The Pearl Interpretive
The Pearl, Interpretive Essay
In The Pearl, the author, John Steinbeck, uses the pearl to express what human nature is like. At the beginning of the novel, the pearl that Kino finds is described as large as being incandescent and as "perfect as the moon"; by the end of the novel, the pearl that Kino finds is described as "ugly, gray, like a malignant growth." In general, mankind is greedy and evil. In the novel, Steinbeck throughout the entire story, in my opinion, is trying to say that human nature tends to be deception, which can turn something beautiful and great to become something bad and ugly.
First of all, Steinbeck shows humans are instinctively greedy. Steinbeck uses the scene to show humans are gluttonous is where the doctor comes …show more content…
Later on, after Kino owns the pearl, the doctor comes to Kino's house and offers a "treatment" for Coyotito. After he "treats" Coyotito, he pretends that he does not know Kino has a pearl and asks Kino about the medical expenses. "You have a pearl? A good pearl? The doctor asks with interest" (Steinbeck, page 35). The reality is that he wants Kino's pearl more than giving people. Although the doctor has a lot of money and his life is very plentiful, he still wants more and more. Another example that humans are greedy is the scene where Kino does not want to give up the pearl and keeps all his dreams also demonstrates people's avarice. Juana, who is smart enough to figure out the reality of the pearl trouble, advises Kino to throw the pearl away. Juana says, "This pearl is evil. This pearl is like a sin. It will destroy us all!"(Steinbeck, page 38). Even though Juana warns Kino that the pearl will bring misfortunes to the family and advises him to throw the pearl away, Kino neither takes the advice or listens to what his wife says because Kino's mind is already overtaken by his dreams. He is only thinking of his dreams. Clearly, the greed is surpassed his mind …show more content…
On pages 48-52 when Kino is trying to sell the pearl, the pearl dealers try to deceive Kino since they believe he is ignorant. They all act in collusion with each other because they want to buy the pearl at a very cheap price. In order to do that, all dealers tell lies, saying that the pearl was not valuable and it was a monstrosity (too chalky and soft). Finally, my last example, the doctor is deceptive when he comes to Kino's house and heals Coyotito, the doctor reveals his true intentions (Steinbeck, page 30-33). The doctor makes Coyotito sick for a while by giving him a "potion", which is in reality a dangerous substance. First, he overstates Coyotito's state of his illness, saying that he might die if he does not get immediate cure. Since Kino is so worried about his son, he doesn’t question the doctor. Then, the doctor gives Coyotito another medication, saying it would make him well again. But, reading this you can see that Coyotito is getting better right before the doctor comes to heal him. "The doctor smiles, but his eyes in their little lymph lined hammocks do not smile" (Steinbeck, page 30). As one reads this quote carefully, one can see what the purpose is when the doctor comes to Kino's house is either to steal the pearl or force Kino to pay for the treatment. The way that the doctor acts seems to be nice, helpful and kind; but really he is just making an illusion to fool
In The Pearl, the author, John Steinbeck, uses the pearl to express what human nature is like. At the beginning of the novel, the pearl that Kino finds is described as large as being incandescent and as "perfect as the moon"; by the end of the novel, the pearl that Kino finds is described as "ugly, gray, like a malignant growth." In general, mankind is greedy and evil. In the novel, Steinbeck throughout the entire story, in my opinion, is trying to say that human nature tends to be deception, which can turn something beautiful and great to become something bad and ugly.
First of all, Steinbeck shows humans are instinctively greedy. Steinbeck uses the scene to show humans are gluttonous is where the doctor comes …show more content…
Later on, after Kino owns the pearl, the doctor comes to Kino's house and offers a "treatment" for Coyotito. After he "treats" Coyotito, he pretends that he does not know Kino has a pearl and asks Kino about the medical expenses. "You have a pearl? A good pearl? The doctor asks with interest" (Steinbeck, page 35). The reality is that he wants Kino's pearl more than giving people. Although the doctor has a lot of money and his life is very plentiful, he still wants more and more. Another example that humans are greedy is the scene where Kino does not want to give up the pearl and keeps all his dreams also demonstrates people's avarice. Juana, who is smart enough to figure out the reality of the pearl trouble, advises Kino to throw the pearl away. Juana says, "This pearl is evil. This pearl is like a sin. It will destroy us all!"(Steinbeck, page 38). Even though Juana warns Kino that the pearl will bring misfortunes to the family and advises him to throw the pearl away, Kino neither takes the advice or listens to what his wife says because Kino's mind is already overtaken by his dreams. He is only thinking of his dreams. Clearly, the greed is surpassed his mind …show more content…
On pages 48-52 when Kino is trying to sell the pearl, the pearl dealers try to deceive Kino since they believe he is ignorant. They all act in collusion with each other because they want to buy the pearl at a very cheap price. In order to do that, all dealers tell lies, saying that the pearl was not valuable and it was a monstrosity (too chalky and soft). Finally, my last example, the doctor is deceptive when he comes to Kino's house and heals Coyotito, the doctor reveals his true intentions (Steinbeck, page 30-33). The doctor makes Coyotito sick for a while by giving him a "potion", which is in reality a dangerous substance. First, he overstates Coyotito's state of his illness, saying that he might die if he does not get immediate cure. Since Kino is so worried about his son, he doesn’t question the doctor. Then, the doctor gives Coyotito another medication, saying it would make him well again. But, reading this you can see that Coyotito is getting better right before the doctor comes to heal him. "The doctor smiles, but his eyes in their little lymph lined hammocks do not smile" (Steinbeck, page 30). As one reads this quote carefully, one can see what the purpose is when the doctor comes to Kino's house is either to steal the pearl or force Kino to pay for the treatment. The way that the doctor acts seems to be nice, helpful and kind; but really he is just making an illusion to fool