Finishing "the Pearl" and in the Midst of "The Old Man and the Sea"

The Pearl , by John Steinbeck was about a man who finds the pearl of the world and is soon swallowed up by greed, paranoia and corruption. At first he wanted to use the money from the pearl for good intentions, like marrying his wife, paying for the medical treatment of his son, and sending him to school. But soon enough, he becomes mistrusting of everyone, thinking they will cheat him to get the pearl, and soon his dreams of a better lifestyle get swallowed up by his greed. Soon enough, his paranoia and greed turns to violence and bloodshed, and the eventual death of his son. The symbolism in this book is very deep, greed as the pearl, and the end being his son dying shows the extent Kino's greed has killed his soul and his family--the two things he cared about most were killed when he decided to love the pearl instead.

The other book I'm reading is The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, which is about a fisherman, living in complete poverty, with only the charity his apprentice provides, and his knowledge and love of the sea and fishing.