The Duchess and the Jeweller

The symbol of pearls informs the story’s themes of Authenticity Versus Deceit, Materialism and Greed, and Social Climbing and Status. The pearls are the key to Oliver unlocking the closed doors of the aristocracy, the highest social status in England. They are the price he must pay to access this elite circle. Furthermore, the pearls symbolize the currency of trust and mistrust that circulates between Oliver and the Duchess. Though genuine pearls are valuable, for Oliver their real worth rests in his gaining an invitation from the Duchess to her country house if he buys them. Consequently, their authenticity is not of paramount importance to him.

Pearls symbolize purity in Western culture and are often worn at weddings. Due to their association with water and their shape, they are also associated with tears. The pearls from the Appleby cincture prompt the Duchess’s tears as she acknowledges they are the last of her saleable possessions. Pearls are also associated with the idiom “pearls of wisdom.” However, in Oliver’s case, they represent folly as he ignores his instinct to have them tested. This foolishness also recalls the Biblical phrase “cast not your pearls before swine” (Matthew 7:6).