The Pearl is a novella written by Jhon Steinbeck and published in 1947. The story is set in a small village in Mexico, the main character is kino a poor fisherman that one day founds a pearl of great value and he thinks that with that pearl he will be able to pay a doctor to his son who has been stung by a scorpion and is in very poor health.
“It will destroy us all” Juana cried. “Even our son”.
“Hush,” said kino. “Do not speak any more. In the morning we will sell the pearl, and then the evil will be gone, and only the good remain. Now hush, my wife” His dark eyes scowled into the little fire, and for the first time he knew that his knife was still on his hands and he raised the blade and looked at it and saw a little line of blood on the steel. For a moment he seemed about to wipe the blade on his trousers but then he plunged the knife into the earth and so cleansed it. (p.39)
I think Kino is affected by the situation in a very negative way because his feelings are also affecting his wife (in my opinion makes a lot of sense of why she feels this way, I imagine it must be very complicated to be losing a son and not only you suffering your pain but your husband is also taking it out on you in some way.) since he yells at him and how kino is described in this part is a little scary because we can see in what person kino is becoming.