A Clever Retelling
Steinbeck's East of Eden is a fantastic retelling of the Biblical story of Cain and Abel. The representation of Cain in Charles and Caleb, and Abel in Adam and Aron foreshadows the fates of the characters, while setting the stage for many pleasant surprises. The novel's greatest treasure is in its emphasis on the ideal of "timshel," as Caleb's struggles against his innate evil becomes the defining plotline of the book. I was able to sympathize with his pursuit of a life untainted by his mother's past and admire his courage in the face of adversity. Thus, I feel that the novel's greatest appeal is in the character Cal, who, while flawed, epitomizes the concept of "thou mayest." The "Abel" character, while allowed to live in the grace of God, does so only transiently (Aron), or at the cost of naiveté and vulnerability (Adam). In a sense, the book continues the story where the Bible left off, bringing closure to the newly designated protagonist: the Cain-like Cal.
Repeated reference to the story of Cain and Abel provides hope for Caleb, while foreshadowing doom for Aron. Samuel's reading of the text sets the backdrop for the novel's conclusion, subtly foreshadowing the reversed fates of the two characters. Gradually, I was diverted from the "perfection" of Aron, and led to commiserate with the epic struggles of Cal, whose resolute will set him above Aron, despite their innate traits.
The alteration to the Biblical story created a pleasant message. As Adam leaves his son with a final blessing-the reminder of "timshel"-he serves a purpose Abel was unable to achieve. He is vindicated, proven worthy of his father's favor, and both "Cain" and "Abel" are evidently affected by God's blessing.
Through minor characters, Steinbeck effectively leads to Adam's ultimate epiphany. Lee's unwavering conviction in the idea of "timshel" parallels Moses' vision and guides Cal through his struggle-an analogy to the spiritual wilderness of the Israelites. In times of Cal's resignation to his innate evil, Lee's words serve as reminder that there is always the choice to overcome sin. Under Lee's leadership, Adam is led to realize his repetition of Cyrus' mistake through the denial of Cal in favor for Aron, and prompted to bless Cal in his final words. The concluding message of the novel is one alluded to since the beginning. Not only does Steinbeck's novel continue the Bible's story, it finishes it beautifully, inspiring hope for Cal's future and the fate of humanity.
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Overview
Today, nearly forty years after his death, Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck remains one of America's greatest writers and cultural figures. We have begun publishing his many works for the first time as blackspine Penguin Classics featuring eye-catching, newly commissioned art. This season we continue with the seven spectacular and influential books East of Eden, Cannery Row, In Dubious Battle, The Long Valley, The Moon Is Down, The Pastures of Heaven, and Tortilla Flat. Penguin Classics is proud to present these seminal works to a new generation of readers—and to the many who revisit them again and again.This sprawling and often brutal novel, set in the rich ...