The Pearl Figurative Language Essay

In the novel The Pearl by John Steinbeck, the symbolism of the pearl is of utmost importance. The meaning the pearl embodies is especially significant in relation to the underlying parody: the wretchedness that emanates from the acquisition of wealth. According to the narrator, “it is said that humans are never satisfied, that you give them one thing and they want something more” (25). Ultimately, through the use of figurative language, the narrator reveals the inherent malignancy of avarice. Although, the pearl initially symbolizes good luck and godly intervention, its symbolism transforms to represent the malevolent essence of wealth.

Initially, the narrator describes the “incandescence of the pearl” as an “undulating mirror of brightness (24 & 17). The portrayal of the pearl is repetitively accompanied with light, which contributes to its initial benevolence. For example, the narrator compares the pearl to the moon by using a simile: “the great pearl, perfect as the moon” (19). The moon is the light of the night, which shines white by the reflection of the sun. This use of figurative language makes the symbolism more

The irony of the passage also relates to the symbolism of the pearl. Ironically, the bed of oysters, which empowers Kino, is the same one that funded the King of Spain. Therefore, the pearl is associated with both light and royalty. Moreover, the symbolism of the pearl is clear when the narrator states: “But the pearls were accidents, and the finding of one was luck, a little pat on the back by God or the gods or both” (16). This passage associates the pearl with good luck and divine intervention. It’s a metaphor, which relates Kino’s discovery of the pearl to a “pat on the back by God.” Initially, the pearl’s symbolism is benevolent because it’s associated with light, royalty, magic, luck, and divine