The Pearl of Greed

Would you put yourself and your family in jeopardy for riches? Would you kill a man to protect these riches? This compelling story "The Pearl" was written in 1947 by John Steinbeck. This book is showing how important family is, and how you can't let greed take over. Steinbeck uses nature to show many emotions. Kino and Juana make many mistakes in this novel, but the biggest is when they let the pearl overwhelm them with greed.

Greed, it may just be one word but it can tear people apart. An example would be kino. When he handed himself over the the pearl, he handed himself over to greed. When he went down with the pearl, he took others down with him. His family suffered, the doctor became greedy, as did the priest and the neighbors. Kino all of the sudden became of great interest to the people of La Paz. He fought and killed to protect this monstrosity, his son died because of it. Greed is the big greed monster that scares children in their sleep, that hhides in their closets; greed brings greif.

Kino becomes of great interest because of the pearl, Kino might not know it, but the "song of Evil" is with him as long as the pearl is with him. Kino is blinded by wealth, but juana sees through the wool, she tries to rid the family of it. Her attempt becmes fruitless when kino saves the pearl. Deep down Kino knows it's wrong, but Steinbeck writes, "Her arm was up to thrwo when he leaped at her and caught her arm and wrenched the pearl from her. He struck her face..." Kino has now started down the road clearly marked greed, leaving Juana and Coyotito trailing behind.

In the forest greed forces them to plot, to hide. Kino says it's right, so Juana stands by his side. They go through challenges together, through obstacles together, but it's always about the pearl. Kino loses himself, he becomes a minion of that big green monster named greed. He still has a chance, her name is Juana, but he pushes her away, says she doesn't understand.

Then he realizes his mistake, that he let the wool fall oer his eyes, masking everything that he kows to be right. He let himself fall into the dark pit called greed. He let his family suffer. Don't let greed take over; don't let people suffer. Don't second Kino's mistake.