Theme of Greed in The Pearl by Steinbeck in Relation to Modern Life

This essay examines the theme of greed in John Steinbeck's novel, 'The Pearl,' and its connection to contemporary living. It analyzes how characters like Kino, the priest, and the doctor exhibit greed, mirroring similar behaviors in modern society. The essay discusses how Kino's pursuit of wealth through the pearl leads to violence, the breakdown of relationships, and detachment from societal values. The priest's opportunistic friendship and the doctor's feigned concern highlight the corrupting influence of greed. Ultimately, the essay concludes that greed, as depicted in 'The Pearl,' continues to be a pervasive and destructive force in contemporary life, causing more harm than good. Desklib offers a wide range of study tools and resources to help students explore similar themes in literature.

THEME OF GREED IN THE PEARL IN RELATION TO THE CONTEMPORARY LIVING 1
THEME OF GREED IN THE PEARL IN RELATION TO THE CONTEMPORARY LIVING
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THEME OF GREED IN THE PEARL IN RELATION TO THE CONTEMPORARY LIVING 2
Introduction
In John Steinbeck’s novel, The Pearl, greed has been clearly manifested and explored by
the society in the setting. This is also depicted in modern contemporary life today. The society of
the text is of mixed characters where most of the people have ventured in fishing led by the
protagonist of the book, Kino (Steinbeck, 1947, p. 21). It is through this constant economic
activity where the catch of the large pearl by Kino the greed starts. Therefore, the theme of greed
has been clearly illustrated by the Kino, doctor, the priest, the Kino's neighbors and the pearl
buyers in the text, The Pearl.
Kino was looking the pearl to sell so that he can treat Coyotito (Steinbeck, 1947, p. 33).
When he picks the golden pearl, like the normal man as we have in the society, he starts thinking
of other benefits from it. He is as well decides to sell it at a high price so that he can sponsor the
other duties. When Juana realizes the pearl is surrounded by the evil, she decides to throw it back
to the sea. This evil deeds revolving in the Kino's family like some injured by the thieves who
were trying to steal the pearl is out of the greedy of Kino. The poverty had pushed Kino to the
wall such that couldn’t understand what to give priority. It was this greedy which made him
unsatisfied in all the moments.
Priest’s greedy is clearly seen after the catch of biggest pearl by Kino. This kind of the
priest is also there in contemporary modern life. The way people in most of the societies become
friendly when things are good, the greedy priest becomes a great friend to the Kino’s family
when he heard that there is a golden pearl. The priest advises Kino to present a tithe to the church
and then organize for purification of their wedding and baptism of their child. He is also insisting
so that he can have shared in the Kino's Pearl. This greediness has cost the two of them. The

THEME OF GREED IN THE PEARL IN RELATION TO THE CONTEMPORARY LIVING 3
greedy is oppressing the priest hence hindering him in performing his duties as per the dominion
of the faith.
The doctor is after money in attending the sick people. The most affected is the poor
Kino who was struggling to approach the doctor after the scorpion's sting on the Coyotito's
shoulder (Steinbeck, 1947, p. 88). Kino took Coyotito late evening to the doctor. After he
knocked the door, the attendant in the doctor’s house was sent to respond to the knock. After the
confirmation to the doctor, the attendant received small pieces of pearls which according to the
doctor small pieces symbolized poverty and as well lack of seriousness in official duty. When
the doctor heard about the golden pearl, he makes arrangements of visiting the Kino's family
pretending to attend Coyotito. Then doctor even walks the late evening after he heard the shout
from the Kino’s direction.
He attends the baby carefully encouraging the family and as well giving hope to them.
Greedy has made the doctor pretending to be good to the family. When the family was poor, the
doctor was not for the family. When the family got hope, the doctor becomes a great friend. The
doctor is concerned due to the golden pearl. The pearl brought a good relationship in the entire
society of Kino. If were not the pearl, the doctor would not change his behavior.
Greed has completely changed the pearl’s beauty as a symbol of the hope into a sign of
the human destruction in the society. The people from the town of La Paz had viewed Kino as a
person of integrity as he was to bring hope to most of the people in the society but it was totally
opposite of the wish (Steinbeck, 1947, p. 75). When Kino decided to return the pearl home and
hid it, thieves decided to go and steal it. In the process, Kino is hurt severely. His greed also
becomes the genesis of the violence towards his beloved wife Juana, especially when she tells
him how evil the pearl was.

THEME OF GREED IN THE PEARL IN RELATION TO THE CONTEMPORARY LIVING 4
Greed has detached Kino from the societal culture in the setting of the book as it does in
today's' societal lives. For instance, the relationship between a man and his wife was destroyed
through greed to the profit from the colonialists. The people had no other direction to maneuver
the problems they were undergoing rather than the caught pearl. Their greed made the pearl
useless to the Kino's people. Kino's brother Antonia had known the town of La Paz well, but due
to the crowd which suggested a lot of hope in the pearl, the buyers decided to fluctuate the price
leading to the changing of the sellers' mind. Besides, some of the greed followers had talked with
the buyers so that they can be given a certain percentage of the money (Steinbeck, 1947, p. 74).
Conclusion
In conclusion, John Steinbeck in the novel the Pearl, greed has been embraced by the
people under the novel’s setting as it has been in recent modern living. The greed has brought
more problems to the people involved rather than the joy they had expected from it. The egoism
has been manifested through the society, and as well the manhood perception of the pearl hence
termed ‘the world's pearl.'
Reference
Steinbeck, J., 1947. The Pearl. California: Viking Press.