* "The pearl was a thing of beauty, a thing of power, a thing of dread." This metaphor describes the pearl through a series of abstract concepts, emphasizing its complex and contradictory nature. It's beautiful in its shimmer and rarity, but it also holds immense power that could bring both fortune and danger. The "dread" evokes the potential consequences of the pearl's discovery and its impact on Kino's life.
* "The pearl was like a living thing. It had a heartbeat." This comparison again emphasizes the pearl's unique and potent presence. By likening it to a living thing with a heartbeat, Steinbeck suggests its own internal energy and the potential for it to affect those around it. The "heartbeat" metaphor further implies the pearl's power to stir up both hope and fear.
Both of these metaphors are central to the chapter, providing a deeper understanding of the pearl's significance and the complex emotions it elicits. They foreshadow the events to come and contribute to the book's overall themes of greed, ambition, and the corrupting power of wealth.