The Pearl Greed Theme

In The Pearl, John Steinbeck tells of the struggles of a native fisherman, Kino, and his family. Kino’s son, Coyotito, is stung by a scorpion in the beginning of the story. Kino and his wife, Juana, find the pearl of the world, and they hope it will give them the money needed to cure their son. However, this event leads to a tragic journey in which Kino and his family must overcome many obstacles. The main theme of The Pearl is that greed has the ability to destroy a person’s morals. Kino, the doctor, and the pearl buyers all emphasize this theme. Kino, the protagonist, is a determined, hard-working fishermen who supports his family in many ways. In the beginning of the story Kino is described with a happy, but simple life with his wife and