Question

Please help with this question, I have to do an essay on it in school in an hour it would be a great help. -How was the protagonist (kino) from the novella “the pearl” not responsible for his own demise? How was he a tragic hero?

Answer 1

In Steinbeck's The Pearl, Kino could be considered to be the cause of his own downfall.  Had Kino heeded the warnings and advice of his wife, Juana, regarding the Pearl of the World, he would not have found himself in situations that put himself and his family in danger.    Now the tension which had been growing in Juana boiled up to the surface and her lips were thin.  "This thing is evil," she cried harshly.  "This pearl is like a sin!  It will destroy us," and her voice rose shrilly.  "Throw it away, Kino.  Let us break it between stones.  Let us bury it and forget the place.  Let us throw it back into the sea.  It has brought evil, Kino, my husband, it will destroy us."  And in the firelight her lips and her eyes wer alive with her fear.  In addition, Kino was unwilling to accept the offers of those who would have bought the pearl from him.  It is true that he was being treated cruelly when not being presented with fair offers for the pearl, but he could have accepted something and been better off than he was.