by the end of this chapter, the pearl has become a moral issue to kino.

Kino even finds himself capable of murder to defend himself; whether Kino is capable of a more cold-blooded killing still remains questionable. Kino's comment that the pearl has become his soul is the defining statement of his condition. It shows that Kino has ceased to be in some level human; he cannot consider normal human needs and emotions, but defiantly focuses on the pearl. KIno finds the power of the Pearl has taken over his soul. His once clear and simple value system has become, like those in our modern world, shades of grey. Kino is drowning in this grey.