Protagonist – hero/supporter

Antagonist - opponent
1. The protagonist in the novel “The Pearl” by
John Steinbeck is Kino. He is the sole
breadwinner of the family. Kino lives in perfect
harmony with his wife, Juana, and his son,
Coyotito. He is devoted to his own family and
is very close to his older brother Juan Tomas.
He is a loving father and husband. He might
not have the money to pay the doctor in order
to treat Coyotito but he is determined to get
treatment for his son. However, he does not
like sending Coyotito to be treated by the
doctor because he knows the doctor is one
who treats only those with money and he
treats poor Mexican Indians like animals.
2. After being rejected by the doctor, Kino
has wanted to find the pearl of the world
so that he can sell for money to treat his
son – However, after finding the pearl –
wants to do many other things like buying
new clothes, getting married, baptizing
Coyotito, sending Coyotito to school,
buying a new harpoon and the bad thing is
he also wants to buy a rifle – this shows
he has become greedy
3. He loves Juana a lot but when she tries
to throw away the pearl after she is
convinced that the pearl is evil, he
punches and kicks her in her side without
showing mercy. Even after he has done
so, he still bares his teeth and hisses at
her like a snake. For him, the pearl has
become his life. It has become more
important than Juana.