Pete pursues a tragic character arc. Tragic heroes are sometimes referred to as antiheroes because they lack the virtues readers usually look for in a protagonist. The defining characteristic of a tragic protagonist is a tragic flaw, an intrinsic trait that leads to the protagonist’s downfall. Pete’s tragic flaw is pride and a fixation on vengeance that leaves him unable to forgive his wife or the man he believes to have been her lover.

At the age of 22, fresh out of West Point, Pete is a romantic figure with a military posture, an easy smile, and a confident manner, irresistible to an adventurous girl like Liza. As a young married man, Pete is at first reluctant to abandon his military career and return to his family farm. Once there, however, he finds himself deeply connected to the land and his heritage.

Pete's determination sustains him during his time in the Philippines. Each time he is tempted to give up, close his eyes, and never open them again, he forces himself to take another step or face another day. Pete’s flaw is exacerbated by his wartime experiences. Fear, disease, pain, and the omnipresence of death warp his judgment, leaving him rigid and unable to forgive those he feels have injured him.