East of Eden | John Steinbeck

East of Eden | John Steinbeck | who dunnit?

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East of Eden

	East of Eden John Steinbeck Penguin Books, 2002 - 602 pages average customer review:based on 218 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

East of Eden

East Of Eden is a remarkable novel surrounding family and love written by John Steinbeck. Despite its intimidating size and thickness, the book is actually quite enjoyable and entertaining. The book presents an astounding story filled with episodes of love, despair and family. Steinbeck molds the novel to resemble the different situations found in the Genesis of the Bible: the tale of Adam and Eve and the rivalry between Cain and Abel.
In this novel, Steinbeck follows the traditional story of a tragic hero alongside his sidekick battling against the evil nemesis. Adam Trask, son of the former Cyrus Trask, finds himself passively living life and attempts to find a way to grasp the days as they progress by. He searches for an essence of life and finds Cathy, whose role is the apparent antagonist of the novel. As Adam is heartlessly abandoned with his twin sons Caleb and Aron, his Chinese servant Lee helps to provide for all of them until Adam, especially, can fully recover. Lee, in my opinion, serves as the essence that Adam has been looking for, the sidekick that heroes need. While Adam drowns in desolation, it is Lee who fosters the children and tends to everybody's needs. Though he has aspirations of his own, he consistently delays them in order to take care of the Trask family.
Cathy is immediately labeled as the villain through Steinbeck's dramatic descriptions of her manipulative dark side. Yet Adam was completely oblivious to her deceit that he would have done anything to please her. She eventually abandons him, leaving him hopeless and miserable. This situation alludes to the Bible as Eve betrays Adam after she bites from the forbidden apple. Both women prove to be unfaithful and bring sorrow to their lover's lives.
The confusing yet deep rivalry between Caleb and Aron are almost identical to that of the Bible between Cain and Abel. As one is seemingly treated with more recognition and admiration, the other becomes envious and ultimately homicidal. Though in this particular book, Caleb is not at fault for Aron's death, Caleb senses guilt from it and blames himself nonetheless. While in the Bible, Cain deliberately kills Abel as revenge for his mistreatment from God. Ultimately Cain is punished but Caleb also finds peace within himself to not put himself at blame.
The immense effect as this captivating novel ties together is just incredible. Each story, each family, each relationship depicts those of real life, which also appeals to the readers. Steinbeck concludes the entire story with the term "Timshel" as a blessing from Adam to his son. Ending on such a melancholy yet perfected note simply enhances the overall effect the reader gets as the book is closed.

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who dunnit?

The book is true to its title as its inner plots follow that of biblical stories of Cain and Abel, Adam and Eve and Jezebel.

Now don't be discouraged. This book is full of shocking moments that will beg you to not stop reading, which is good because the book is very long. Each page will keep you wanting more as you strive to understand the connections between the bible and this book seemingly filled with evil characters whose only intentions are murdering their loved ones.

Watch as the lives of several different families become connected and good and evil switch bodies. Everything that you thought was true in the beginning begins to take a path much more different than you ever though it would.

Who is good and who is evil?
Who will ultimately win?

These questions also help to outline the major struggle in the book over being good or evil. Some are born with evil already buried deep inside them and others must choose for themselves whether they will be evil or choose to be good. The word "timshel" or "thou mayest" takes on new meanings and becomes the center of the story as it lets the characters know that they do have a say in their lives. They choose their own destinies and can decide that they will not be evil, even if they feel that everything else in the world is making them so. They have the final decision, not anything else in the world. What are your choices?

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An Overwhelming Book

East of Eden is truly a novel of biblical proportions. Set in the Salinas Valley of California, where Steinbeck himself grew up, the story follows two generations of the Trask family, the main one consisting of Adam, his two sons Cal and Aron, and their servant Lee. When reading this epic piece of literature, I found myself immersed in the struggles, triumphs, and emotional battles of the characters, who are so thoroughly developed, I felt somewhat connected to them. There is no doubt that the story claims its grand renown predominantly through Steinbeck's ability to capture every facet of human emotion within his characters. They are intriguing, witty, flawed, unfathomable--the exact qualities that make them stand out as so real.
What is also interesting about East of Eden is that it not only parallels the story of Cain and Abel, but it explores it in greater depth, exposing the emotions and thoughts of Cal and Aron. This book is all about relationships--the main one being sibling rivalry, a competition between the sons for the father's love and approval. Steinbeck does the story of Cain and Abel justice through his captivating presentation of the classic tale, showing one son who is seemingly perfect, and the other son who finds it difficult to achieve love.
This story contains all the elements of a masterpiece: dramatic plot, round characters, intricate relationships, honest writing, and numerous messages about life.
I recommend this book to everyone who is literate.

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east of eden

East of Eden by John Steinbeck is a classic. Though its plot might be predictable after understanding reading the bible, its style and character development truly merit its great recognition. Every character and its foil are unique in their own way. Most of these characters are exaggerated, therefore they are unrealistic. It is because of this overstatement and overemphasis of the character's specific detail and idiosyncrasy that truly makes this book special. Overall, this book is a great read if you have time on your hands to slowly analyze it.
As I read East of Eden, I easily spotted many allusions to the book of Genesis for I had already became familiar with the stories of Cain and Abel when I had read the Bible, thereby enhancing my overall understanding of Steinbeck's allusions. At first, I thought reading the book of Genesis was going to be a hassle, just another book to read; however, it added to my reading comprehension. The book incorporated many references to the story of Cain and Abel, and reading the book of Genesis basically supplied me with enough contexts to understand the essential theme of the book. So, anyone who is planning to read this book should skim over the book of Genesis just for a background and reference.
The plot might be rudimentary, but the ideas are thought provoking. After Samuel reads about the story of Cain and Abel, Lee brings light into the situation, establishing the importance of timshel, which is the ability to change one's fate, and in Cal's situation, to either continue wrongdoing or change for the better. The characters literally incorporate the story of Cain and Abel in their discussion to utilize the story as a reference, because of its recurring nature in humanity. As Lee unveils many aspects of the story of Cain and Abel, he concludes many similarities between the bible and the familial relationships. Therefore, Steinbeck incorporates allusions to the story of Cain and Abel to depict its recurring nature and its importance as a reference.
As reference to the East of Eden, the story of Cain and Abel becomes essential to the understanding of the recurring theme; however, both characters are not similar, and of the two, Abel undertakes the persona of the wanderer. Like Abel, Adam and Aron both resemble the less volatile of their brothers. However, it is they, who are often sent off to places literally, and involved in intricate conflicts. As Adam marries Cathy, who alludes to the devil, and travels, while trying to deal with his sons, who are hostile to each other. Like Adam, Aron is literally sent off to the military and discovers much, but only to die as a result of Cal's lies.
John Steinbeck effectively uses characters to further bring objectivity. In this case, he employs Lee's objective nature to bring in outside information. Lee serves as an objective person, who sheds light to the convoluted and intricate tensions that exist between the characters. His being a Chinese servant further parts him from all the complex tensions. Lee literally talks about the story of Cain and Abel, drawing conclusions to the similar conflicts between the characters, alluding to those of Cain and Abel. He becomes concerned with the ability to change fate, according to timshell, where Cal can actually choose to be good.
So go read it, because these books are rare nowadays!

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How Those Books From Childhood Can Change!

I first read EAST OF EDEN when I was in my early teen years and remembered I was absolutely captivated by it. (I had run out of reading material and raided my mother's bookshelves at the time) I remembered the story read as a sort of soap opera with larger than life characters and I simply couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. It also helped that the novel takes place in California - where I live - and that just seemed to add to my enjoyment.

So, when I picked this novel up again I was very much looking forward to it once again. I felt I would be re-visiting a few old friends. I was to be sadly mistaken. Unfortunately, this go round I found this novel tedious and mostly boring. Gone were the larger than life characters. They had been replaced with people who seemed more unreal than anything else. Steinbeck rambles and meanders - a lot - to the point where I wanted to simply skip entire chapters or yell, "Get to the point!" He wrote this book towards the end of his career, and during a very bleak time in his life, and it seems to show. There is no focus. Steinbeck takes the reader on a long, rambling walk over the hills of California and when it concludes, we've no idea why we went or for what purpose. I doubt Steinbeck knew, either.

I think the biggest problem I have this go round that I didn't have when I read this book the first time, is that I compare it to THE GRAPES OF WRATH. By far, this novel comes far, far short of that one, and that is perhaps where I'm making my error.

The language of Steinbeck is beautiful, there can be no doubt. He can truly transport a reader to another place and time! But I would recommend that if one decides to read only one Steinbeck novel in their life, let it be GRAPES OF WRATH, and not this one. It is a far better written book and far more important one as well. However, if one feels s/he wants to tackle this project, just be prepared that it is not easy to wade through. It is tedious, more than a bit boring at times, and very easy to put down. However, one may find it worthwhile in the end.

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