Evil In East Of Eden

East of Eden: Is Evil Nature or Nurtured?

John Steinbeck's novel East of Eden was inspired by a message he wished to send to his sons. Steinbeck created this epic story to carry his voice and advice to the two young boys whom he loved immensely. He wrote the story of good and evil, including love and hate, demonstrating how they are inseparable. ("East of Eden", Kirjasto) Steinbeck wanted to describe to Thom and John IV, the Salinas Valley, the treasured place in which he grew up. He aspired to detail every element from sights and sounds to colors and smells. He placed East of Eden here, in the Salinas Valley, not because of its significance to the story but the importance intended for his sons. ("East of Eden Summary") This setting includes more than memories from Steinbeck's childhood, it shows the history of the time period. Different waves of immigrants to California, new inventions including Ford automobiles and new windmills, an attempt at shipping lettuce in icebox train cars and organized prostitution across the West are some of the real occurrences that took place during this period of history. As his children grew Steinbeck hoped that East of Eden would show them their roots. The families created in the novel contributed to this significance. The Hamilton's were immigrants from Ireland, Steinbeck's true ancestors. The Trask family was fictional, helping to tell the story Steinbeck felt was important to every man. This universal family living next to a universal neighbor had meaning to his sons as well as to anyone who picked up the work. John Steinbeck calls the novel the story of my country and the story of me. East of Eden tells of a boy becoming a man as he overcomes jealousy and realizes self worth; this being achieved by the realization that everyone possesses good and evil. A quote from Steinbeck himself expresses the desire he had to instill this in the lives of his sons, "this is for my sons...to read when they are grown...And so I will tell one of the greatest-The story of good and evil, of strength and weakness, of love and hate, of beauty and ugliness." John Steinbeck's meaningful novel displays good and evil, while questioning the reader of whether evil is fated or if our lives are ruled by moral choice. (Pearson; "The Novel: East of Eden")

Steinbeck illuminates the story of good and evil with the biblical story of Cain and Abel. In this biblical lesson, Adam and Eve commit the original sin by eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden. This fruit had been forbidden to them by the lord. As punishment for their sin, Adam and Eve are sent to a less perfect world outside the Garden of Eden. Here they are allowed to have children and give birth to Cain and Abel. Cain cultivated the ground and Abel was a shepherd. Sacrifices from both boys were made to God. God rejected Cain's gift. (Enotes on East of Eden) Cain becomes jealous of his brother Abel and kills him, thus creating the first sin of murder. When Cain seems to triumph, the Lord intervenes and punishes Cain. God then teaches Cain to choose good over evil. (Sauder)

In East of Eden Lee said to Adam and Sam that the story of Cain and Abel, "is the symbol story of the human soul, the best-known story in the world because it is everybody's story." This significant story mirrors elements in East of Eden. Resembling the biblical story, where Cain represents evil, the characters throughout the novel with names beginning with the letter C represent evil as well. Cyrus, Charles, Cathy and Cal display negative traits throughout the novel. Abel represents good; therefore the characters with names beginning with A appear to be good. Adam, Aaron, Alice, and Abra are examples of Abel characters. The sacrifices offered to God are also mirrored in the novel. In the beginning of the novel, Charles and Adam give birthday presents to their father, Cyrus. Cyrus favors Adams gift of a puppy to Charles' gift of a knife. Later in the story Aarons gift to his father, Adam, is accepted while Cal's is rejected. Cal, Caleb, grows jealous and seeks revenge by destroying his brother's innocence. He takes him to meet their mother at the house of prostitution that she owns and runs. Aaron is shocked after learning the truth about his mother that he later joins the military. As a result of going to war Aaron is shot and killed. Cal doesn't directly murder his brother although he ultimately causes his death. In both cases the Old Testament shows no preferences or justification for the favoritism. (Phillips; Sauder) Charles and Caleb are seen many times throughout the novel fighting for their father's attention just as Cain fought for God's attention. Lee says the story of Cain and Abel is important because it's the story of rejection. He believes that this is the root from which all evil develops because with rejection comes anger, anger some kind of crime in revenge for the rejection and with crime guilt. Lee explains that this is the story of mankind, an inevitable cycle. (Steinbeck) John Steinbeck offers the reader some choice of redemption o this inevitable evil through his use of timshel.

Cain is banished to the land of Nod, east of Eden, after killing Abel.Here God blesses him with free will, leaving the choice to him. He advises that no matter how deep the sin