Cal And Aron Trask In John Steinbeck's East Of Eden

258 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: John steinbeck east of eden text

In John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, Steinbeck uses Cal and Aron Trask to represent the biblical story of Cain and Abel, demonstrating a struggle of good and evil through an underlying religious point of view as well as the overlying fictional telling of the same story. Cal’s innate evil nature contrasting Aron’s inherent goodness are evident throughout the novel and portray Steinbeck’s overall theme of a constant conflict between morality and immorality. Throughout the entire novel, Cal believes that he has no choice in his “meanness” because of his mother, Kate, who Cal has determined to be evil just like himself. Cal is described as “slit-eyed” as well as a lone wolf, similar to his corresponding biblical reference in Cain. Cain was

Show More
Related

  • Until They Bring The Streetcars Back, Cal Gant

    611 Words  | 2 Pages

    Much of the book has one startling development after another to the shock of the characters. One of the problems Cal was facing is that he doesn't have the power to help someone that's going through something. And Cal gets angry because "Going through high school, there was always a surprise about someone or something unexpected floating around in the social circles. I believe this is relatable to the average reader in that they no doubt have heard horrible rumors about their classmates and wondered who to talk to or how to solve the problem.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Sibling Rivalry In East Of Eden

    903 Words  | 2 Pages

    Growing up with siblings a sense of competition was always dealt with. Who was better or who got the better present for example. Sibling rivalry was definitely an occurrence that is seen throughout the novel East of Eden by John Steinbeck. Specifically how the author embraces the good and the evil in the personalities of his characters. The brothers from the book Charles and Adam were resembling the more Biblical brothers known as Cain and Abel. As scenes unfolded in the novel, we glimpse at the rivalry that goes on between the two. Even when the generation carries on to the new brothers, Cal and Aron, there’s still a connection being made to the legend. “Symbol story of the human soul” as Lee, a character, relates it to the same idea. In the secence of

    Read More

  • Examples Of Allusions In A Separate Peace

    568 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the chapters of John Knowles novel “A Separate Peace” there are many biblical allusions. In particular, the story of Cain and Abel. Phineas and Gene are based on story of Cain and Able. Cain and Abel are brothers such as Genes and Phineas’ friendship. In the story one is filled with jealousy like Gene and one brother kills the other also like Gene.

    Read More

  • Isolation Form Love In The Film "east Of Eden"

    640 Words  | 2 Pages

    East of Eden by John Steinbeck is an optimistic film about a boy becoming a man and trying desperately to earn the love of his father and mother in the troubled times of the Great Depression. Cal, the main character is a troubled teen who lives with his entrepreneur father, and a brother who is following closely in his fathers steps. Cal’s mother left him and his brother to become a madam of a whorehouse. The struggle takes place between Cal and his father due to his fathers lack of compassion for his son. The conflict rises further when Cal tries to help his father repay a debt, his father further isolates his son and this turns to violent outbursts. Steinbeck focuses on Cal in order to suggest the theme that without love people become violent and mean.

    Read More

  • Cathy Ames as the Devil in John Steinbeck's East of Eden

    709 Words  | 2 Pages

    East of Eden was a novel that explored the roots of evil in its most primal form. Through intricate plot lines and complex characters, John Steinbeck weaved a tale of brutality, cruelty, and isolation. One important character that helped to illustrate the presence of evil throughout the book was Cathy Ames, an intelligent woman who ruthlessly used other people to serve her own needs. When reflecting upon East of Eden, a debate that often surfaces is whether Cathy's evil was a result of nature or nurture. Arguments for and against both sides are in the book. At some times, Cathy is portrayed as a wicked fiend who's aggression stems from nowhere but her own empty heart. Other times, Cathy appears weak and afraid of people who aren't the least bit intimidating. Those are the moments in the book where one must question whether Cathy is truly evil, or just an impatient and self-centered individual.

    Read More

  • John Steinbeck's East of Eden - Good Versus Evil

    976 Words  | 2 Pages

    The idea of good versus evil is illustrated in several ways in John Steinbeck's East of Eden. This is seen through the external conflicts in the novel, the internal conflicts of the characters, and a universal understanding of the battle between good and evil.

    Read More

  • A Separate Peace

    678 Words  | 2 Pages

    Symbolism is very prominent over the course of this story, giving it that much more meaning. Knowles makes not only one, but several instances to religious principles and more precisely in this case, Adam and Eve. These of jealousy, greed, and selfishness are prominent throughout both stories as well is a significant fall whether it would be as monstrous as humanity or on the smaller scale of relationships. The disruption of peace and harmony are also evident in the two. In addition, it is interesting how the author finds a way to tie them all into each other.

    Read More

  • Free Will in East of Eden by John Steinbeck

    1014 Words  | 3 Pages

    Steinbeck portrays the significance of timshel through the introduction of free will, which plays an important role in the theme of Cain and Abel and provides the interpretation of Steinbeck. Timshel is brought in by Lee who is the servant of the Trask family and discussed by both Samuel Hamilton, and Adam Trask. In chapter 24 Lee discusses the idea of timshel by showing the different interpretations of it through various translations, in the Hebrew translation it says “thou mayest rule over sin” which gives man a choice to fight through their sin and overcome it (302). Thus, “the translation of timshel into “thou mayest” enables the release of the energy in every human being “(Schultz). Timshel helps us not only understand the choices of human beings, but it shows that “Steinbeck constructs his fiction around the theory that timshel should be translated to thou mayest…he tells us about his own philosophy from the use of the Bible” (Warren). Steinbeck uses timshel as a way to let out his own philosophy about humans from using the Bible. This introduction of timshel through Lee becomes a very important part of the story as well as a theme; by this Steinbeck conveys his ideas and thoughts on a man’s destiny. Timshel then becomes a big part of the story which alters the plot of the Cain and Abel story by offering free will. Steinbeck interprets timshel as one of the most important things in the story an...

    Read More

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

    1394 Words  | 3 Pages

    John Steinbeck's novel, East of Eden is the epic story of a California family who struggle to overcome issues of betrayal, infidelity, and the age old battle between good and evil and sibling rivalry. The story centers around two generations of brothers in the Trask family-Adam and Charles, and Adam's sons Aron and Cal. In each generation, one of the Trask brothers is moral and good while the other brother behaves badly and immorally. Because the good Trask brothers are favored, the bad Trask brothers develop envious tendencies and a recurrent theme of sibling rivalry appears throughout the book. Steinbeck's dramatic account of the Trask brothers and their rivalry in East of Eden is an impressive tale, but it is also a familiar one that closely echoes a

    Read More

  • Cain And Abel In East Of Eden

    910 Words  | 2 Pages

    Steinbeck uses the biblical story of Cain and Abel in East of Eden to show us that we do not have set fate. Steinbeck uses the Hebrew word “timshel”, which means “thou mayest”, to suggest that man has the ability to choose good or evil. “Timshel” affects the characters in East of Eden such as Cal and Aron and their choice of overcoming good or evil. Steinbeck sees this novel as his most important work, and he uses it as a way to state his personal ideas concerning mankind:“The free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual.”(Steinbeck,132). Steinbeck shows God has given humans free will and their ability to choose good or evil, if they so decide. He portrays the “C” characters to be connected to Cain, such as Charles and Cal and the “A” characters to be connected to Abel, such as Aron and Adam.

    Read More

  • The Allegory Of Nathanial Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown

    1362 Words  | 3 Pages

    This allegory is a strong image of man’s relentless battle between good and evil. Mankind’s personal and social quarrels through different dealings can result in good consequences and/or bad consequences. There are many symbols throughout Young Goodman Brown that exemplify Puritan ideology relate to modern times, such as faith, the staff and the forest. Additionally, Nathanial Hawthorne’s ancestral tie to the Salem Witch Trial is a great example of how a man can be tainted by social influences. However, it is up to each person to choose their own path, guided by their perception of faith, no matter their religion. “Depending upon one another's hearts, ye had still hoped that virtue were not all a dream. Now are ye undeceived. Evil is the nature of mankind. (pgs. 325-337)”

    Read More

  • A Separate Peace Essays - Gene’s Enemies

    1704 Words  | 4 Pages

    Adam and Eve had a perfect Garden of Eden, until Eve ate the apple and contaminated the garden.  In being tricked by the snake, Eve betrayed God’s word.  Mankind has often betrayed others because of the darkness in their heart.  In A Separate Peace, John Knowles uses Phineas as a sacrificial lamb to portray Gene’s savage side and demonstrate that peace can never be achieved at a worldwide level until man accepts the darkness in his own heart.

    Read More

  • Free Will In John Steinbeck's East Of Eden

    265 Words  | 1 Pages

    Although one of the fundamental ideas in East of Eden is that evil is an innate and inescapable human problem, the novel also sets forth hope that each individual has the freedom to overcome evil by his or her own choice. This idea of free choice is encapsulated in the Hebrew word timshel, the meaning of which Adam’s housekeeper, Lee, has researched. The word, which translates to “thou mayest,” appears in the story of Cain and Abel in the Bible, when God tells Cain that he has the freedom to choose to overcome sin. Lee sees this idea of free will as central to the human condition—in fact, he says that timshel might be the “most important word in the world.”

    Read More

  • The Absence Of Love In Cal And Charles

    235 Words  | 1 Pages

    The absence of love from a father in Cal’s and Charles’ life leads to them commit evil actions towards their brothers. Lee suggests that “with rejection comes anger, and with anger some kind of crime in revenge for the rejection, and in the crime guilt--and there is the story of mankind” (Steinbeck 270). The rejection of their gift to their fathers hurts Cal and Charles more than anything. To come to the realization that Adam was favored over Charles, and Aron over Cal enrages these brothers to do regrettable things. Since Cal and Charles have nobody to love or to guide them, they essentially go down the wrong path and abuse brothers physically and emotionally. After Charles’ gift was denied by Cyrus and he found out that Cyrus loves Adam

    Read More

  • A New Life In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

    1118 Words  | 3 Pages

    Those who start a new life begin with nothing. In John Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes of Wrath, a family leaves everything behind to start fresh in California. The family encounters the hardships, conflicts, and sacrifices that come with starting over. One of the most prominent issues the family must face is confronting their past sins. Steinbeck illustrates that before starting a new life, one must first atone for past sins, and in doing so, Steinbeck draws parallels with biblical concepts of absolution and punishment for individual sin.

    Read More

More about Cal And Aron Trask In John Steinbeck's East Of Eden

Open Document