John Steinbeck Materialism And Greed

In the story “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck, the author develops the theme that materialism and greed left unchecked can lead to immoral behavior. In this story the protagonist Kino has found the pearl of the world, that ends up taking over his life and tearing his family apart. The pearl evokes greed in not only Kino but in everyone else. Other than Kino himself several attackers and the doctor continue to hurt his family, too. Steinbeck shows that materialism and greed left unchecked can lead to immoral behavior, through the characters of the attackers the doctor and the protagonist Kino himself. Steinbeck shows how materialism and greed affected not only Kino but others because Kino was attacked three times and was badly injured because
The doctor would not have anything to do with Kino until he found the pearl. When the baby got stung by the scorpion the doctor said, “Have I nothing better to do then cure insect bites for ‘little Indians’? I am a doctor not a veterinary.” He would not help them. He was disgusted by them, he would not help them because they were natives and did not have much money. Kino then found his pearl. The doctor then thought, “I am treating his child for a scorpion sting.” But the reader knows that the baby was healed by the poultice. Lastly, the doctor came to “treat” the baby but instead poisoned him so that he would get sick and the doctor would be able to cure him. The reader can infer that the doctor poisoned the baby so he could say that he treated him and get money out of Kino. This shows that the doctor became greedy and wanted the pearl for himself and would probably do anything to get
Kino was attacked three times which shows how greed can cause people to hurt that person in order to get what they desire. Also, the doctor did not want anything to do with Kino until he found the pearl. Lastly, Steinbeck shows how materialism and greed can take over a person's life and mind when Kino beat Juana when she tried to rid them of the pearl. These examples show that materialism and greed can take over a person's life and cause immoral behavior. This story tells the reader that being greedy can cause a person to do something then that they might regret later in