The Pearl Informative Quotes

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Informative Essay: The Pearl, Changes in Character In John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, the author shows how a sudden fortune can affect and influence a person’s behavior and life. In this story, Kino- a native living in a village called La Paz- has a content life of poverty, but when he acquires an immediate amount of wealth, he finds that he is overcome with greed and violence. After he discovers “the Pearl of the World” (pg. 22), Kino feels that he has power and authority because of his new found wealth. He uses it recklessly with selfish and desire, and he ends up losing even more of what he started with, including the death of his first-born son. Before the discovery of the pearl, Kino was satisfied with the life he had with his wife, Juana. …show more content…

Kino wanted more power, and it eventually made him lose even more than what he started with. The pearl had become so increasingly involved in Kino’s life, that at one point he said, “This pearl has become my soul.” (pg.67) This quote meant that Kino was so dependent on the quote to bring them out of poverty, and to put Coyotito to school, that the pearl was his new number one priority, and his only hope for a higher level of power and wealth. When actually in reality, the pearl was actually his adversary, making him greedy and destructive. Ever since Kino found the pearl, he was hungry for more value in his life, that it eventually took over his life, making him lose the thing he wanted most out of the money, Coyotito and his education. Kino explained after he found the pearl, that he was going to spend the money he would sell it for, for Coyotito’s education, a rifle - to increase their rank in society- and a harpoon. He said that if he put Coyotito in school, then that is how the villagers and him would learn how to read and write. This would make it so that the villagers would know whether or not they are treated fairly when selling their pearls, and to make sure they're not being cheated out of their money. “ …- a rifle - but why not, since he was so rich.” (pg.25) This quote, in other words, means that Kino wanted to buy the rifle just because he was rich. If Kino bought the rifle, his place in society would have more importance, therefore he would gain more power over the people that didn't have one. In short, the events showed that Kino was not satisfied with the amount of money that he had, and even knowing the dangers of the pearl, along with receiving the advice from both Juan Thomas and Juana, Kino continues to keep the pearl. He keeps the pearl because of his need and desperation for more

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