In The Pearl, the Song of the Pearl and the Song of the Enemy symbolize different aspects of Kino's life and emotions. The Song of the Enemy represents loss, destruction, and disconnection, reflecting the chaos and danger that threaten his family. The Song of the Pearl embodies hope and potential prosperity but also danger and fear, as it signifies Kino's secret wishes and the risks of pursuing his dreams. These songs reflect Kino's cultural heritage and the deep emotional ties to his ancestral past.

Kino's discovery of the pearl led to more negative outcomes than positive ones. Initially, Kino believed the pearl would solve his problems and bring wealth. However, it attracted deceitful pearl buyers and thieves, leading to violence and loss. Juana, Kino's wife, warned of its evil, predicting it would bring destruction. Ultimately, the pearl resulted in tragedy, as Kino's son Coyotito was killed, fulfilling Juana's fears and demonstrating the pearl's destructive nature.

The statement that "human beings are naturally opportunistic" is exemplified in The Pearl by John Steinbeck, where characters seek to exploit Kino's discovery of the pearl for personal gain. The priest, shopkeepers, doctor, and beggars all exhibit opportunistic behavior, prioritizing their self-interest over principles or prior indifference. This reflects the broader human tendency to seize opportunities for benefit, often disregarding ethical considerations, as seen in their desire to profit from Kino's fortune.

Kino does not listen to Juana’s advice and he becomes fixated on the pearl. The pearl gets in the way of his life, and makes him feel that he must do anything to get more pearls, even if it means killing. He has no time for his family as they are forced to move away from their home.

The conclusion of John Steinbeck's The Pearl completes his moral arguments that wealth does not bring happiness and that quick solutions are illusory. Kino's discovery of the pearl leads to violence, division, and tragedy, culminating in the death of his son, Coyotito. The pearl, once a symbol of hope, becomes a "malignant growth," and Kino's final act of discarding it signifies the loss of his soul and the emptiness of material wealth.

In the novella The Pearl, Steinbeck draws a clear correlation between wealth and destruction. Through his characters, he suggests that wealth leads to greed and, ultimately, destruction and despair. At the onset of the story, the family is content. When Kino finds the pearl, he feels it is a blessing. However, this blessing quickly turns into a curse. Greed is represented by the Doctor, who does not want to tend to a poor "little Indian." However, later in the story, when he finds out about the pearl, he tries to cheat Kino out of the pearl. The Doctor represents a greedy, corrupt civilization of which Kino's family was not a part until Kino gained the "

In "The Pearl," the theme of good versus evil is illustrated through the motif of music. Kino experiences the "Song of the Family," representing goodness, and the "Song of Evil," associated with threats like the scorpion. These songs symbolize the universal and cultural battle between good and evil. The pearl itself embodies this duality, holding the potential for both hope and destruction, illustrating how greed can corrupt and lead to evil.

The doctor is greedy because he refuses to treat Kino’s son since Kino doesn’t have money, and then, once Kino finds the valuable pearl, the doctor reveals his greed by going on to treat Kino’s son in the hopes of acquiring the pearl.

This quote from Steinbeck highlights the human tendency to simplify complex stories into binary oppositions like good/evil or black/white. It suggests that while such dichotomies can aid understanding, they often oversimplify reality. In The Pearl, this theme is explored as characters and symbols, like the pearl itself, embody both good and evil. Steinbeck challenges readers to recognize the nuanced spectrum between these extremes, rather than seeing them as strictly opposed.

The quote "Greed is dehumanizing" relates to John Steinbeck's The Pearl by illustrating how greed can corrupt and change individuals. In the story, Kino finds a pearl and initially desires to use it for his family's benefit. However, his growing greed leads him to commit acts he would not have otherwise considered, including murder. This transformation highlights how greed can strip away one's humanity and moral integrity.