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.