Gonzaga, Joni Mae D.

05February2010
Eng2- F5

Depicting the Good and the Evil, a Treasure Chest of Values:

John Steinbecks Novel, The Pearl, as a Parable

Perhaps one of the shortest novels ever written yet a true

classic, John Steinbecks The Pearl can be considered a parable, a

story of values and teachings of God. The story of the pearl embarks

on the family of a fisherman living in a shabby little house in La Paz

Mexico, a very unfortunate event made him dive into the ocean where

he found the great pearl, a pearl as big as a sea gulls egg. This

discovery turned his familys life around as he kept on protecting the

pearl against trackers that wanted to get it from him.

A parable is a brief story, proverb or saying which expresses

moral. They conceal complex ideas through simple situations in the

story.1 Parables tell us two stories at the same time, a surface story

and a symbolic story that is coherent with the literal story. It embodies

a conflict of values which turns out to give emphasis to the significant

2
values implied by the story as it coexists with other values. Often

associated with the illustration of mans relation with God, a parable

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uses allegory to imply an abstract subject.

Conflict of values suggests that many life lessons are intertwined

in the story. Different perspectives of which, arise throughout the plot.

If a novel is a parable, it should exhibit a series of conflict of values as

1
The world book encyclopedia. 1984. USA, World Book Inc.
2
Berkley, J. 1967. Patterns of literature: The novel and non-fiction. USA, L.W. Singer Company Inc.
3
Tan, A. 1998. Introduction to literature. Mandaluyong, Philippines: Academic Publishing Corporation.
the main story progresses.4 Steinbecks novel showed the mystery

behind of the main character, Kino, holding on to his dreams despite of

all the risks adjoined into it. It is an issue whether Kino shall continue

to be a dreamer and pursue a better future or a father and a man of

his family who would be very willing to give up everything for the

security of his wife and son. It is only human nature of a man not to

let go of his dreams especially in Kinos situation where he seemed to

find the key to bring those dreams to life and all he is left to do is to

defend it from others who want to have it as well.5 In a dilemma

between pursuing a dream and keeping his family, being carried away

by his hopes and dreams, the main character has failed to keep the

most valuable treasure in his life, his family.

The Pearl revolved around the subject of struggle in dealing

between good and evil, which also turns out to be the most evident

subject amongst parables. This subject was exposed, through showing

how it exists in man, in different scenes all throughout the novel. A

loving, affectionate, and delightful husband eventually managed to lift

a hand to his wife when she tried to get in his way of keeping the

great pearl. A shift from a selfless man that only thinks of his family

to a man full of greed was seen in the story. Even though he had good

plans for what he might get after selling the pearl such as marrying his

4
Denning, S. 2004. A fable of leadership and storytelling. USA: Squirrel Inc.
5
Myers, D. Social psychology. USA: McGraw-Hill Inc.
wife in a church and uplifting his race by sending his son to school, to

incorporate buying rifle as he thinks of defending his treasure that

someone would attempt to get his possible treasure is a clear depiction

of how evil takes over the goodness of man.

Another characteristic of the novel for it to be considered a

parable is the use of allegorical symbolisms. With this it is said that the

story depicts a moral and spiritual lesson. In the ornate language of

the parable, the author requires the reader to look beyond the literal

story in order to find the true meaning of the novel. 6 From the very

first sentence of the novel, the author used many animals to convey

some messages all throughout the story. The most prominent animal

used is the scorpion which attacked the child of the main character.

Using the scorpion as an adversary imparts the thought of having

stealthy dangers for the family. The attack of the scorpion was sudden,

unexpected, and shrouded a foreshadowing of the problems that may

arise within the family. Also, a part in the story mentioned how a pearl

was formed when sand irritates the flesh of the oyster. It can be

perceived that the author intended to present the pearl in such a way

that everyone could see a great treasure coming from dirt and

distress.

6
Forman, C. 1985. Barrons book notes: John Steinbecks The Pearl. New York: Barrons Educational
Series Inc.
 The novel was found out to be based on the biblical parable of

the Pearl of the Great Price (Matthew 13:45-46)7

Again the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden

in the fields which a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who
when he had found one pearl of the great price went and
sold all he had and bought it

This verse connotes that a man would do anything to give up

everything he has just to have the chance of having the true joy that

he had long been waiting. In the novel, the author set the story in

such a way that he was able to show how a man who lived in poverty

would deal a sudden change in his fortune and dreams for success.

The novel was able to meet the characteristics of a parable given

to consider a novel a parable such as the presence of conflict of

values, the main theme of good versus evil and allegorical

symbolisms. In addition, the novel was found out to be based on the

biblical parable of the pearl of the great price. With this it can be said

that this classic novel by John Steinbeck is actually a parable,

conveying a deep and meaningful message about life. Very short it

may be but this novel never failed to showcase a good and sensible

story. Most importantly it teaches values in a very simple way by

which every man in all walks of life can relate.

7
Forman, C. 1985. Barrons book notes: John Steinbecks The Pearl. New York: Barrons Educational
Series Inc.