Dragon Pearl

The Dragon Pearl is the titular object of the book. While there is no mention of a specific dragon pearl in Korean myth, it is most directly comparable to the figure of Mireuk, the creator god. Like the pearl, Mireuk’s powers include the ability to create lush worlds of life and also to destroy a world; this duality matches the opposing uses to which the Dragon Pearl might be put. Once Min realizes that the Dragon Pearl has been found, she wants to obtain it in order to heal damaged planets like Jinju and give their people better lives. By contrast, Hwan sees the Dragon Pearl for its destructive capabilities and wishes to hold the threat of its power over any worlds that oppose him. As an example of The Damaging Effects of Lying, Min ends up with the Dragon Pearl at the end of the book, and her triumph illustrates the failure of the captain’s underhanded methods and deceptions.

The Dragon Pearl is not seen until the last section of the novel, where it plays a crucial role in fully developing the dynamic character of Min. On the Fourth Colony, Min uses the Dragon Pearl to bring life back to the world and offer the ghosts a proper burial on a thriving planet.