What was 'The Pearl'?
What do you think Malick suggested was 'The Pearl' by the end? What was man really trying to discover all his life? Broad question, I know!
shareMatthew 13:45-46 - the parable of the pearl of great price:
45 ?Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Based off the synopsis and the story of the king from the east and the prince, this is an allegory of how we are meant to find God/our way back home to Him.
Once there was a young prince whose father, the king of the East, sent him down into Egypt to find a pearl. But when the prince arrived, the people poured him a cup. Drinking it, he forgot he was the son of a king, forgot about the pearl and fell into a deep sleep. The King sent many messengers out for his son, in the hopes that one will reach him and guide him home.
The young prince is man, sent down into the world (which the bible says is ruled by satan) where he forgets he is a child of God. God sends many messengers (believers are charged to spread the gospel and testify to the blind and asleep) to guide them to Jesus - also a pearl of great price, as he was given as a sacrifice for the world's sins - because the only way to the Father/King/home/heaven is through Jesus "no man comes to the Father except by me."
Makes sense the story is Hollywood, where the protagonist has all the material/fleshly desires a person could want and is still dissatisfied. The devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness with the same thing - his methods don't change. But like JC says, "no man lives by bread (fleshly satisfaction) alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" ie the bible. Which is NOT the same as religion.