The Lesson of The Pearl

Greed. It's a horrible word and act. Yet, everyone has just a little greed in them. It’s exactly what makes us human. That’s the main idea of The Pearl by John Steinbeck. Greed doesn’t help us, it can hurt us, and if you let your greed go too far, it can destroy your life. That's what happened to Kino. When he first found the pearl, he thought it meant joy, happiness, and hope for him and his family. Sadly, this pearl wasn't meant to do that. Kino did not realize that until he tried to sell it for money. The trader said that the pearl was a strange color, and it was far too large for anyone to buy. Kino then replied to him, "I am cheated. My pearl is not for sale here. I will go, perhaps even to the capitol." Journeys to the capitol were usually very dangerous. People don't come back. He never got to sell the pearl, since he finally realized what the pearl truly was until his son, Coyotito, was killed. After that, Kino threw it back into the Gulf. His greed killed his son. The lesson in this story is to never let your greed take control of you. Greed does not help you in a positive way. It helps destroy your life.