East of Eden

The contrast between good and evil proves to be the basis of Steinbeck’s plot portrayed in East of Eden. The narrator suggests that the struggle between good and evil is reoccurring of human nature and has been around since the beginning of human kind. Still, with the conflict between good and evil comes the choice that must be made between the two. The Bible teaches that there is a freedom to choose between either good and evil and calls this “timshel,” an idea that is expressed throughout the…

Can violence ever be rationalized? This proposition is in East of Eden, written by John Steinbeck, but also presents itself in life. The biblical telling of Cain and Abel is portrayed when the older brother, Charles aggressively assaults Adam. Once this occurs, one could instantly think that through the rest of the novel that Charles is shown to be evil and Adam is shown to be good. In this way Steinbeck’s story relates that all evil needs to succeed is for good people to do nothing. Also…

In the book “East of Eden”, author John Steinbeck includes many biblical allusions, one of which being the story of Cain and Abel, portrayed by Charles and Adam in the first generation, and Cal and Aron as Adam’s children in the second generation. The allusions of original sin and overcoming it by choice not only relate to how biblical characters can be represented in real life but also depict the nature of humanity on the basis of psychoanalysis: are humans naturally good, bad, or it is a…

universally known to exist. The topic has prevailed priority interest in religion, science and morality: where it comes from, how it’s cultivated, how it's destroyed. There is a looming mystery to evilness, an obvious existence, but latent foundation. East of Eden written by John Steinbeck follows the peoples of the Salinas Valley in California and their chaotic web of moral code. The book projects a multitude of biblical references and lessons, a number of characters based off theological…

In East of Eden Cathy and Cal embody the concept of evil, profound immorality, wickedness, and depravity unlike the term good, morally excellent, virtuous, and righteous. Although, these characters are given the title evil they still have the potential to be good despite the motivations and actions that have caused this assertion. For instance, Cal contemplates with the idea of “Timshel”(Heavilin 21) and realizes he doesn't have to be an image of “Cathy's....evil monstrosity”(Heavilin 23).…

over it” is a phrase converted from the Hebrew word “timshel”. However, timshel directly translates to “thou mayest”, meaning that although Cain has the choice to overcome his sin of jealousy, he lets it fuel his action of killing. In the novel East of Eden by John Steinbeck, the idea of timshel is revealed by Charles and Adam’s, and Cal and Aron’s relationships.…

The classic story of Cain and Abel can easily be shown as a parallel to two sets of brothers and one set of women in East of Eden: Charles and Adam, Cal and Aron, and Cathy and Abra. These characters compare very closely to the famous Biblical characters not only by the letter beginning their names but by their behavior and the way they were treated. The ties between these character help us, as readers, see the true underlying meaning of this book and interpret the work as a whole in a…

In John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, Steinbeck is constantly using diction, syntax, and other rhetorical strategies to sway his readers’ opinion of characters. Not only does Steinbeck set up images of characters in the minds of readers, but he also leads readers to follow the subtle, yet effective, character parallels throughout the novel. For example, Adam Trask parallels his son Aron Trask; Charles Trask, Adam’s brother, parallels Cal Trask, another one of Adam’s sons. Quite often, readers are…

“Timshel,” a Hebrew word meaning “thou mayest triumph over sin,” is representative of the idea that one has the power to choose right, wrong, and even change for the better after having made wrong choices. In Steinbeck’s East of Eden, the idea of “Timshel,” is exemplified through protagonist Cal Trask, who undergoes a crisis in which he must decide between remaining evil or changing for the better, a decision only he can make. Although present among each individual’s life, the idea of Timshel…

works that accomplished this are To a God Unknown and East of Eden. In To a God Unknown, Steinbeck writes about Joseph Wayne, a rancher who was born on his father's ranch and is one of four boys. Joseph is younger than Burton and Thomas, who are already married, and older than his brother, Benjy. As Joseph grows up, he gains a special connection to the land and decides to move to California to create a house and start a family. In East of Eden, Steinbeck writes about the story of a great…