East of Eden - Top Five Passages

Part One

One of the most important things in Part One happened at the very end. During the last scene, Cathy drugs Adam and goes to Charles's room where they had coitus. "...he drew back the blanket to receive her" (125). The reason why this is so important is because the book later hints that Aron and Cal may actually be Charles's. It also builds dramatic irony for the plot because Adam didn't know about Adam didn't know about Cathy's infidelity (until later), but the readers' knew the whole time.

Part Two

Some of the most important things said in Part Two was during one of the intercalary chapters. John Steinbeck writes about the importance of individuality and creativity. "And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world...And this I must against any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual...If the glory can be killed, we are lost. What Steinbeck is saying is that without creativity and individuality, we can't achieve or grow as a whole and society. These creative and innovative people are the ones who drive us toward success. Without them, we're a dull, gray colorless world.   

Part Three

In Part Three, the reader starts to get an insight on Cal and Aron's relationship as they were growing up. Something that really caught my eye was when Cal and Aron Aron were talking in the family's brand new car. "I don't know why go for to do it...All the tricky sneaky things...I'd like to know why you do it. You're always at something. I just wonder why you do it. I wonder what's it good for" (374-375). The reason why I think is important is because Aron sees the bad in Cal for the first time (which won't be the last). Aron always sees what he wants to see, especially when it concerns the bad in others. He only sees good in those who give him their undivided love and attention like Abra and Adam.

Part Four

Part Four is the last part in the last part in the story. It's where everything (almost) come s to an end. During Part Four, Aron begins to have doubts about not only college, but the world around him. "...he could live in purity and peace with the world, cut off by the little draw. He could hide from ugliness" (524). Aron feels that the world is impure and dirty and you'd have to a "saint" to be clean. I think that's not the case. As long as your running away from something, no place in the world can truly give you pure peace and serenity.

Fifth Response

A deep philosophical quote that I found interesting was in Chapter Thirteen, another intercalary chapter/section. "...a man's importance in the world can be  measured by the quality and numbers his glories. It is a lonely thing but it relates us to the world. It is mother of all creativeness, and it sets each man separate from all other man" (131). this means that the greatness of a man depends on his deeds during his life, which is a sad fact. But these glories or deeds is what gives people individuality and creativeness. Those two traits ultimately makes humans human. It's why we're so special. 

East of Eden - Part Four

Character

Lee is a very smart man who often cares for others, not usually like himself. He is very much like Atticus from To Kill A Mockingbird. An example of this is when Lee talks to Samuel for the first time. "...went to school and several years to the University of California" (164). This shows Lee having a quality education just like Atticus who was a lawyer. An example of Lee cares for the twins while Adam is in shock over Cathy's departure. "...but Lee was a busy man. He cooked and washed, he bathed the twins and fed them. Through his hard and constant work he grew fond of the two little boys" (252). Even though taking care of children was not in Lee's job description, he did anyway. Atticus had to do the same thing with Scout and Jem after their mother died. Lee and Atticus both believe that its a sin to hate others or yourself blindly. They also believe sins can be repented. 

Setting

Near the end of story, the story starts taking place during World War I. This adds tension between the characters (main or minor) during the book. One situation where the war affects the characters is when Adam finds out that Aron has died in the war. "Your brother is dead...Your father has had a stroke" (594). Due to the war, Aron died, making Adam have a stroke which (possibly) kills Adam. Another example is when the narrator describes the affects of the war to people in that time period. "That winter of 1917-1918 was a dark and frightened time.... The war seemed hopeless...We learned then that war was not a quick heroic charge but a slow, incredibly complicated matter... many people were preparing in their minds and spirits for a lost war" (572). The war had negative affects on the people, even though most hadn't saw it that way. 

Plot

Many surprising things happened during part four of the book. Some of the most surprising things involved the deaths of Cathy and Adam. Cathy for one takes her own life. "Gingerly, she fished the chain out from her bodice, unscrewed the little tube, and shook the capsule into her hand. She smiled at it...And her heart beat solemnly and her breathing slowed as she grew smaller and smaller and then disappeared—and she had never been" (554). Cathy commits suicide by taking the drug in her locket. Another surprising death was the death of Adam. "His eyes closed and he slept" (602). Adam (supposedly) takes his last breath while talking to Lee and Cal. These deaths were certainly shocking. The shocking part was that they died, it was how they died that truly mattered and truly affected readers.

Conflict

As one of the very few female characters in the story, it seems as though Abra has a lot of issues internally and externally. An internal struggle Abra has is when she starts to think about how Aron really views her. "It’s the same way he tore me up—Abra—when he wanted to be a priest" (578). Aron viewed Abra as pure and innocent in a world full of dirtiness, but she obviously didn't feel the same way. An example of an external conflict is when Abra's father is "sick". "For example, she knew that her father was not ill. He was hiding from something" (579). Abra knows something is up with her father which adds tension in her household. Even though Abra is faced with all these problems, she manages to accept them and move on with her life which is a quality I admire.

Theme

The biggest and most important theme that was replayed throughout the story was timshel. Timshel basically means if you want to you can. "His whispered word seemed to hang in the air: Timshel!" (602). Charles tells Adam what he did to Aron and begs for forgiveness. Adam says (in one whole word) that he must forgive himself or choose what to do about it. Another example of timshel being used is when Lee talks to Charles about what he did to Aron. "We all have that heritage, no matter what old land our fathers left. All colors and blends of Americans have somewhat the same tendencies. It’s a breed—selected out by accident. And so we’re overbrave and overfearful—we’re kind and cruel as children" (570). Lee is saying that even our family members act a type of way it doesn't mean we'll turn that way too. In the book, timshel refers to sins, but I don't think that's the case. You can choose who you want to be. You can choose what you want to do. There is nothing holding you back from becoming who you want to be or achieving what you want.

Author's Style

John Steinbeck's use of narration was so unique, it made me look up the exact term. I found that the story is actually told in first person with Steinbeck as a peripheral narrator meaning that he tells the story, but is not a main character. "My little sister and I..." (518). John Steinbeck actually includes a scene with him and his sister when they were young, which is really rare. Another example is when the same scene, but he reflects on the war. "Nothing to say, nothing to do, and only one hope—I hope he didn't suffer—and what a forlorn and last-choice hope that is" (519). Steinbeck talks about the war and it affected others. The main reason why I liked this narration was because it was the same narration as To Kill A Mockingbird which was very interesting.

East of Eden - Part Three

Character

So far in the book, Aron is described as a saint who is veok f thusry sensitive and naivc.f. c.f.e about love, very much litike his fto ather, Adam. An example of Adam being sensitive is when he gets taunted by Cal in the woods while hunting. "Through his gathering tears Aron could see his brothto ibi er’s eyes...He studied Aron, saw his quivering lips" (338). Aron quickly starts crying after Cal tells him about rumors of their mother. An example of Aron being naive about love is when he meets Abra, a girl in Salinas who breaks his heart (orchestrated by Cal). "I wanted to marry her,” Aron said. “I put a letter in the box, asking her" (351). After an hour or so, Aron immediately falls for Abra, who he knows nothing about, but wants to marry her already, just like Adam did with Cathy. Though Aron looks innocent and is sweet, he has a dark side. If pushed over the edge, he'll fight back. His interior might not be as nice as his exterior. 

Setting

Making up an imaginary setting is hard, so its best to write about what you know. This is an important thing John Steinbeck did. If you read through some of his books, you'll see he wrote about one place in particular: the Salinas Valley. He wrote about the Salinas Valley not only in East of Eden, but also Of Mice and Men. An example of the the setting of the setting being the same is during the first chapters of both books. "The Salinas Valley is in Northern California. It is a long narrow swale between two ranges of mountains, and the Salinas River winds and twists up the center until it falls at last into Monterey Bay" (East of Eden,1). The author simply states the setting takes place in the Salinas Valley near the river. The Salinas Valley (well more of Soledad) is also talked about in the first chapter of Of Mice and Men. "A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green" (Of Mice and Men, 1). The setting of Of Mice and Men is described to be near the Salinas Valley, especially the Salinas River. Most people who've read East of Eden have obviously read Of Mice and Men. When people have read these books, they're able to make connections to the other books. This helps people understand the book more, on a deeper level.

Plot

Parallelism is factor in the book used repeatedly between the characters in the book. An example of parallelism is when Aron falls in love with Abra, after just meeting her before. “I wanted to marry her,” Aron said. “I put a letter in the box, asking her" (351). Aron quickly falls in love and wants to marry Abra after a short amount of time (basically one day), just like his father did with Cathy. Another example of parallelism is when Adam writes to Charles again.“You’re going to try to write to your brother, aren't you?...That’s right” (361). Adam again tries to reconnect with his brother after a long period of time. All these events probably happened at least twice in the book. The reason why these specific events are repeated is because the author is trying to emphasize something, probably a bigger picture or message.

Conflict

A character who has a deep internal struggle is Cal. Cal constantly struggles with how his brother Aron seems to get all the love from. An example of Cal feeling inferior to Aron is when they first meet Abra. " He knew she preferred his brother, but that was nothing new to him" (348). Cal feels like he doesnt get loved so much he already expects it. Another example of Cal deeling jealous of Aron is when Cal is thinking while talking to Abra. "Cal did not question the fact that people liked his brother better, buthe had delvolped a means for making it all right" (349). Cal again notices people view him compared to his brother. This makes Cal unhappy the way he is, but still continues on.

Theme

Another one of the main themes are how guilt affects others and how we respond to it. An example of this is when Tom commits suicide. "He was too tired to kill himself...mother had a strong distaste for suicide" (408). Tom filled with guilt over Dessies death he kills himself. another example ia when Cathy talks to Adam about money. "Her whole body shook with something that felt likerage and also felt like guilt" (385). I think Cathy feels guilty about leaving Adam. Guilt is a hard ans uncontrollable emotion which react to differently.  

Author's Style

One of the tones used a lor was a grave and deathly tone. An example ofthis is when Samuel fdied. "The air was crystalline as it sometimes is when rain is coming"(311). Samuels funeral is dark and gloomy unlike his character. Another example is when Dessie dies. "The Gray One was Murder" (408). Tom is descibi ng his sins casting a dark and twisted emotion. Steinbecks use of tone helps the reader understand whats happening in the book amd how the characters feel.