Do Not Enter My Eden

This road sign represents Charles Trask in John Steinbeck’s East of Eden.  Charles is the true human definition of a loner. He has a self-made lock on his true feelings and suppresses his true opinions. Charles never really lets anyone in; not even close enough to know the true pains of his life. In terms of the biblical story of Cain and Able the red and the very word stop on the sign is like the mark that Cain received. This mark is thought to protect them both, but in Charles’ case it protects him from getting too close to people. “The poor bastard” is how he referred to his own brother before receiving his brother’s newly wedded wife. The red on the sign - his persona - warns people of the danger they might face as they try to get close to him. This is one of the reasons why he could see right through Cathy – they were the same; cold hearts. Although he is the one that makes everyone stay away he is left in fact lonely. Charles creates a façade that makes people think that he does not need any help.

East of Eden Part 3 

Cathy was very afraid when Adam first walked through her door. Her eyes were expressionless and her hands were shaking a little. The uncertainty of what Adam was going to do or how he was going to react left her at a standstill; she was frozen for a short second. Steinbeck conveyed Cathy's physical decline at that time as someone who was knocked a few steps back. She was not in the same light as she was when she was with Adam; she is no longer the goddess that can manipulate and control Adam Trask. It was noticeable, "Adam saw her hair, her scar, her lips...and flat breasts." Adam responded to her quite calmly and pleasantly. He did what he needed and when she spoke "he laughed pleasantly." (pg 318 - 319)

East of Eden part 3

Steinbeck reveled that Charles and Cathy had sexual relations in chapter 11 and in chapter 30 Charles dies from some lung related illness. Charles' fortune was to be divided equally between Cathy and Adam under the circumstance that they are both still alive. Charles did only brother away and drunk himself to impudence. (pg 133) He was also uncertain if he was the one who planted the seed of life into Cathy - this justifies giving her some of is fortune in the case that Adam found out. Throughout the book Charles never really seemed to have a good relationship with anyone or anything but his alcohol. Leaving them - the closest people in his life - his fortune is like leaving them apart of him. He leaves them something that would keep him with them even after death. And the division of the money would keep them together in some way or form. 

East of Eden Part 3

"If Aron should come upon a anthill..he would lie on his stomach and watch...If ...Cal came upon the same anthill, he would kick it to pieces.." (pg 348.) Aron is a calm and collective soul. He is sensitive and open and even his affection towards others is compared to that of a puppy. Based on the description Cal is seen as more of an aggressive soul. He would go out of his way to kick the ants' home to pieces just to see them run in terror. He prays on the puppy like emotions or the weaknesses in others. Cal finds  joy "and the sense of triumph" in the destruction of controlled ambiance. 

East of Eden Part 2

The Theme of Good Vs. Evil

Throughout part two a reader could see the struggle faced between the ideas of good and evil - the idea of a man with morals and one without. It is even indebted in part one. In part two the story of Cain and Able is brought up - the story of a brother who struggles between being a good follower of god by producing a good gift and the evil of his jealousy. Cain's jealousy or the evil inside him takes over and sends him on the path of no return; he killed his brother because God favored Abel's gift over his. At the end of part two while engaged in the discussion of the story the idea of sin following humankind throughout centuries came to the light. "We are Cain's children," - the fruits from a tree of pure sin. (pg. 270)

East of Eden Part 2

The story of Cain and Abel was very dominant throughout the novel due to its similarity to the lives of the characters. Steinbeck clearly hints throughout the novel at the biblical similarities. The relationship between Charles and Adam can be connected to the Cain and Able story - for example. As Samuel read the story of Cain and Able, Adam was stuck reminiscent of a time when he was angry at god. "I remember being a little outraged at God... God accepted Able and rejected Cain." He never understood why it is that God favored one gift over the other. (pg. 269) Charles and Adam presented Cyrus with a gift and Adam's gift was favored. The rejection fueled his rage - he beat his brother half way to death. (Pg 30 - 31) Steinbeck had Samuel read the story because it seemed like his place to enlighten Adam. 

East of Eden Part 2

Throughout the novel there is fine detail about the characters and the buildup of their families. Steinbeck simply went into great detail when describing the life of Olivia Hamilton. He praised her for she is his mother. The chapter was neither widely intrusive nor was it inappropriate. It was just an example of Steinbeck's ambition to write an novel in an unrestricted style. Based on chapter 14, the reason why this novel may be for his sons is because it emphasizes the value of family all throughout the chapters. (pg. 148 - 149)