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)