Final answer:
In 'The Pearl,' the doctor symbolizes colonial power and exploitation, betraying the community's trust by prioritizing personal gain over genuine medical care.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the novel The Pearl by John Steinbeck, the doctor represents a figure of authority and colonial power that is mistrusted and resented by Kino, Juana, and their community. The doctor is seen as greedy, manipulative, and ethically corrupt, viewing Kino's family and their peers as inferior due to their indigenous heritage.
Despite his medical knowledge, the doctor is more interested in exploiting Kino's pearl for his own gain than in genuinely helping the child who is ill. This depiction of the doctor symbolizes the broader colonial oppression and the mistreatment of native people by those who are in positions of power.