Wealth can lead you in many directions depending on whether you are prepared for it or not. If it's unexpected, it will definitely change your life. Unexpected wealth could be dangerous if it fell into the wrong hands. Many people might use it on useless items or bad people might buy drugs or guns. Additionally, many people today could gamble away their new wealth and lose all their money in the lottery, on scratch cards or in casinos. On the other hand, unexpected wealth could be used productively if the right person obtained it. They could donate it to charity, improve their family's life, or even put the money in the bank to save for something. In addition to misusing unexpected wealth, greed has its consequences. Finding something valuable and selling it can be difficult if you're greedy. You may charge too high a price to the person you are selling it to and end up getting nothing or you may be ignorant and not know what your item is supposed to be priced and sell it for too low. Another consequence of greed is when you plan to use your wealth for something you don't need instead of using it to help your family. You may take your family for granted and one day you will regret not helping them improve their life after they are gone. All in all, unexpected wealth can be a good or bad thing and if you become greedy, there are consequences. John Steinbeck's The Pearl illustrates how unexpected fortune can bring about changes that an individual is unprepared to deal with. The ramifications of such a sudden materialistic windfall have both external and internal adverse consequences. Jealousy can be a very dangerous thing if it is too strong. When Kino found the pearl “ev...... middle of paper ......arl made his whole life. Kino and Juana serve as an example to those who become unexpectedly rich, showing them exactly what not to do and how not to manage their wealth. Even though Kino had good intentions with his pearl, he went too far and that's what caused all of these horrible things to happen to him. His life went through so many vicissitudes when he got the pearl and he lost so much. He no longer has a pearl, which means he has no money, no baby, since he lost Coyotito, no house, since it was burned to the ground, and no canoe, since it was destroyed by thieves. Kino and Juana will now live with shame and guilt and will be tormented for the rest of their lives because of the death of their first baby. This is what can happen when unexpected riches fall into the wrong hands. It can change your life and harm you and the people around you. Works Cited The Pearl