The East of Eden was written by John Steinbeck in 1952. Since the age of 14 Steinbeck renounced himself as a writer and devoted much of his teen years locked in his room to write. Steinbeck’s American Dream was to be a great writer and in 1962 he would win the Nobel Prize for Literature fiction. The American Dream is that everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve success through hard work and determination. The American dream is achieved when one is financially stable and has a perfect family life. Attaining wealth and financial stability is a vital part of the American Dream. “over ninety-three thousand dollars in the bank and ten thousand dollars… They would never have to worry. It was enough to start a dynasty. “(Steinbeck 60) Although Charles was skeptical of the money Adam decided to buy a farm at Salinas California where he is willing to pay for the best plot of land. With the money he had attained it
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“Why didn’t he? It was a good knife and he needed a good knife.” (Steinbeck 37) Although Adam despised his father, Cyrus, he was his favorite over Charles. Charles did more than Adam to gain his father’s love but in the end, he never had his father’s love or the perfect family. “Have you really got the money?” “Fifteen thousand dollars.” (Steinbeck 499) Like Charles, Cal also symbolizes Cain in the story of Cain and Abel. Cal worked so hard to gain his father’s respect but he did not achieve that dream for some time. He even acquired $15,000 as a gift to give to his father for Thanksgiving dinner. All in all, without a loving family, the American dream cannot exist. The American dream is what every American strives for, but very little ever achieves it. The key to it is a financially stable and loving family lifestyle. Throughout East of Eden, the reader witnesses’ characters in the book from different generations try to achieve this goal with few achieving
“Why didn’t he? It was a good knife and he needed a good knife.” (Steinbeck 37) Although Adam despised his father, Cyrus, he was his favorite over Charles. Charles did more than Adam to gain his father’s love but in the end, he never had his father’s love or the perfect family. “Have you really got the money?” “Fifteen thousand dollars.” (Steinbeck 499) Like Charles, Cal also symbolizes Cain in the story of Cain and Abel. Cal worked so hard to gain his father’s respect but he did not achieve that dream for some time. He even acquired $15,000 as a gift to give to his father for Thanksgiving dinner. All in all, without a loving family, the American dream cannot exist. The American dream is what every American strives for, but very little ever achieves it. The key to it is a financially stable and loving family lifestyle. Throughout East of Eden, the reader witnesses’ characters in the book from different generations try to achieve this goal with few achieving