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Greed Destoys People

 

            Throughout the history of mankind, the lust for wealth has been the cause of wars, murders, and many types of criminal acts. In the story, The Pearl by John Steinbeck, the pearl started out as a sparkling jewel of splendor, and then evolved into a malignant growth of evil. The desire to possess it and the wealth that it represents changes the lives of three law-abiding people (Juana, the Priest, and the doctor) and ultimately destroys them.
             Juana, the faithful wife of Kino, a poor fisherman, had always lived a spiritual life. Even though she was poor, she felt content and happy. When a scorpion stung her son Coyito, she immediately turned to God and began to pray for her son's life. When the child's health did not improve, Juana took the baby to the doctor. Since he only treated the wealthy people of the town, he refused to treat the child and turned them away. In desperation, Kino turned to the sea to seek his fortune. Luck was on his side, and he found a very large and beautiful specimen of a pearl. When Juana first saw the "Pearl of The World", she felt as though all of her prayers had been answered. If she could have foreseen the future, she would have had second thoughts about this rare jewel. That night, as they were about to go to sleep, he heard a "sound so soft that it might have been simply a thought." and he quickly at-tacked the trespasser. This is where the problems for Juana and her family began. Kino committed an act that he ordinarily would not have been capable of doing. The feeling of greed and fear mounted in Kino's body and made him lose control of his actions. Soon even Juana who had always had faith in her husband, began to doubt him. "It will destroy us all" she yelled. She had tried to help Kino before too much trouble had occurred, but she realized that she was not competent enough to help.
             The Hippocratic oath, which is taken by all doctors, states that he/she is expected to aid all people who are sick, (not just the ones that are capable of paying the medical fee).


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