In the novel "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck. Juana, the Priest, and the doctor have all undergone a change due to money. They are all affected by their need to be wealthy and inturn are setting themselves up for their own destruction, and the destruction of society. Steinbeck's "The Pearl" is a story of man's self-destruction through greed. Juana, the wife of Kino, who was a hard working peasant man, had lived a spiritual life for as long as she could remember. When her son Coyito became ill from a bite of a scorpion, she turned towards the spiritual aspects of life. She started to pray for her son's endangered life. The doctor who lived in the upper-class section of the town, refused to treat the child because he was of a lower class and Kino did not have the money, he turned them away when they arrived at his door. Out of choices and money Kino turned to the sea to look for pearls. While Kino was diving for pearls he came across the largest and flawless pearl he had ever seen. When Juana first saw the "Pearl of The World." she felt as though her prayers had been answered. Now that Kino had the pearl he had a new problem. He had to protect it. A man tried to steal the pearl from him while he slept. This is where the problems for Juana and her family began. The fear that had grown in Kino's mind had taken control over his actions, he quickly attacked the man and protected his pearl, something he would have never done before. Soon Juana, who had always had faith in her husband, had started to doubt him. "It will destroy us all" she yelled as she attempted to get rid of the pearl. But Kino did not listen, and soon Juana began to lose her spiritual side and for a long time she had forgotten her prayers that had meant so much to her. An oath is said before each medical student is granted a Doctors degree. In the oath they swear to aid the ill, and cure the injured.