Editing The Pearl (novella) (section)

== Reception and analysis ==
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Several publications praised the novel as a "major artistic triumph" and emphasizes how Steinbeck understands "the universal significance of life." The Pearl is often used to teach students about literature and is also used to discuss important lessons about life. Many believe the book is the easiest of Steinbeck's books to teach because the lessons are simple, yet significant,<ref name=":2" /> so, generally, students in middle school or early high school study this novel.<ref>''Meyers, Michael (2005). "Diamond in the Rough: Steinbeck's Multifaceted Pearl". ''Steinbeck Review''. '''2''' (2): 42–56.''</ref>  Teachers instruct their students to delve deeper than surface level to learn about both the simplicity and complexity of the novel and emphasize its themes to allow students to learn more than just literacy.

Jackson Benson writes, ''The Pearl'' was heavily influenced by Steinbeck's interest in the philosophy of [[Carl Jung]].<ref name="Benson1990"/> Steinbeck wrote that he created the story of ''The Pearl'' to address the themes of "human greed, materialism, and the inherent worth of a thing."<ref name="no098.com" />

The pearl is symbolized as a tragedy because of how much it will tear apart Kino’s family and how it will turn Kino from good to evil, and since tragedy is never good in the eyes of people it is a unique symbol that Steinbeck added to the story. Usually, a pearl is symbolized as something that is beautiful, used for a necklace and other jewelry. Steinbeck could have used anything to symbolize tragedy in this book and he chose a delicate thing that comes from oysters as his symbol. John Steinbeck decided to use a pearl as his symbol as a metaphor for greed. The story starts out as the pearl being a savior for the family but as the story progresses the pearl starts to be a symbol for evil and greed as it starts to tear the family apart and change Kino’s mind and turns him into something he never was. By the end of the story Kino had to fight off three thieves but ended up hurting and killing his only child on accident. When Kino saw the pearl, it was no longer beautiful like it used to be and now it is grey and not appealing to Kino and he takes the pearl and throws it back into the ocean from where it had come from before to get rid of it forever.