Diya Shroff
English Essay, Mr. Ferrara John Steinbeck's
The Pearl is a phenomenal novel that shows the dangers of greed. Through

his strong writing, Steinbeck emphasizes the central theme of greed by writing about how people that are considered to be people of prestige and honor are filled with greed after learning about the pearl, and how the personality and actions and of the protagonist himself change. When nature gifts Kino, the protagonist, the “pearl of the world” he expects everyone to be happy for him. Yet, “Kino's pearl went into the dreams, the speculations, the schemes, the plans, the futures, the wishes, 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 (21).”
Steinbeck shows how the copious amount greed that people have for the pearl by writing about the plans the priest and doctor have for Kino’s pearl. Many refer to doctors as a “form of God” as doctors are healers. Even before Kino finds the pearl, the readers know that the doctor is no form of God, refusing to treat Coyotito of a deadly scorpion bite. However, the doctor is so greedy that after he hears about the pearl and his eyes “rolled up a little in their fat hammocks and he thought of Paris (19).” Steinback highlighted the central theme of greed through the doctor’s actions. The doctor drugged a little and innocent baby just to have a vacation. Priest’s are supposed to be people that are exceptionally good and untouched by greed. Yet when the news came to the priest “walking in his garden, and it put a thoughtful look in his eyes and a memory of certain repairs necessary to the church. He wondered what the pearl would be worth (21).” Although the priest didn’t harm Kino’s family in anyway, the fact that he wondered if he baptized Coyotito, and aspired to marry Kino and Juana in hopes of having the money of the pearl proves what

greed can do to the best of people. Steinback showed such reputable people to be greedy because he wanted to show what adverse effects greed can have on everyone. When the novel commences, Kino is portrayed is a man who is not rich in money but rich in family and culture. Yet, throughout the novel he transforms into a savage criminal. With aspirations for himself and his family, he refuses to accept an offer of fifteen hundred pesos even though this is more money than he has ever had. Even after a robber breaks into Kino’s home, and Coyotito relapses Kino refuses to destroy the pearl. When his wife, Juana, decides to take