Introduction
The inevitability of greed's corrupting influence is a central theme in John Steinbeck's parable The Pearl. In the novella, Steinbeck illustrates how the discovery of the 'Pearl of the World' turns a once-content family into covetous monsters, suggesting that the human soul is vulnerable to greed regardless of context. This essay will analyze how Steinbeck develops this theme through the transformations of Kino, Juana, and their neighbors into obsessive, selfish beings when exposed to the pearl's promise of wealth. It will also examine how the novella critiques the idea that material wealth alone can bring salvation. Through the lens of The Pearl’s damning depiction of human avarice, we may reflect on the nature of greed in our own lives and society.
The Parable of "The Pearl" and Its Moral Themes
John Steinbeck published The Pearl in 1947 as a contemporary reimagining of the traditional Mexican folk tale “La Perla de la Muerte” (“The Pearl of Death”). The central characters of Kino, a poor indigenous pearl diver, and his wife Juana inhabit a small village community where they live in a brush house and struggle to survive. The discovery of an enormous pearl fills them with hope that they can pay for an education, medicine, and a church wedding for their son Coyotito. However, as the news about the pearl spreads in the village, it stokes selfish desires among the neighbors and exposes the innately corruptive power of wealth. When Kino attempts to sell the pearl, it leads to violence, loss, and the unraveling of the community, illustrating that material riches cannot replace traditional values. The Pearl thus delivers a moral lesson about the destructive consequences of unchecked greed.
Kino's Transformation: From Devotion to Paranoia
The Pearl powerfully depicts how Kino's character transforms from a devoted father to a paranoid and violent monster due to greed. When he first discovers the pearl, Kino is filled with paternal devotion and dreams only of curing his son's scorpion sting. However, Steinbeck quickly demonstrates how the promise of wealth changes Kino, writing "the pearl had become his soul", and describing his eyes as "clouded, as if a film covered them." Kino becomes paranoid and violent, brutally attacking a man he believes intends to steal the pearl. His moral compass erodes, convincing himself his actions are justified to protect the pearl. By the novella’s climax, Kino has lost his moral clarity entirely, committing the ultimate act of evil by becoming a murderer. Through Kino's fall into darkness, Steinbeck illustrates the sinister, corrupting power of greed.
Juana's Descent: From Loyalty to Covetousness
Juana, likewise, transitions from loyal wife to a woman possessed by avarice due to the pearl's influence. At first, Juana supports Kino and seems immune to the greed around her, telling Kino "the pearl is evil" and begging him to discard it. However, Steinbeck shows Juana slowly succumbing to the same material obsessions as her husband. She becomes resentful and jealous, suspicious that Kino will secretly give her the pearl. By the final pages, Juana’s fixation on the pearl’s monetary value has eclipsed her reason and humanity. She hisses “animal-like” and fights her husband for the pearl, before discovering its true destructive nature. Through Juana’s tragic downfall, Steinbeck illustrates how even strong, moral characters can become slaves to greed when exposed to the temptation of riches.
The Role of Poverty and the Inevitability of Greed
Some may argue that Kino and Juana’s descent into greed is driven not by the pearl itself, but by the poverty and oppression they suffer. It's true that their community provides scarce hope of escaping hardship, making the pearl seem their only chance. However, Steinbeck makes clear that the couple’s loss of morals results from greed alone, not their difficult circumstances. He depicts neighbors in similar poverty who retain their principles and beseech Kino to discard the pearl for the sake of the community. Thus, while external social critique exists within the parable, Steinbeck ultimately attributes Kino and Juana’s moral erosion to the innate human tendency toward greed when faced with fortune.
Conclusion
John Steinbeck's The Pearl delivers a powerful moral lesson that resonates across time and culture. Through the transformations of Kino and Juana as they fall victim to avarice, Steinbeck argues that greed's corruption is inevitable when humans are exposed to sudden wealth. The parable forces us to confront the presence of greed within ourselves and society. Unlike the characters, we have the self-awareness to guard against greed's darkness and protect our humanity. However, Steinbeck's message warns this requires constant vigilance, as wealth's temptation never fades.
