East of Eden Summary

This World War I centered book is called East of Eden, and it was written by

John Steinbeck. East of Eden primariy takes place within the Salinas Valley located in Northern California. The valley is described to have rich odors and lively geological features. These include the Gabilan Mountains and the Salinas River. In the Salinas Valley, an Irish immigrant named Samuel Hamilton moves into the valley with his wife Liza. Although the Hamiltons live on barren land, they earn a comforable and respectable life in America. Samuel works as a blacksmith, and his wife eventually gives birth to four boys and five girls. Years after the Hamilton’s arrival Adam Trask also settles on the Salinas Valley. Adam is a wealthy man with a tragic chidhood. Cyrus Trask, Adam’s father, transmitted a disease called syphilis on to Adam’s mother, soon after Adam’s birth. Consequently, Adam’s mother then proceeded to committ suicide after discovering her illness. Cyrus quickly remarried another young woman named Alice, and they shortly had one child named Charles. Adam is naturally a moral and caring boy, but his intense younger brother is mischevious and hostile. Charles often becomes severely jealous of Adam. Especially, when he discovers their father easily favors Adam instead of Charles. For example, when it was Cyrus’s birthday, Cyrus ultimately preferred Adam’s gift, which was a stray puppy. However he disregarded Charles’ gift of an explensive foreign knife. After discovering this, Charles aggressively beat Adam to the cusp of death, and he left his beaten body on the road side. After this incident, Charles did not reuturn home for several weeks. Adam eventually joins the army, and his father becomes the Secretary of Army. He comes to this postiti...

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...s a wil leaving all of her possesions and fortune to Aron. During this time, Adam, unkowing of Aron’s whereabouts, questions Cal of his brother’s absence. Cal, annoyed, responds by asking if it is his duty to look after Aron. The Trask’s soon discover Aron’s enlistment, and Adam’s health deterioates. Meanwhile, Abra falls in love with Cal, despite his interna war with good and evil. Adam finally starts to become well again, but news comes stating that Aron had died in battle. This mortifying news causes Adam to have a severe stroke. Lee informs Cal of his father’s news and Cal is instantly filled with remorse and guilt. In reaction, Lee takes Cal to his father’s bedside. Lee tells the barely living Adam of Cal’s jealousy and hurt, and he also asks Adam to give Cal his blessing. Adam responds by whispering the crucial word ‘Timshel’. He then closed his eyes and slept.