Oh he got punished...maybe you dont remember the part of the story where God tells Cain that anything he tried to grow in the ground would not yeild anything of worth? Cains very lifestyle was changed forever, he had to leave the land he loved, he had to give up the job he loved. He was worried that he might be killed by the other people (which is really selfish considering that he killed his brother) so God decided to put a mark on his head so that no one could kill him. But Cains life was still unpleasant.

The short novel, "Daemion," (check sp.) by Hermann Hesse deals at length with the mark of cain. Those with the mark are set off from society, the mob, the crowd and are destined to go through life as individuals in search of themselves and the real self that they are. They are the artists, the few who dare to question the usual answers to life's mysteries, those who at an early age realize that they are distinct from others, and must needs go through trying expereiences that the usual man do not; or at least, they are able and required to express those things that are just below the surface in most men and women, but which the usual person does not uncover consciously in their Selves. Hermann Hesse points to a new humanity, tried by the fire of intense spiritual heat, which, may or may not be within our lifetimes. Read Hesse. Enjoy!

Ha, I love that name.

Anyhoo, back to the debate. Cain was bannished from the land of Adam and Eve for killing Abel out of jealousy. He sinned with wrath and envy (two of the seven deadly sins), so he was cursed to a life of wandering. He could never settle, and everything he ever planted or built would fail. No one could kill him (and I'm guessing killing himself was out of the question [but that's just a stab a a guess]), so his life was Hell on Earth because of the curse.