What Is The Moral Of The Pearl

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In the book, The Pearl, Steinbeck’s moral argument is that money is the root of all evil. “For it is said that humans are never satisfied, that you give them one thing and they want something more. And this is a said disparagement, whereas it is one of the greatest talents the species has and one that has made it superior to animals that are satisfied with what they have” (Steinbeck 25). Before Kino and Juana found “The pearl of the world” they were a simple happy family that were well liked by their neighbors and content with what they had. But after they found the pearl Kino became greedy, cruel, and violent, and the natives slowly turned against them. Men from the village became jealous of Kino’s new found wealth and wanted the pearl for themselves and tried to steal it and kill Kino they even went as far as burning Kino and Juana’s house down. …show more content…

“The two came from the rutted country road into the city, and they were not walking in single file, but side by side. The sun was behind them and their long shadows stalked ahead, and they seemed to carry two towers of darkness with them” (Steinbeck 88). Steinbeck symbolizes that Kino and Juana are now equal and the darkness symbolizes the sadness they feel for the death of their son and everything they have done. When they reach the shore Kino takes out the pearl and offers Juana to throw it in the ocean, but she declines. “Kino drew back is arm and flung the pearl with all his might. Kino and Juana watched it go, winking and glimmering under the setting sun…. And the music of the pearl drifted to a whisper and disappeared” (Steinbeck 89-90). Kino and Juana have given up on the hopes and dreams of the pearl because the pearl ruined the person that all of those hopes and dreams were made

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