East of Eden Chapters 19-22

John Steinbeck

Kate

• Changes identity but remains evil and manipulative – “’There’s plenty for both of us Kate. I could give

you as much as you make and more, and you’d be worth it’” (229)

– “’I have to, Mother’” (229)– Uses others for her own purposes

Kate

• Develops close relationship with Faye– Self-serving – Kate’s thoughts not revealed • Reader senses something bad will happen • True emotions revealed when she is drunk

– “’I didn’t want to drink wine. But you, you nasty fat worm, you made me’” (236).

Kate

• Archetype devil/ evil figure – Murderer– Left husband and children – Prostitute – Sadomasochist – Manipulates Faye into thinking it was a dream – Irony- other girls comment on her devotion to Faye

Adam

• Withdraws after Cathy departs – “Adam seemed clothed in viscosity that slowed his

movements and held his thoughts down. He saw the world through gray water” (252).

– Samuel is the one to bring him back – Name the twins – Reference to Cain and Abel- Cal and Aron

• Foreshadows the continuation of the contention

Biblical Allusion • “”And the Lord said unto Cain, ‘Why art thou wroth?

And why is they countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And onto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him’” (268).– Translations vary – Tthou shalt rule over him”? (God promises Cain he will

conquer sin)– “Do thou rule over him”? (God orders Cain to conquer sin – “Thou mayest rule over him”? (God blesses Cain with free

will)• Men have free will over moral destinies

Cain and Abel• “’My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou

hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth, and from thy face shall I be hid. And I shall be a fugitive and vagabond in the earth…And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt on the land of Nod on the east of Eden.’” (268).– All men descended from Cain – Inherent in every person is guilt, fear and pain – No man may live in Paradise- must live east of Eden

Cain and Abel

• Childhood rejection – “I think this is the best-known story in the world because it

is everybody’s story…The greatest terror a child can have is that he is not loved, and rejection is the hell he fears. I think everyone in the world to a large or small extent has felt rejection. And with rejection comes anger, and with anger some kind of crime in revenge for the rejection, and with the crime guilt- and there is the story of mankind” (270)• Direct reference to Cain and Abel and Charles and Adam• Adam fails to see relation to past generations and will fail to see

connection in the future

Caleb & Aaron

• New generation – “Caleb and Aaron- now you are people and you

have joined the fraternity and you have the right to be damned” (272).• Will the cycle be broken?• Foreshadow more contention between brothers?