In this parable, Steinbeck tells the tale of a couple whose lives are changed forever after finding a pearl that they believe will end all their problems. Sounds simple, right? As it turns out, the pearl is only the start of their problems, and Steinbeck uses the motif of the pearl to explore the dark side of human nature—in particular, the corrupting influence of greed and materialism.
How does the representation of greed, especially as it affects the way people interact with others who are different from themselves, engage with Marxist theory?