The novella "The Pearl" features Kino as a tragic hero. In accordance with Aristotle's definition, a tragic hero is a literary character who makes a fateful mistake that ultimately results in their downfall.
Kino is a tragic hero because he finds a pearl, and the value of the pearl causes him to rise in social class. However, Kino's flaw is that his whole life revolves around the success and well-being of his son, Coyotito. In the end, this flaw leads Kino to lose the one person he was trying to help.
At the beginning of the book, Kino and his family were part of the lower class and lived a relatively normal life. Kino had a wife named Juana and a son named Coyotito. One day, while out on the water in his canoe, Kino discovered a pearl.
"I
...n the surface of the great pearl, dreams took shape. He took the pearl from the dying flesh and held it in his palm, turning it over to see its perfect curve," (19. ) Kino understood that this pearl would be the salvation for his family. It marked the beginning of Kino's ascent in social standing. The entire village became aware of Kino's remarkable discovery, "People of all kinds became interested in Kino - those with goods to sell and those seeking favors," (23. ) Others recognized the worth of the pearl and the newfound power that Kino possessed.
Both the village people and the wealthy knew about the power of the pearl and what it could do for Kino's family. The pearl filled Kino with hope for a better future, as he imagined all the things he could afford i
he sold it. He envisioned his son receiving an education and surpassing his own circumstances. Through education, he believed they could overcome oppression and exploitation by the townspeople. However, as the book progressed, it became evident that the pearl's promise of brightness was soon overshadowed by darkness.
Despite his lack of awareness, Kino was oblivious to the fact that the pearl would ultimately cause immense chaos within their family. However, Kino firmly knew his intentions for the pearl - to sell it. As depicted in the text, Kino was resolute in his decision, stating, "But Kino's face was set, and his mind and his will were set. 'This is our chance,' he said. 'Our son must go to school. He must break out of the pot that holds us in'" (39.) Realizing that this opportunity was their first and possibly final shot at helping Coyotito receive an education, Kino was well aware of the importance of the situation.
The passage illustrates Kino's flaw becoming evident - his entire focus is on the welfare of his son, Coyotito. In the novella, Kino faces various difficulties to safeguard and sell the precious pearl, solely to ensure his child receives an education. However, Kino's life starts unraveling when he and his family must escape their village for two reasons: Kino killing a man and then journeying to the capital city in search of a fair price for the pearl.
During their journey, the protagonist's family was being followed by trackers. To avoid detection, they had to confuse the trackers and remain hidden. Unfortunately, tragedy struck one night when a tracker mistakenly shot and killed Coyotito in response to a cry he
heard. In that moment, Kino realized that the source of the sound was his dying son crying desperately from a small cave on the side of the stone mountain—symbolizing death. After successfully fighting off the trackers, Kino came to understand the heartbreaking reality: his pursuit of the pearl had forced his family to flee their village, ultimately resulting in his son's death.
According to Aristotle's definition, Kino exhibits all the qualities of a tragic hero. At first, his finding of an extremely valuable pearl brings him recognition and transforms him into a hero as it promises salvation for his family. However, this pearl starts to dominate Kino's existence, especially his fixation on his son Coyotito. Kino's unwavering affection for Coyotito obscures his judgment and compels him to make impulsive choices that ultimately result in the tragic death of his cherished child. Despite believing he was acting in the best interests of his family, Kino's fatal flaw proved insurmountable.
After putting in extensive effort to rescue his family, they were left in agony and experiencing grief.
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