María Elena Marqués

“Nothing is enough to the man for whom enough is to little.”- Epicurus. In John Steinbeck's “The Pearl” there are multiple themes that are illustrated repeatedly throughout the course of the book. One of these themes expresses that materialism and greed left unchecked can lead to immoral behavior such as violence. This theme can be seen in several different ways throughout the book. Specifically, the main character Kino, Kino’s attackers and the fights he had with Juana, his wife develop the…

Greed can definitely control a man and any other person. John Steinbeck, the famous American author, wrote the novella The Pearl. The Pearl is a very interesting book that is a man that finds the pearl of the world and hopes it leads him to great fortune. Kino figures out the hard way that he was wrong. Throughout the book Kino changes his important things in life change as he copes with resolving his internal conflicts. In the beginning of the book he values his family and boat. “It was very…

In the short story “The Treasure of Lemon Brown” by Walter Dean Myers and the novel The Pearl by John Steinbeck the main characters , Greg and Kino, face struggles which change what they think is important in life. While each character faced a different struggle they both valued family in the end. Kino’s experiences changed what he valued in life. In the beginning of the story Kino values his family. This quickly changes after he found the pearl. He faces internal struggles and soon becomes…

Family runs like a song sometimes high notes, sometimes low notes, but always a beautiful song. The father, Kino, the mother, Jauna, the baby, Coyitito, live in a small brush house in La Paz, Mexico. The most important thing to them is family. The Pearl by John Steinbeck is an intriguing book that exemplifies how much family matters. In the book, Kino and Juana are willing to sacrifice every little thing they have for the health of Coyitito. Coyititos’s health was so important to Jauna and Kino…

As human beings, we all have to make decisions that impact our lives. Some of these decisions could be beneficial; however, others can lead to violence and misfortune. The Pearl by John Steinbeck illustrates the story of Kino, a poor native living with his wife and child in Spanish-controlled Baja California. On a day like any other, he discovers a great pearl in the ocean, as large as a seagull’s egg. Believing that he was now incredibly wealthy, he immediately began dreaming about all the…

Pearls One symbol in the story are the pearls O-lan keeps between her breasts, portraying she and Wang Lung's relationship. When Wang Lung first discovers the jewels O-Lan had pilaged from the rich man's home, Wang Lung demands that she give them to him, but she requests to keep two small pearls, and that was when, "Wang Lung, without comprehending it, looked for an instant into the heart of this dull and faithful creature, who had labored all her life at some task at which she won no…

Traitors, thieves, mercenaries, and cruel authorities all have one similar trait; they believed in the principle that wealth, in every given form, directly corresponds with contentment. However, in The Pearl, by John Steinbeck, characters such as the pearl dealers, the hired trackers, and the doctor display dismaying extents of avarice and covetousness for Kino’s pearl, leading to four murders, five deaths, and a monumental shift in culture, due to the belligerent actions of Kino, who strived to…

“The Pearl” by John Steinbeck tells the story of Kino, a poor pearl diver, who's son, Coyotito, gets stung by a scorpion. To treat his son’s scorpion bite, Kino takes Coyotito to the doctor. Although the doctor does not feature predominantly in in the book’s storyline, he plays a very important role in the plot of the novella. From the moment he is introduced in the book, the doctor is portrayed as being an extremely despicable person who is self-indulgent, unsympathetic and only cares about…

Distorted music pulses from the dull, gray pearl. If one was to describe the melody radiating from the pearl, they would say it was an indescribable force that ate away from the peaceful setting. The music was nothing like the song of the enemy, it was far too evil. The melody was almost like a broken record, screeching out the words that should have been sung. In which the ones flawless record was the song of the family. Eating away at one's ears, the song rips people off their sanity and…

The Pearl follows the story of a young fisherman named Kino, who experiences the power of wealth. The story can been called a parable, as it teaches a universal lesson of life. John Steinbeck’s parable The Pearl, teaches that with money comes greed, and eventually destruction. Before Kino inhabits the pearl, he is infused with compassion, and is diligent in his obligations as a father to Coyotito. When Coyotito obtains an illness, Kino feels helpless, but feels inclined to assist. Kino feels…