The Significance of Sibling Rivalry in Steinbeck's East of Eden

“East of Eden” is a novel that spans three generations, with a complex cast of characters who each have their own unique motivations and values. The author, John Steinbeck, builds these characters through their actions and relations with other characters, and through their actions, develop various universal themes. Some prevalent themes in “East of Eden” include the idea of coping with evil, as well as the idea of personal choice. Cathy Ames, the main antagonist in the novel, is described to be completely evil; she is developed as a character with no morals

In John Steinbeck’s classic, East of Eden, one of the main conflicts in the beginning of the novel is Adam joining the army. It is stated that Adam will be joining the cavalry, a dangerous and unappealing route in the U.S military. His father, who had served in the military and speaks highly of his time there, illustrates the horrors that Adam will face while on duty (Steinbeck 25). The Cavalry was originally formed in the late 1700s and continued operation through the 19th century to protect American settlers heading west from vicious attacks from the Native Americans (Marlin). However, the Cavalry was a brutal and perilous branch of the military that deeply affected the men who joined. This can first be seen in the history of the Cavalry.

Our circumstances do not determine our lives. Instead, our lives our determined by the choices we make. In the novel, East of Eden, by John Steinbeck theorizes that all individuals have the freedom to make their own choices in order to triumph over evil. He demonstrates this by the use of the word “thou mayest” (Steinbeck 301) and “timshel” (601), meaning free will. The power of choice means that the lessons and values of our lives are not determined by outside influence or our ancestry, but our reactions to those influences.

In this half, the reader sees Adam as more as Adam and less of Abel. While, this half still focuses on the story of Cain and Abel it is with a different set of brothers. Instead of using Adam and Charles, the story uses Aaron and Cal, Adam’s sons, as Abel and Cain. Just like in the first half, it is a gift that should impress and make his father happy but doesn’t that sets off the chains of events. Cal is now playing the role of Cain and shares many qualities of Charles. His father doesn’t think as much as him, he only wants his father’s love, and he has an immense anger in him. Cal attempts to pay help out Adam financially but is shady in doing so; this causes Adam to not accept the gift and be more happy about Aaron being home from college. This sets a fire in Cal and he destroys Aaron by telling him what their mother really is: a prostitute. This kills Aaron so much that he joins the Army, and Cathy kills herself because of his reaction. In this half, Lee takes place of Samuel in giving advice and tries to talk the family through their struggles. He urges them to remember “timshel” and it was Adam’s final blessing for Cal on his

“He did not know it because he did not know such a thing existed” this quotation from the passage so eloquently describes the emotional struggle of love throughout the novel East of Eden and its characters. In the passage, the absence of love and nurture in Adam’s life, the main character, foreshadows itself with his relationships and the surrounding characters relationships as well. Another technique that author, John Steinbeck, employs is imagery. Through this imagery, Steinbeck is able to encapsulate the setting, mood, and tone for the reader.

A theme of moral judgement vs. personal choice is also shown in this seen when Book grabs Eli and Samuel questioning about Schaeffer’s morality of his actions. This again highlights what people think is right and what is right. It shows how Book has now seen the advantages of doing the moral thing, instead of doing your own thing.

Cain’s Jealousy of Abel Cain in Genesis 4:1-2 was the first son of Adam and Eve and the elder brother of Abel. Cain and Abel offered offerings to God and God looked with favor on Abel and offering, but God did not look with favor on Cain and his offering. He became angry and jealous of his brother. He invited his brother out to the field and there he attacked and killed him. Instead of Cain to make amends by offering what would be acceptable to God to secure the favor of God, he compared himself with Abel, became jealous and eventually became a murderer and a lair.

My purpose here is to provide a brief history of the critical response to East of Eden, to outline the major patterns and trends in our perception of what Steinbeck thought was the most important work of his career.... But the conception of "history" involved in this undertaking is far more problematic than it appears on the surface, for it assumes that there are discernible, empirical "facts" which exist in an unchanging reality. It assumes that the critic/historian finds the truth revealed in these facts, and, as a scientific, objective historian, mirrors that inherent truth. What I wish to suggest is that in the late twentieth century this is impossible. Modern historiography has begun to recognize that even a list of historical events partakes of the narrative mode, and thereby becomes a literary artifact, a form of poem. An overview of East of Eden criticism is not a

Cain is unable to communicate with god about what he is feeling. God asks Cain, “Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen’” (4:6). Cain is unable to express that he was hurt by god’s reaction because he feels as though god has betrayed him by liking Abel’s gift more. In Cain’s mind, god has already taken sides and stacked the deck against him. Cain could not confide to god because he felt abandoned and unloved by god. On the other hand, Abel too was to blame for not consoling his brother. The passage narrates, “And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect” (4:4). Abel also witnessed that Cain’s gift was not accepted but he makes no effort to console his brother. This might be due in part, to Abel wishing to overshadow his brother in the eyes of god. Earlier the text states that Cain and Abel were brothers who even though they loved each other very much did not always get along. Sibling bickering and rivalry could have led to Abel and Cain not communicating to each other about what they were feeling. We as a people share the traits of Cain when it comes to not always being about to communicate about what we are

"I do not know. “Am I my brother's keeper?"(New International Version, Genesis 4.9). This famous biblical quote spoken by Cain illustrates how the first murderer of this world came to be. This makes

Sam Shepherd’s True West is one of the most thought provoking plays I have had the pleasure reading. Over the corse of this play these two main characters go through some of the most interesting and unique character growth that has ever been written in theatrical medium. Lee, the older brother, and Austin, the younger brother, are placed in a situation, in this play, where they really must confront their differences. The only thing that keeps them from strangling each other immediately happens to be the many similarities they share. These brothers are, in many ways, the anthesis of one another, Lee is strong and troubled where as Austin is sensitive and generally successful. The similarities and differences between these brothers are no more

Particularly with this questioning on man’s fate, we are asked whether we should live life alongside others or not. We come to realize that this same exact theme has been portrayed in another work, and in this case, the Bible. The question we see in Of Mice and Men simply reflects upon the way Cain asked the Lord, “am I my brother’s keeper?” While looking at East of Eden, we come to realize that this is a story in which the story of Cain and Abel (two brothers) is regurgitated in which Steinbeck has the characters of the novel read parts of the Biblical story aloud and enter deep discussions about the story. “Of Mice and Men is an early Steinbeck variation on this symbol story of the human soul. The implications of the Cain-and-Abel drama are everywhere apparent in the fable of George and Lennie and provide us its mythic vehicle.” (Goldhurst 126)

But the LORD said to him, “Not so; if anyone kills you, he will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.

In "Genesis," Adam and Eve's sons, Cain and Abel, offer sacrifices to God. The shepherd Abel sacrifices his best lamb, while the farmer Cain offers grain. Because God prefers Abel's gift over Cain's, Cain becomes infuriated and kills his brother in a jealous

Throughout an individual's life they are shaped and molded by their surroundings. Whether that is by their parents, or another individual it will greatly impact the rest of their life. In the novel East of Eden by John Steinbeck their are two major families, the Trask family and the Hamilton family. Samuel Hamilton, an Irish Immigrant, father of nine, and husband to Liza Hamilton meets the Trask family when Adam Trask would need help with an irrigation system for his new farm, when he moved to the Saliana Valleys during the Homestead Act. Samuel Hamilton becomes very close with the Trask family during this time, and even birth Adam and Cathy's twins, Cal and Aron. After Cathy gives birth her haywire side comes out, and she shots Adam in the shoulder and runs away from him, changing her name to Kate and working for Fayes brothel. After Adam recovers from being shot he tries to cover up for Cathy, but the sheriff does not believe him, saying that he knows Cathy shot him. The sheriff then goes to Cathy and tells her as long as she stays away from Adam and the twins, nothing else will happen. Adam recovers physically, but not emotionally, becoming very depressed and his care for the twins starts to diminish. Samuel Hamilton, and Lee the housekeeper for the Trask family and a Chinese emigrant, both step up and take huge parts in raising the twins. Adam’s, Samuel’s, and Lee’s migration all affect the upbringing and the future of the twins in the Novel, East of Eden. The twins are