In the historical fiction novella The Pearl, John Steinbeck details the destructiveness of
human greed through the view of an uneducated native Mexican after Spain colonized Mexic.
Before the native, Kino, discovered “the greatest pearl in the world”(Steinbeck 20), he lived what
seemed to be a fulfilling life; he had a faithful wife, a beautiful child, a reliable older brother, and
a way of life: pearl gathering. This life surrounded him with the pleasant “Song of the
Family”(Steinbeck 5); however, this would all change when Kino discovered the pearl, and “the
Song of Evil, the music of the enemy”(Steinbeck 7) gradually overpowered and replaced the
“Song of the Family.” Kino saw within the pearl the chance at a better life, one where his child,
Coyotito, was educated and he officially married his wife, Juana, but his struggles to acquire this
better life led to the inevitable downfall of his current one.
This novella, The Pearl, is a thought-provoking short read that is perfect for any day.
Steinbeck does a fantastic job of making subtle foreshadows, portraying the intensity of Kino's
emotions, and lining the text with insightful comments that the reader can not help but stop
reading to digest. The only issue I had was that I wish it was longer since it was truly a joy to
read. I have to give this book a five out of five and could not recommend it more to anyone.