Life can change drastically for the better or for the worse in a short amount of time. In “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck, Kino’s family lived a simple life until they found the pearl. When they found the pearl, they believed it would bring them luck and good fortune; however, to their surprise, conflict followed them everywhere. John Steinbeck used the symbol of the canoe to show that one object can be a part of a person’s life and go through the ups and downs of life with them. At the beginning of the novella, the canoe represents the stability and success of the family. They did not have a lot of money or belongings, but they had what they needed and they could count on being able to survive with the profit that came from their canoe. The
