Material Society, Material Thoughts

Ever since Midas' lust for gold, it appears to be that man has


acquired a greed and appetite for wealth.   Juana, the Priest, and


the doctor have all undergone a change due to money.   They are


all affected by their hunger for wealth and inturn are the base for


their own destruction, and the destruction of society.   Steinbeck's


"The Pearl" is a study of man's self destruction through greed.





      Juana, the faithful wife of Kino, a paltry peasant man, had


lived a spiritual life for what had seemed like as long as she


could remember.   When her son Coyito fell ill from the bite of a


scorpion, she eagerly turned towards the spiritual aspects of life.


Beginning to pray for her son's endangered life.   The doctor who


had resided in the upper-class section of the town, refused to


assistant the child, turning them away when they arrived at the


door.   Lastly they turned to the sea to seek their fortune.   When


Juana   set sight on the "Pearl of The World." she felt as though


all her prayers had been answered, if she could have foreseen the


future what she would have seen would have been a mirror image of


her reality.   Juana's husband was caught in a twisted realm of


mirrors, and they were all shattering one by one.   In the night he


heard a "sound so soft that it might have been simply a


thought..." and quickly attacked the trespasser.   This is where


the problems for Juana and her family began.   The fear that had


mounted in Kino's body had taken control over his actions.   Soon


even Juana who had always had faith in her husband, had doubted him


greatly.   "It will destroy us all" she yelled as her attempt to


rid the family of the pearl had failed.   Kino had not listened


however, and soon Juana began to lose her spiritual side and for a


long time she had...