4/6 AP English Literature Literary Argument Essay Example #1

The Prompt

The Essay

In the book The Pearl by John Steinbeck, there is tension between the old world, the native people who desire to live happy lives using only what they need, and the new world, the townspeople who hold the belief that the native people are inferior. Throughout the text we can see as Kino slowly starts to change his beliefs, and begin to desire to live more like the townspeople. The pearl gives Kino a connection to the new world, but the new world’s greed corrupts Kino, eventually leading to many of his misfortunes throughout the book. In an early chapter in the story, Kino’s child is stung by a scorpion.This is the first time that a townsperson treats Kino unfairly because of his status. The doctor in Kino’s town refuses to treat Kino’s baby. Kino realizes that he can’t protect his family because of his poverty. When Kino finds the pearl he realizes that he is now capable of providing for his family. The doctor’s actions are the first example of Kino’s connection to the new world. His actions are important, because it gives us a contrast of the way townspeople treat Kino before vs. after he finds the pearl. For example, after the pearl has been found, the doctor is more than willing to treat Kino’s son. Additionally the priest comes and visits Kino in his home. He reminds them that they must pay the church, but he also offers to marry Juana and Kino in the church. The Priest and Doctor both visiting Kino in his home highlights the difference of treatment towards Kino, now that he has the pearl. Before the pearl, townspeople would never have visited Kino in his home. Kino, now, has something they want, so they deign to enter his home. Their change in behavior illustrates their greed: since before he has the pearl they don’t want to even speak with him adn after they are willing to take time out oftheir day to come and visit him in his own home. They are only willing to do this because of the pearl, which demonstrates their lack of care for people who are less fortunate than them. Additionally, this highlights their focus on material things. Their greed reflects onto Kino as he realizes that material things are what give you power in the new world. These actions from the townspeople help Kino realize that if he wants respect he must use his new found fortune to learn to live like the townspeople. He takes it a step further and begins to dream of a new life for his son where he won’t be treated poorly. He sees a future where his son can read, where Kino owns a rifle and a new harpoon, and where Juana and Kino are married. When he speaks of the future: he says he can see these things happening in the reflection of the pearl. All these things are the things that the townspeople deem important. Kino sees his family dressed in fancy clothes, but they are not the clothes the native people usually wear. He describes the United States sailor suit and a hat of fine black felt, which he thinks show him as well dressed because they are what the townspeople wear. Furthermore, being married in a church is a thing the townspeople decided has meaning, but for Kino it has no meaning except that it makes him more respectable in the eyes of the townspeople. He believes that he must strive to be like them in order to be treated as an equal, and truly give his son the life he deserves. Kino then decides that he must go and visit the buyers. The buyers, however, are greedy. They attempt to trick Kino into selling his precious pearl for less. After Kino is offered 1000 pesos, he refuses. He knows that they are offering him less than the actual value of the pearl. This is a continuation of the greed of the whites. The buyers believe they can get more from him, because he is inferior. This leads Kino to decide to venture out to the capital city in hopes of a better price. On this journey, his child dies. This is the final misfortune that the pearl causes his family. Some people might say that this is the fault of Kino for being too greedy. However, if the buyers had just offered Kino a fair price in the first place. Kino never would’ve lost his child. In conclusion, the music, the trickyness of the buyers, and the doctor treating Kino like he’s not worth his time are all what send Kino off the edge into his cascade of misfortune. All these interactions between Kino and the “new world” prove that the new world’s greed is in fact the catalyst to all of Kino’s misfortunes. Therefore greed is the catalyst for evil, because without the greed of the white’s, Kino’s son would be alive.

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