John Steinbeck
John SteinbeckIn The Pearl, by John Steinbech, evil transforms certain humble citizens into envious savages. Evil was exhibited by the
doctor who refused to treat Coyotito because his parents had no money.
When the doctor heard of Kino and Juana's fortune in finding "the
pearl of the world" (722), he boasted that they were patients of his
while thinking of a better life for himself in Paris. Coyotito was
healed when the doctor finally came to their straw hut. He deceived
Kino by giving the baby a white powder that made him go into
convulsions. An hour later he came and gave Coyotito the remedy and
immediately wanted to know when he was getting paid. The evil in the
pearl had reached the heart of the doctor. The pearl's evil did not
restrict itself to infecting Kino's peers; it also affected Kino
himself. He wanted to sell the pearl and use the money to better his
family's standard of living. He had dreams and goals that all
depended on the pearl. When Juana wanted to destroy the pearl, Kino
beat her unmercifully:
He struck her in the face and she fell among the boulders, and
he kicked her in the side...He hissed at her like a snake and she
stared at him with wide unfrightened eyes, like a sheep...
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