Symbolism | The Pearl

John Steinbeck has extensively used symbolism in his novel “The pearl’. Discuss.

1.       The pearl

-          At first the pearl represents a stroke of divine providence. Kino’s people have a prophecy about “ pearl that might be” a perfect pearl that exists as a perfect possibility.

-          It is a symbol of greed for whoever beholds it. Kino ceases to view the pearl with optimistic delight and instead focuses on its sale with determined ambition.

-          It also brings the outside worlds destruction influence into Kino’s simple life.

-          It reflects the changes that Kino undergoes. At first it is a simple and beautiful object of nature but becomes dangerous and destructive.

2.       The scorpion

-          It symbolizes a seemingly arbitrary evil that, because it has nothing to do with human agency, it must come from the gods.

-          It symbolises destruction of innocence. Coyotito is touched by evil when stung and Kino’s innocence is destroyed by his ambition and greed in the destruction of the natives’ traditional, natural way of life by colonialists.

3.       Kino’s Canoe

-          It is a means of making a living both pearls and food that has been passed down from generation to generation.

-          It represents kino's link to cultural tradition. He uses the canoe to find the pearl which is provided by a divine power that has nothing to do with human agency.

-          It is also significant that kino's possession of the pearl leads directly to the canoes destruction an event that symbolizes kino's devastating decision to break with his cultural heritage because he wishes to pursue material gain.