In the novel The Pearl, John Steinbeck uses symbolism in many different forms. Symbolism is defined as objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. Symbolism in this novel effects how the reader views the story.
             The Scorpion, in Chapter 1, that bites Coyotito is a symbol of evil that is somewhat of a foreshadowing event in the fact the it couldn't have come from any human action, in fact it had to have come from the gods. In other texts, the scorpion represents the "destruction of innocence". This is ironic in the fact the Coyotito is a baby, which is the pinnacle of innocence. This event also repeats its self when Kino experiences a desctruct6ion of innocence by his greed and the fact that the colonizers have changed the native's way of life. Also when "He hears Juana whispering the old magic, and he hears the music of the enemy."(5), it shows how even though they are in the face of evil they still hold to their faith.
             The pearl buyers show that in the face of a beautiful thing, they are still greedy. The show that people can come together for a cause but not for the right cause. The pearl buyers in the story gave Kino a run around in the matter of buying the pearl. They offered him an unbelievably low amount for the pearl. This is reinforced by this statement:
             ...then he let the great pearl roll into the black velvet tray, and instantly his eyes went to the buyer's face. But there was no sign, no movement, the face did not change, but the secret hand behind the desk missed in it's precision. The coin had stumbled over a knuckle and slipped silently into the dealer's lap. (49)
             When the first buyer had the other dealers come to his shop, it symbolized how people are greedy and will do anything to get the pearl. The pearl represents evil, which brings me to my next topic.
             The reason I say that the pearl represents evil is becau...