Moral values |The Pearl

‘Most people in the society have lost their moral values’: using The Pearl by John Steinbeck for your illustrations show the truth of the above statement.

 INTRODUCTION:

Ideally a society is supposed to be bound and governed by values and norms which should dictate the relationship between and among people. However, not everyone is virtuous enough and many are morally deficient.

 Pi)- The doctor declines to treat Kino’s child, Coyotito, of the scorpion sting because he has no money(has only small worthless seed pearls).The doctor is hypocritical. When Juana and Kino take Coyotito for treatment at his house, he send the servant informing them he is not in because they have no money. when he learns about the pearl,he visits Kino and offers to treat Coyotito and wait for the money. He also administered the wrong medicine. – The doctor comes to take advantage of Kino’s ignorance by making Coyotito sick and pretending that his illness is the result of the scorpion sting. He pretends as if he does not know of Kino’s pearl, yet the only reason comes to treat Coyotito was to try and seek out where Kino might be hiding it.

Pii) – The Pearl Buyers are out to take advantage of Kino and his pearl. Their goal is to cheat him and ruin his plans of happiness and peace for his family.The pearl buyers exploit the pearl divers by buying their pearls at a lower price than the actual. They also conspire to cheat Kino off his pearl. (pg 33)

 Piii)-Violence. Kino attacks Juana who want to throw back the pearl to the sea. At the beginning of the story, they are very close but the pearl divides them. Kino slaps his wife when she wants to throw it into the sea.

Piv).The priest thinks about the church repairs.He also wonders how much the pearl is worth .He tells Kino to give thanks to one who has given the treasure.All this translates to him getting part of the money when the pearl is sold.The priest preoccupation should be matters of spirituality.

Pv)- Kino is attacked several times as attackers want to rob him of the pearl of the world.

Pvi)– Kino is forced to kill a man to defend him and the pearl.

Pvii) – His hut is burned after someone searching for the pearl has ransacked it.

Pviii) – Trackers follow Kino and his family and they have to hide in the mountain. Finally, Kino’s child is shot.

CONCLUSION

Most people in the society have lost their morality and they are driven by greed,hypocrisy,violence and exploitation .