The Pearl - Greed

Ever since Midas' lust for gold, it appears to be that manhas acquired a greed and appetite for wealth. Juana, the Priest,and the doctor have all undergone a change due to money. Theyare all affected by their hunger for wealth and inturn are thebase for their own destruction, and the destruction of society.Steinbeck's "The Pearl" is a study of man's self destruction through greed. Juana, the faithful wife of Kino, a paltry peasant man, had lived a spiritual life for what had seemed like as long as shecould remember. When her son Coyito fell ill from the bite of ascorpion, she eagerly turned towards the spiritual aspects oflife. Beginning to pray for her son's endangered life. Thedoctor who had resided in the upper-class section of the town,refused to assistant the child, turning them away when theyarrived at the door. Lastly they turned to the sea to seek theirfortune. When Juana set sight on the "Pearl of The World." shefelt as though all her prayers had been answered, if she couldhave foreseen the future what she would have seen would have beena mirror image of her reality. Juana's husband was caught in a twisted realm of mirrors, and they were all shattering one byone. In the night he heard a "sound so soft that it might havebeen simply a thought..." and quickly attacked the trespasser.This is where the problems for Juana and her family began. Thefear that had mounted in Kino's body had taken control over hisactions. Soon even Juana who had always had faith in herhusband, had doubted him greatly. "It will destroy us all" sheyelled as her attempt to rid the family of the pearl had failed.Kino had not listened however, and soon Juana began to lose herspiritual side and for a long time she had forgotten her prayersthat had at once meant so much to her. She had tried to helpKino before to much trouble had aroused, only to discover thatshe was not competent enough to help. A hypocrathic oath is said before each medical student isgranted a Doctors degree. In the oath