Free Essays on East Of Eden

Love is the inspiring force behind all conflicts in the book East of Eden by John Steinbeck. Every character, in one way or another, is possessed by love, to do things that aren’t always well thought out. Cyrus, Charles, Adam, Cathy, Aron, and Cal Trask are all in a continual battle for each other’s love. In certain cases this battle ends in death or close to. Cyrus Trask established his love for his family by training his boys all their lives to prepare for war. To Cyrus, the army was the most respectable job that one could have. So he saw no conflict (even though it was an apparent one) in the fact that even though he loved his son, he was sending him off to his death. He picked the son he loved best, Adam, even though Charles Trask was clearly the natural soldier of the two brothers. In chapter 3 Steinbeck explains, "Charles was a natural athlete and the competitor’s will to win over others, which makes for success in the world†. (Steinbeck 20) â€Å"Young Charles won all contests with Adam whether they involved skill, strength, or intelligence and won them so easily that quite quickly that he had to find his competition among other children." (Steinbeck 20) When Cyrus decided that it was Adam who was to go to into the army it was made apparent that he loved Adam more than Charles. He would only give the distinct order to go and become a soldier to his most prized son. Charles loved his father more than Adam ever did. In fact, Adam claims to hate his father. Charles and Adam have a divided relationship when Adam gets back from the war. Charles wants nothing more than to know that his father loves him. He does everything he can, buys him nice presents, is very obedient, and takes care of the farm when both men leave. It is ironic that the one who wanted and needed love the most was the one who received it the least. This lack of love creates jealousy that comes out as violence from Charles. After Cyrus had chosen Adam, Cha... Free Essays on East Of Eden Free Essays on East Of Eden If I could recommend a work of fiction to read and be contemplated by my fellow classmates, it would be John Steinbeck’s East of Eden. East of Eden parallels Genesis times, with a traditional good versus evil story line. The profound depth of the novel leaves one with knowledge and insight for everyday life. East of Eden is the most stimulating novel I have ever read. It is set in the early twentieth century, a time of hardships and a specific struggle for identity. Steinbeck gives the readers Cathy, the incarnation of evil. He symbolically has Adam as the protagonist of the novel. Cathy fights against the traditional role of women and is determined to be in control, while Adam, the innocent bystander, has an almost fatal downfall caused by being too trusting. Caleb and Aron, Adam‘s sons, relive the story of Cain and Abel while learning the consequences of favoritism and preferred love. Everyone can connect to a character in East of Eden and the inner struggles the characters experience, while also relating to the bigger conflicts exhibited. Steinbeck seems to ask the question, â€Å"Is life a carousel revolving around predestined fate or can we choose our own destiny and not repeat the mistakes of history.† To read the novel means the reader is certain to judge the battles in their own life. East of Eden carries a hopeful message to all readers that the endurance of love and decisions from the heart will prevail over all obstacles.... Free Essays on East Of Eden In East of Eden, John Steinbeck explores man’s role in the battle of good versus evil. The story of the Trask family strongly mirrors the story of Cain and Abel in the Bible. Steinbeck questions throughout the novel whether or not the descendants of the Trask family, particularly Adam’s son Cal, can escape the pattern. Steinbeck expresses his opinion through Adam’s insightful Chinese servant, Lee. After much research, Lee tells Samuel Hamilton and Adam Trask: Don’t you see? The American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin, and you call sin ignorance. The King James translation makes a promise in â€Å"Thou shalt,† meaning that men will surely triumph over sin. But the Hebrew word, the word timshel â€Å"Thou mayest† – that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if â€Å"Thou mayest† – it is also true that â€Å"Thou mayest not.† Don’t you see? In this passage, Steinbeck explores man’s role in the central theme of the novel, the battle between good and evil. Lee’s thoughts about the story of Cain and Abel contribute greatly to both the plot and the theme of the novel. His studies of the Hebrew word timshel provide hope to Adam’s son Cal that he will be able to break the chain of the Trask family. It also foreshadows Cal success in completing the task. As far as theme is concerned, Lee’s studies of the word timshel show that man can affect the battle between good and evil by his choice. Steinbeck discovered through the novel the importance of choice in every man. Lee’s exploration of the Hebrew word timshel shows that man can truly affect his life. The one flaw in East of Eden, as most critics agree, is Cathy. Steinbeck describes Cathy as being born evil, so she did not have a choice. However, this flaw makes East of Eden more realistic because perfection would make the story see... Free Essays on East Of Eden The central point that I’ve seen so far in East of Eden is that it dramatizes the continuous conflict between good and evil within individuals and in society as a whole. The most important contrast explored in this first section, however, is that between the large, loving Hamilton family and the small, tension-ridden Trask family. The difference between these two families represents the differing moral environments in which their children later develop. In this essay, I will try to explain how Steinbeck explores the clash between good and evil through a number of contrasts; his introduction, and the main focus who are Adam and Charles. Steinbeck begins the novel with a detailed description of the natural landscape and beauty of the Salinas Valley where he grew up, establishing an important early symbol for the conflict between good and evil: the contrast between the dark, threatening Santa Lucia Mountains to the west and the bright, welcoming Gablian Mountains to the east. The narrator, whose voice is really that of Steinbeck, says that he learned to tell east from west by looking at these mountains, symbolizing the human dilemma of having to find the way between light and darkness, goodness and evil. The narrator then tells about his grandparents, Samuel and Liza Hamilton, who arrive in the valley from Ireland. They have to settle on the worst land, as the best is already taken. Samuel begins working as a blacksmith to support his nine children; he also works as a well digger and as an unlicensed doctor. Samuel Hamilton is a powerful symbol of good and his bond with his family is very strong. Cyrus Trask, on the other hand, is a menacing symbol of corruption and familial divisiveness. Within the Trask family, the focus of this section, the contrast between Charles and Adam is of significant importance. The plot is essentially a complicated retelling of the Biblical story of Cain and Abel. Adam is kind and good-natured, while C... Free Essays on East Of Eden Love is the inspiring force behind all conflicts in the book East of Eden by John Steinbeck. Every character, in one way or another, is possessed by love, to do things that aren’t always well thought out. Cyrus, Charles, Adam, Cathy, Aron, and Cal Trask are all in a continual battle for each other’s love. In certain cases this battle ends in death or close to. Cyrus Trask established his love for his family by training his boys all their lives to prepare for war. To Cyrus, the army was the most respectable job that one could have. So he saw no conflict (even though it was an apparent one) in the fact that even though he loved his son, he was sending him off to his death. He picked the son he loved best, Adam, even though Charles Trask was clearly the natural soldier of the two brothers. In chapter 3 Steinbeck explains, "Charles was a natural athlete and the competitor’s will to win over others, which makes for success in the world†. (Steinbeck 20) â€Å"Young Charles won all contests with Adam whether they involved skill, strength, or intelligence and won them so easily that quite quickly that he had to find his competition among other children." (Steinbeck 20) When Cyrus decided that it was Adam who was to go to into the army it was made apparent that he loved Adam more than Charles. He would only give the distinct order to go and become a soldier to his most prized son. Charles loved his father more than Adam ever did. In fact, Adam claims to hate his father. Charles and Adam have a divided relationship when Adam gets back from the war. Charles wants nothing more than to know that his father loves him. He does everything he can, buys him nice presents, is very obedient, and takes care of the farm when both men leave. It is ironic that the one who wanted and needed love the most was the one who received it the least. This lack of love creates jealousy that comes out as violence from Charles. After Cyrus had chosen Adam, Cha...