The Pearl by John Steinbeck

The Pearl by John Steinbeck shows the battle between good and evil through his characters Juana, the doctor, and Kino. Kino, Juana, and Coyotito lived a life where they were content. After the finding of the "Pearl of the World" everything changed. Someone would think that finding this expensive pearl would bring happiness and joy but it brought trouble and death.

Juana was on the battle for good because of her actions in the novel. When Coyotito gets hurt in the book she really cared for him and wanted the best for him. Juana cared for the baby so much that when Coyotito got bitten "She put her lips down over the puncture and sucked hard and spat and sucked again while Coyotito screamed." [pg.7]. Also she wanted to get rid of the pearl because of the things that the pearl brought. As well she stood by Kino although he was beating him. There was a couple of good people in the novel although there were also evil people in the novel.

The doctor became a person for the evil. One way he showed that he was evil was when he refused Coyotito because Kino did not have enough money. The doctor said that he " is a doctor, not a veterinary." [pg. 13]. Also when Kino found the pearl he gave Kino a antidote that was poison for the babies sickness. And the doctor was only interested in helping Kino after Kino and Juana finds the pearl of the world. The doctor represented evil in the book.

The character that was evil and good at the same time was Kino. One-way Kino showed evil was when Juana tried to dispose the pearl but Kino caught her and beat her. Kino "struck her in the face with his clenched fist and she fell among the boulders, and he kicked her in the side" [pg. 57]. When Kino beat her, she didn't resist or protest. Another way Kino showed evil in the book is that he killed two men. But there wasn't just evil in Kino. One good action he did was that he got the pearl for Coyotito's sake. He got is to help his son. Kino was on both sides of the battle.

Juana, the doctor, and Kino are examples of the battle between good and evil in John Steinbeck's book The Pearl. What ever you have in life you should be content. You should be happy of what you have. But if you do gain in life you shouldn't change your perspective of things.