In John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, multiple individuals harbor a natural-born evil within themselves. Steinbeck reveals this idea through an allusion to the Bible’s telling of the story of Cain, an envious brother branded with a mark of evil after killing his brother, Abel. Characters throughout the novel, such as Charles, Cathy, and Cal, depict Cain in various ways, usually possessing a similar name and nature to his. Steinbeck’s portrayal of Cain and his mark contribute to the connection between seemingly evil characters and their intended fate. The physical marks struck upon the heads of those who are evil ensure they will ceaselessly remain corrupt. Scars that hold semblance to the mark of Cain emerge on both the envious Charles and the
