The Pearl Title: The title John Steinbeck gave to his novel, The Pearl, is significant to the meaning of the work. When you think of a pearl or any other kind of precious stone you think of the wealth and prosperity it could bring and the happiness that would follow. The title in itself is ironic because considering that a pearl is of great wealth, you would assume that it would also give great happiness. But, in this story that is not the case. Kino and his wife, Juana, was a poverty-stricken family until they found the great pearl. They had high hopes for their future and the future of their son. They could make th