Satire is an imitation of an aspect of the real world that seeks to value virtue over vice. By parodying our vices, the importance of our values should be emphatic.
Noting this, The Pearl is a satire because it emphasizes the greed of the characters in the book (namely, Kino, the doctor, and the pearl buyers). Kino sees the evil that his new found wealth brings him, and this causes him to become a more humble and less greedy character in the end. Since humble poverty is valued over material wealth, this imitation is considered a satire.
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In "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck, satire is used to critique the greed and corruption that arises when material wealth is introduced into a community. Through the character of the doctor and the townspeople's reactions to Kino's newfound wealth, Steinbeck satirizes the negative impacts of greed and the dehumanizing effects of valuing material possessions over human life.