In the novel The Pearl, symbolism helps us, the readers, in a way that allows us to perceive things in a more understandable and insightful way. Instead of just understanding the short story of a young man diving for pearls for a living, it helps us give more details about his personal life and surroundings. Symbolism is also another way for the author to further illustrate his ……… This causes us, the readers, to reflect on our personal ideals. The main subject of the novel The Pearl is the pearl itself. At the beginning of the novel, the pearl represents Kino's dreams and hopes. At first, he focused mainly on worldly objects such as a gun for himself, new clothes, the education of his son Coyotito, and money for his wedding. He tried to make it seem like these items were meant for his entire family, but in the end the symbolism is reversed and it's actually about Kino's personal desires. The education he wanted Coyotito to learn would be for Coyotito to actually teach Kino for his own benefit, as well as for his marriage, his new clothes, and the gun. Although in the end, the consummation of Kino's greed takes its turn and turns into a woman, Juana, who is beaten and loses her only son. Throughout the novel, we can discover examples of symbolism. Images of Kino acting like an animal are prejudices. At the end of the novel, he is no longer the same man he was at the beginning. A major turning point in life is finding the real person you are. There comes a time in life when you change as a person and you want to grow in a different environment. You may or may not notice it yourself. However, it will happen whether you like it or not. It can happen radically or slowly, and... middle of paper... more superior and more humane. Pride and arrogance, narcism, vanity, self-centeredness, self-esteem, arrogance are characteristics of his personality that Kino possesses but does not intentionally live according to these traits. With vanity he thinks in his mind that he can defeat the pearl and overcome his misfortunes. He tries to change Juana's mind by telling her that he can defeat the pearl, "Believe me" he said "I am a man." (56). Animals do not have any traits like us humans that relate to us, being narcissistic animals only want what is necessary, unlike us they are simple with what they need and we are complicated and must have everything we want. As drastic events worsen, Kino becomes more and more animalistic. and lives according to their character traits and needs. Works Cited http://vswolf.deviantart.com/art/The-Pearl-Kino-s-Revolution-170918252