Table of contentsIntroduction“The Pearl”: theme of greedConclusionWorks citedIntroductionBy wanting to enter a spiral of destruction, a family is broken, shattered by a rare discovery. A pearl that seems so pure, so innocent that it seems nothing bad can come of it. The Pearl by John Steinbeck appears to be the story of a man and his quest to save his son and create financial stability for his family. However, the real plot behind The Pearl tells the story of a man how the sudden experience of wealth corrupts his soul and causes him to turn against those he loves. The main theme of The Pearl is greed and how it only brings pain to those affected by it. This can be seen throughout the story, from when Kino beats his wife Juana, to the priests invading his house when they discover his new discovery, to how someone who is supposed to be as selfless as a doctor treats patients he considers inferior. Steinbeck does a magnificent job of showing that no one is safe from the desires of greed. The greatest symbol of greed in The Pearl is the pearl itself. The pearl at first appears to be a savior for Kino and his family. However, it soon becomes clear that this will only bring pain to Kino and his family. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay “The Pearl”: Theme of GreedTo begin with, The Pearl brings out greed in everyone it touches and brings Kino to beat his wife Juana. On page 61 of The Pearl it says: “Her arm was ready to rise when he jumped at her, grabbed her arm and snatched the pearl from her. He hit her in the face with his closed fist and she fell among the rocks, and he kicked her in the side. This quote occurs after Juana attempts to take Kino's pearl while he was sleeping and throw it into the ocean, but before she can do so, Kino sees her and takes the pearl away from her just before she hit her. This evidence shows that Kino, who was considered an incorruptible man and who loves his family more than anything, changes when the pearl becomes a part of his life. Kino is consumed by the desire for money and is so blinded by the illusion of a bright future produced by the pearl that he does not realize the danger it poses to his family. Instead of understanding and listening to his wife, he beats her when she takes matters into her own hands. When an individual like Kino believes that money and possessions will bring him happiness in his life, he becomes more and more determined to obtain it and is even willing to destroy and betray those who are important in his life to do it. Success and happiness exist naturally in everyone. Success is often associated with the acquisition of wealth and material goods. In The Pearl, the doctor is a dominant character as he is the first person Kino speaks to when Coyotito is injured and he represents the colonial beliefs that oppress Kino's people. He embodies the arrogance, greed and condescension of the colonials and what the core of the colonial society feels towards the natives. In The Pearl, page 11, it says: “He's a little Indian with a baby. He says a scorpion stung him. The doctor gently placed his cup down before letting his anger rise. “Don’t I have anything better to do than treat the insect bites of the “little Indians”? I am a doctor, not a veterinarian. “Yes, Boss,” said the servant. “Does he have money?” » » asked the doctor. “No, they never have any money. I, alone in the world, am supposed to work for nothing – and I'm tired of it. See if he has money!This quote appears right after Coyotito is bitten by a scorpion and taken to the doctor. As a doctor, he is obligated to act to save human lives, but when confronted with someone he considers beneath him, the doctor feels no obligation mentioned above. His cruel reluctance to heal Coyotito of the scorpion wound because Kino does not have the money to pay for it therefore shows the human cost of political victory rooted in the desire for financial gain. Then on page 22 it says: “And when it was clearly revealed who Kino was, the doctor became both stern and judicious. “He’s a client of mine,” the doctor said. “I’m treating his child for a scorpion sting.” And the doctor's eyes rolled a little in their big hammocks and he thought of Paris. He remembered the room he had lived in as a beautiful and luxurious place. This quote occurs when the doctor learns that Kino has found the World Pearl. Although at first he didn't want to treat Coyotito because Kino had no money, this quickly changes after learning that Kino found a large pearl. This shows how greed and money can corrupt people, since they don't want to do what they swore to do because they believe they were above someone , to the point of doing it solely for their own benefit. To continue, The Pearl by John Steinbeck, the author shows how sudden fortune can bring out the worst in everyone. This is shown on page 21 “He came to the priest walking in his garden, and this brought a thoughtful look to his face and the memory of some necessary repairs to the church. He wondered what the pearl would be worth. And he wondered if he had baptized Kino's baby, or married him. This quote occurs right after Kino finds the pearl and the neighborhood finds out. Also on page 28, “the priest gasped a little at the size and beauty of the pearl. And then he said: “I hope you will remember to give thanks, my son, to the One who gave you this treasure and to pray for guidance in the future. Kino nodded stupidly, and it was Juana who spoke softly. “We will, Father. And we will be married now. Kino said it. She looked at the neighbors for confirmation, and they nodded solemnly. The priest said: “It is pleasant to see that your first thoughts are good thoughts. God bless you, my children. He turned around and left quietly. » This quote happened after the priest found out that Kino had found the World Pearl. As the church is in disrepair and could use some improvement, when the priest learns of the pearl, he begins to think about how he could use some of the profits. Wondering about the price of the pearl, the priest begins to wonder if he performed any religious services for Kino and his family, such as a wedding or baptism. This shows how the town priest superficially represents pure virtue and goodness, but he is just as involved in using Kino's wealth as everyone else, believing he can find a way to convince Kino of him give part of the wealth he will get from the pearl. .ConclusionThe effect of greed has been shown throughout the story, whether it be Kino trying to get much more money than the pearl was worth or the doctor trying to convince Kino to pay him since he assumes that Kino has money now. The locals now think Kino is a killer when he really isn't. This pearl truly came with malice and greed, as Juana, Kino's wife, had warned. Greed can bring fame and fortune, but it can also lead to evil,.