Symbolism embodies an abstract idea or concept by using an object or character. In the parable, The Pearl, Steinbeck uses symbolism extensively to create and develop the novel's themes. The pearl of the book's title is a symbol, which develops from a paradise of hopes and dreams, to a destructive centre of evil. The key symbol of the pearl generates the theme of the destructive nature of greed throughout the book. The doctor as a …showed first 75 words of 925 total…

…showed last 75 words of 925 total…has written short passages, which elaborate the themes of greed, oppression and humanity in the natural world. Symbols are used to raise the reader's awareness of the themes at a higher level than simply following the plot of the story. Symbols such as the pearl can carry many meanings for the different characters at different times in the novella. In The Pearl, Steinbeck has shown that he is a master of the use of symbols.