The Pearl and Burning Bright

The Pearl" and "Burning Bright," both by John Steinbeck, are novellas exploring themes of human nature and societal injustice through contrasting narratives. "The Pearl" tells the tragic story of Kino, a poor Mexican fisherman whose discovery of a large pearl leads to his family's misfortune and ultimately, death. "Burning Bright" follows a man who is sterile, his wife's infidelity, and the consequences that follow, exploring themes of societal expectations and the human desire for fulfillment.