Ever since Midas' lust for gold, it appears to be that man has.

             acquired a greed and appetite for wealth. Juana, the Priest, and.

             the doctor have all undergone a change due to money. They are .

             all affected by their hunger for wealth and inturn are the base for.

             their own destruction, and the destruction of society. Steinbeck's.

             "The Pearl" is a study of man's self destruction through greed.

             Juana, the faithful wife of Kino, a paltry peasant man, had.

             lived a spiritual life for what had seemed like as long as she.

             could remember. When her son Coyito fell ill from the bite of a.

             scorpion, she eagerly turned towards the spiritual aspects of life.

             Beginning to pray for her son's endangered life. The doctor who.

             had resided in the upper-class section of the town, refused to.

             assistant the child, turning them away when they arrived at the.

             door. Lastly they turned to the sea to seek their fortune. When.

             Juana set sight on the "Pearl of The World." she felt as though.

             all her prayers had been answered, if she could have foreseen the.

             future what she would have seen would have been a mirror image of.

             her reality. Juana's husband was caught in a twisted realm of.

             mirrors, and they were all shattering one by one. In the night he.

             heard a "sound so soft that it might have been simply a.

             thought." and quickly attacked the trespasser. This is where.

             the problems for Juana and her family began. The fear that had.

             mounted in Kino's body had taken control over his actions. Soon.

             even Juana who had always had faith in her husband, had doubted him.

             greatly. "It will destroy us all" she yelled as her attempt to.

             rid the family of the pearl had failed. Kino had not listened.

             however, and soon Juana began to lose her spiritual side and for a.

             long time she had forgotten her prayers that had at once meant so.

             much to her. She had tried to help Kino before to much trouble had.

             aroused, only to discover that she was not competent enough to.