Character Analysis of Kino in Steinbeck's 'The Pearl'
Character Analysis of Kino in Steinbeck's 'The Pearl'
The Pearl, By John Steinbeck, is about an Indian pearl diver that finds the “Pearl of the World.” Its beauty and wonder brings corrupted thoughts and actions from the people who want the pearl’s wealth. Kino has struggling situation to overcome in order to rise above poverty.
Kino hopes of rising to be more than a pearl diver shatter in a few ways. “’I am sorry my friend. . . This pearl is like fools gold. Its too large. . . I can give you say. . . a thousand pesos’”(49). The pearl buyer thinks Indians are absolutely gullible and stupid. Inferior beings that will agree to anything the Spaniards say and do. “He heard the rush, got his knife out and lunged at one dark figure and felt his knife go home. . . Greedy fingers went through his clothes. . .”(59). Peoples hunger for the pearl’s riches forces Kino to become enrage with hate. It causes him to act desperate; desperate enough to kill. His dreams suddenly became nightmares as he took a new road towards wealth.
Kino’s new soul gave him more pain and grief. “’ He struck her in the face with his clenched fist and she fell among the boulders, and kicked her in the side”’(59). Kino is so engulfed with his treasure, it makes him fanatical. This leads him to not trust anybody, but himself. “The great knife swung and crunched hollowly. It bit through
neck and deep into chest, and Kino was a terrible machine now. . . And Kino stood uncertainly. . . from the little cave in the side of the stone mountain, the cry of death”’ (87). The change in Kino’s attitude left him no remorse for taking other peoples lives. Nothing, even his conscience or what was left of it could stop him from committing cynical actions. His attitude was very much reflected in his actions and his thoughts; he had no sympathy for anyone, but himself.
In the beginning, Kino values wealth more than anything else. Now he realizes the importance of value to his family. Kino didn’t surpass the struggling situations along to success. His failure to become a better person has him to pay the price with the death of his son.