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Aug 04, 2020leejuliet rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
The Pearl is an allegorical story written by John Steinbeck to reveal the evils of greed and haste. Kino was an ordinary man who lived by simple joy among his wife and his baby son. He enjoyed the accompaniment of nature along with the breeze and music it produced. One day, his son Coyotito was stung by a scorpion, and left the family in debt from medical bills they could not defay. The doctor constantly refused the misshapen rocks and gems Kino offered. As Kino swam and dived under deep shores to relieve himself, he discovered a gigantic pearl in the tides. He declared himself the most rich man in the world, and contemplated all that he could provide his family with the possession of the mineral. This discovery led to numerous robbery attempts as well as the development of Kino’s selfishness and aggression. Kino’s wife, Juana, persistently begged Kino to rid the pearl for their safety, but the determined and frustrated man declined. While escaping more criminals and hunters, the two parents had to suffer losses because of the greed people in the town had for the pearl. Thus, Kino learned about the dangers of being selfish and wanting. This novel portrayed a significant moral that teaches readers to avoid being self-centered and focus on the present rather than counting the chickens before the eggs. Steinbeck improvised an amazing story that was both enticing and meaningful. The story had multiple vicious scenes, so I would recommend readers ages 13 and up to read it. This masterpiece deserves 5 stars for the plot itself and the moral we learn as we reach the end.