Good versus Evil The theme of good versus evils is found in most novels. It is also found in The Pearl.

The actions of the characters in the novel allow the readers to distinguish between good and evil. The protagonist ( Kino and Juana ) represent good. They are simple people, who have over time undergone hardships, but lead an honest life. Kino, Juana, Juan Tomas, Appolonia, and their neighbours are innocent people who depend on the sea for fish and pearl. They work hard and live in a close-knit community. On the other hand, the doctor, pearl buyers, attacker and tracker are evil-minded people. They belong to a race of people who have taken advantage of Kinos people, for centuries, causing great sufferings and miseries to them. They are selfish and selfcentred. They want the pearl as they know it is valuable. The doctor wishes to own the pearl for his own selfish needs. He longs to live in France, where he would be able to do as he wishes. He is to materialistic. He treats Coyotito and offers to safeguard the pearl for Kino. But he has his own evil plans.

The pearl buyers are evils as they try to cheat Kino by offering him very low prices for his pearl. They conspire to cheat the poor fisherman knowing that he is innocent.

The trackers are merciless killers. They represent evil. They set out to track and even kill Kino and his family.

Evil minds cause Kino and his family to suffer. Intruders attack Kino to get the pearl. They damage his canoe and burn his brush house. Kino and Juana become homeless and flee the village as fugitives.

The pearl is also a symbol of evil. The pearl brings all the miseries to Kino and his family. Juana warns Kino that the pearl is evil. It will destroy them but Kino sees the pearl as a means to bright future. In the end Kino realizes the pearl is evil and knows that it is better to get rid of evil than keep it with him and throws the pearl back into the sea.

Kino does not give up easily. He does not accept the pearl buyers offers. He defies them and plan

to go to the capital to sell his pearl. Kino fights an intruder who tries to steal his pearl. Kino kills a man in self-defense. He also kills there evil trackers who are out to get him and his family. All these actions show that good overcomes evil.

Poverty versus Wealth The pearl's immediate and lasting effect upon Kino is to cause him to dream of better things for himself and for his family. Although the pearl attracts attackers and pursuers, Kino is determined that it shall be the means by which his family rises above their station and, most importantly, his son achieves literacy. In this manner the story is a political one. The story delineates and draws moral conclusions about the differences between early nineteenth century Mexico's poor, characterized by the sympathetic characters such as Kino and Juana and the country's rich portrayed using unsympathetic characters like the doctor. Family Although Kino begins the story with the "song of the family" coursing through his being, he is soon sidetracked by the desires generated by the pearl. Though these desires are for things that Kino believes will make the family stronger - a rifle, a marriage, education - It is Juana who struggles to maintain the family as it once was. Significantly, it is Juana who first suggests destroying the peal between two stones and actually attempts to free her family of its influence by throwing it back into the sea. She realizes that the family would have no meaning without Kino and relents to his desire to sell the pearl in the city. Just as the family is what drives Kino's desires, so does the sense of family bind Juana to his side when she refuses to part with him during their flight into the mountains. Once Coyotito has been killed, however, the family has ceased to exist and Kino can see that the pearl, contrary to his initial belief, has brought nothing but bad fortune. Fortune The operations of chance and the effort to discern good luck from bad luck in an underlying theme in the story. The pearl itself is the byproduct of a chance grain of sand embedding in an oyster. Additionally, Kino's finding of the pearl is depicted as the lucky moment of collusion of being in the right place at the right time with the right need. The luck that that the pearl brings

Kino's family, however, is revealed to be bad luck when his attempt to sell it at a fair price leads to the death of his only son. Hope The pearl is a novel which shows the power of hope in people. Kino sees a larger meaning to life after discovering the pearl. The pearl is a symbol of hope. Kino knows that his family would be able to look forward to a brighter future. He is able to bring his family out from the clutches of poverty and sufferings. Kino wants his son Coyotito to be educated to go through formal education and be knowledgeable. Kino visualizes a great life ahead such as fine clothes, necessities and luxuries. Throughout the story, the power of hope, makes the people look forward to life. Kino is very hopeful that he will be able to break away from all miseries, sufferings and uncertainties he and his family face. The theme of hope runs throughout the story and drives Kino to believe that success is within reach. The feeling of hope is overwhelming in the novel.

Despair

The theme of despair is also evident in the story. Despair relates to the feeling of hopelessness. It is the feeling of losing all hope and seeing the end to the meaning of life. The main characters, Kino and Juana despair towards the end of the story. They are hopeless as they bring their only son Coyotito, lifeless back to La Paz. Juana hysterical cry is none than the cry of death. Their hope is crushed. The meaning of life is blurred as they realize that their precious child is dead. The pearl which Kino hope would bring meaningful change and success, becomes meaningless. The feeling of despair makes them decide to throw the pearl back into the sea. Kino is not able to secure a bright future for his family. The feeling of despair marks the end of the story.

Greed

Greed is seen as a negative quality in people. There are number of character in the novel who are greedy. The doctor , the pearl buyers, the attackers and the trackers are greedy. The doctor is greedy to want some elses possession. He is self-centred and does not want to treat Coyotito with the evil plans in his mind. He wants the pearl and offers to keep it safely for Kino at his place.

The pearl buyers are greedy to want someones fortune and conspire to cheat Kino. They are only interested in the pearl as they know its true value.

The attackers, who attack Kino, are out to get his pearl. They want the pear for their own evil purpose. The trackers look for Kino and his family with one thing in their mind to get the pearl. They will not hesitate to kill anyone in their way. The actions of the above characters are driven by greed. The doctor wants to live a great life in France and materialistic. The pear buyers are desperate to cheat Kino because of greed. Greed makes these people behave cruel, irrational, inhuman, irresponsible, selfish, and good deeds are drowned in the pursuit of fortune.