Relationship Between Good And Evil In East Of Eden

The ideas of good and evil are often reflected as polar opposites yet, their relationship is so closely intertwined that one cannot exist without the other. Good is seen as what is socially and morally acceptable, whereas evil is not. Each individual perceives them differently depending on their own standard of morality. In the novel, East of Eden, John Steinbeck makes an assertion that one can only be deemed good or evil after death. This conviction is misguided as judgment after death shows ignorance to the fact that there is no absolute vice and virtue. People judge by actions or how others portray themselves and base it off of their own moral code, neglecting the reality that everyone has different beliefs and intentions behind their actions.

It is unfair to deem someone evil if it is not to one’s own personal beliefs. Ultimately, it is wrong to judge the good or evil of human beings as it would be subjective and indirectly blaming one’s morals and beliefs.
Throughout the course of person’s life, one is in a constant struggle between good and evil; no one is entirely one or the other.

This is especially made evident in Cal Trask from East of Eden. Although it was believed to be that Cal possesses the same evil as Cathy, he goes against this and struggles to be good like Aron. Growing up, he was “shaken by the veering winds of adolescence. One moment he was dedicated and pure and devoted; the next he walled in filth; and the next he groveled in shame and emerged rededicated” (Steinbeck 450). Cal going back and forth shows his endeavor to be good. Although, he has made poor decisions throughout his life, he has the same morals as a good person and has redeeming actions. This makes it harder to judge him as he shows both aspects of good and

evil.
As generations go by, perspectives of evil evolve while principles of goodness remain constant and unchanging. In any time period, society, forces conformity with its own standard of morality; creating an unfavorable position for people with different beliefs. During Salem in 1692-1693, people who opposed the church, did not practice religion traditionally, and seemed out of the ordinary were deemed evil as they were believed to be a supporter of the devil and practiced witchcraft. In response, the town began the witch trials. The judges, one being Hathorne, believed they were doing good for protecting the people, as he stated “Why at every execution I have seen naught but high satisfaction in the town” (Miller 133). With the transformation of what is perceived as evil, the contemporary society only sees this as immoral and an act of ignorance as the extreme belief in religion blinded them to any logical reasoning. However, in that time period people believed witchcraft existed and approved of what the church was doing, and in their minds, the judges were doing a good deed. Steinbeck’s belief is invalid in this case since the beliefs back then goes against what is considered as good today. This event could not be judged as good or evil as the standards have changed from then.
It is commonly thought that good intentions will make one a good person, however that is only based on a mistaken belief.

Not every action with good meaning behind will have a positive effect. Often times, actions and intentions make it difficult to judge. In “The Ways We Lie”, Stephanie Ericsson, the author, argues how lying does more harm as it has long, lasting repercussions despite its purpose in not upsetting the other person. For example, in one of the given anecdotes, the sergeant decides to do good and list a dead soldier as missing so that his family would not carry the burden of a dead soldier in the family. This backfires on him as “for twenty years this family kept their hopes alive, unable to move on to a new life” (Ericsson 9). Ultimately, despite the good intentions, the lie hurts them more as the the false illusions impedes their progress in life. Although it was a faulty move on his part, it was neither right or wrong because he only meant well and had no control over the repercussion. The sergeant could not be judged as good or evil as his intentions and actions have no clear cut in

between.
Judgement after death is unfair as it rewrites over the person’s life by labelling him or her as only good or evil, and forgetting that the course of a person’s life is divided through a series of both good and evil. However, what is perceived as good and evil differs for each individual depending on their own standards of morality making it impossible to judge. It is even difficult to distinguish whether an action is good or evil based on intentions as well. Everyone does both good and evil throughout their life, so it would be unfair to judge. Even after death, people are perceived differently for their actions.