The Pearl

The Pearl by John Steinbeck is a masterful work of parable and allegory. The Pearl symbolizes nature, beauty and the fight of good versus evil. Animals provide a vivid image of how good, evil and strength play into The Pearl.

Nature in the pearl is shown in three different ways. First, the pearl came to being as the Earth caressed it. It was not made in some factory. Kino, the protagonist, took his canoe out and found the pearl where it had laid for hundreds or possibly thousands of years. Secondly, nature made the pearl so that people might enjoy it. It was made by nature for a useful purpose, such as when Kino took the pearl back into town. "All manner of people grew interested in Kino-people with things to sell and people with favors to ask. Kino had found the Pearl of the World." (29) People found the nature of the pearl exciting and worth a lot more than a passing glance. While nature did not see mankind distraught over the pearl, nature wanted the pearl to be something that was beheld of its powerfulness. "It was as large as a sea-gull's egg. It was the greatest pearl in the world." (25) Nature had made something that was great, might and powerful. The pearl was made by the Earth, had a purpose, and was a powerful force to be dealt with.

The pearl was found to be beautiful in a variety of ways. Kino found the beauty of the pearl to be great, as he hoped he could use it to pay for Coyotito's education. Kino also realized that he could satisfy several other desires when he sold the pearl. These included a proper wedding in the church with Juana, new clothes and a rifle. "A rifle," he said. "Perhaps a rifle." (32) This is an ironic statement because in the end Kino uses a rifle to kill one of the trackers and a tracker uses a rifle to kill Coyotito.