The Pearl Essay

"This thing is evil," Juana cried harshly. "This pearl is like a sin! It will destroy us," The Pearl by John Steinbeck reveals that when Kino makes The Pearl of less importance than family, Kino puts his family in peril through himself, others, and his decisions. A few examples can be detected through Kino’s attacking of the man, The poison of doctor, and the keeping of the pearl. Even when attempting to do what is best, Kino’s harsh actions ultimately make him lose what he truly loves. When Kino finds the pearl he believes it is a new dawn, a good thing. To him, “It was the greatest pearl in the world,” but Juana sees otherwise. And when Juana attempts to fling the pearl out to sea, Kino “strikes her in the face with his clenched fist” and “kicks her in the side.” Kino harms Juana, whom he loves, because of attachment to the pearl. Kino refuses to let Juana destroy the pearl because, “"This pearl has become my soul," says Kino. "If I give it up I shall lose my soul.” Later on Kino attacks some men who are tracking them. Kino not destroying the pearl causes the trackers to come and,

Therefore Kino's pearl goes 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 stands in the way, and that is Kino, so that he becomes, curiously, every man's enemy. This causes him and his family danger as a thing comes to his home and “he springs like an angry cat, leaping striking and spitting” as something enters his home. That thing could easily bring harm to Kino and his family. Kino’s son recovers from a scorpion bite, and the doctor, hearing of his great pearl, comes to “treat him”. However scorpion venom does not die down and strike again. The doctor likely poisoned the baby with the white powder he used to “treat” him. Unfortunately for Kino, trusting the doctor is only the first of his