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Theme Of Materialism In The Pearl

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Material Possessions Often Lead to Corruption Material possessions are often related to value. Many people are possessive of their materials things, however are their possessions really worth all of the excitement? In the novel The Pearl, by John Steinbeck, Kino finds “The Pearl of the World” and believes that it will bring good fortune to himself and his family. However as the story progresses, the pearl only brings bad luck and ultimately causes the death of his son. John Steinbeck uses the theme “Materialism corrupts and destroys”, to convey his opinion that material possessions are not worth as much as they seem. He develops this theme through the bad luck that Kino and his family receive and through Kino’s clouded mind. Material things cause one to forget his morals and cause the focustation on materialism. When Kino opens up the oyster and finds the magnificent pearl, he begins to dream about the possibilities that now have the chance of becoming realities. “In the surface of the great pearl he could see dreams form.” (page 26). He is now only focused on what he can get for himself and his family. He is not focused on the fact that the pearl is supposed to be used as a payment to treat Coyotito’s scorpion sting. Another example of the theme being portrayed through the forgetness of morals is when the author states that “The news [of the pearl] stirred up something infinitely black and evil in the town; the black distillate was like the scorpion, or like hunger in

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