The ambitions guide the man for always want more and more. Kino didn’t accept the low price that dealers offered, maybe he could take that money and pay a doctor for Coyotito but he didn’t, he was just thinking in money. Another factor that drove Kino was the greed for wealth. In the story, he did everything to don’t lose the pearl, until kill people. Before he gets the pearl, there was a family feeling, but after just a wish for materials goods. A passage that describes this is when the Kino’s wife, Juana, says “This thing is evil…This pearl is like a sin! It will destroy us”. I think the moral of the history is that wealth is benignant for human; however is...
Words: 313 - Pages: 2
...The Pearl by John Steinbeck is a great book that depicts how greed can corrupt a man. The Pearl is best known for its surplus of imagery and symbolism. One example of symbolism Steinbeck incorporated in the book is Kino’s boat. Kino’s boat can be seen as a symbol for family. His family was all pearl divers and the boat had been passed down from generation to generation. The songs that Kino hears are also symbols. They symbolize what is going around him. For example, when Kino first sees the pearl in its shell, he hears the Song of the Pearl That Might Be, also, when the doctor enters Kino’s home, he hears the Song of Evil. Another example of symbolism Steinbeck included is the pearl itself. When Kino first finds the pearl, it is seen as...
Words: 274 - Pages: 2
...The Pearl Unfortunately, we can not look into the future; but imagine if we could. When making a decision, one can only predict what each choice will result in. What if there were a way to foresee the outcome of each option before carrying out a decision? During decision-making, one generally finds himself predicting the effects of each option. Sometimes, what seems to be the most favorable option, results in an unfavorable resolution. Values play a tremendous role in determining the favorability of a decision. Decisions made by characters such as Kino and Juana in The Pearl can be viewed as wise in some motives, but foolish in others. Immediately after finding the magnificent pearl, Kino becomes warned of the possible evil that it brings....
Words: 810 - Pages: 4
