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All The Light We Cannot See Greed Quotes

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The Destructive Consequences of Greed and Selfishness Greed is the intense and selfish desire for something, most commonly wealth, power, or love. In All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, a symbol that comes up is the Sea of Flames diamond. According to the original story, the holder of the diamond becomes obsessed with its so-called power of immortality and its extreme value and is willing to give up anything to possess it. It depicts how anyone can be corrupted by greed and the desire for immortality. Other than its supposed power the diamond also has a destructive potential since the holder of the diamond will have to give up everything they love for immortality. Throughout the novel, the symbol of the Sea of Flames represents human …show more content…

Even as rumors spread of the diamond's destructive power the mere thought of its power still enticed people. “But if the keeper threw the diamond into the sea, thereby delivering it to its rightful recipient, the goddess would lift the curse. So the prince, now the sultan, thought for three days and three nights and finally decided to keep the stone. It had saved his life; he believed it made him indestructible.” “The invaders came and destroyed the palace, killed everyone they found, and the prince was never seen again.” (Doerr, 21) This passage suggests how the stone represents the consequences of greed and selfishness. Although the prince had the option to give the stone back he thought he was invincible when holding it. The prince's desire for immortality and the decision to possess the stone ultimately leads to the catastrophic downfall of his palace and people. This in turn demonstrates the catastrophic consequences of selfishness and greed. Furthermore, this passage demonstrates how the Sea of Flames is connected to fate. Fate is defined as the development of events beyond a person's control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power. Hence, it demonstrates that the prince was fated to keep the stone, implying that whoever possesses it will be destined to hold onto it, perpetuating the symbol of human

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