For the first blog posting, I'd like you to write a brief but thoughtful response to East of Eden. Don't summarize- we all read the novel (right??), but get right into the heart of what you think and wonder. Perhaps think about themes, motifs, the grand message, style, or your opinion of the efficacy and interest of it all. Write your own response and/or react to the ideas of those who post before you.
This blog will be the majority (if not all) of our class discussion before the in-class essay. The more you put into it, the more you as a class will get out of it.
Please be sure to sign your name at the bottom, and feel free to post more than once, if you'd like.
I'll start us off to get things rolling...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
28 comments:
First of all, I think that this novel is amazing- this summer was my first reading also- and I really hope that you all started it early enough that you were able to not skim and rush through it (and most likely hate it for its length and detail) but savor the lush descriptions,surprising characterizations, and soap-opera-like twists and turns. This book both broke my heart and rose my spirits.
On a more critical note, I'm curious about why the Hamiltons dropped away for most of the last third of the story...I fell in love with so many of them (Samuel, Tom the gentleman, and sunny-with-a-deep-side-of-pain Dessie)and then they just faded away.
Some of the things I kept thinking about as I read: gift giving- the power of these gifts for destruction of the giver and recipient, "the never-ending contest in ourselves of good and evil" (415), and how so many of the characters hide and live within make-believe worlds. I believe that much of this escapism is in direct response to shame and fear. In fact, I believe these three concepts are closely linked together through "timshel."
-Ms. Coppens
I thought that the novel was all about forgiveness and how it is essential to the human race. In many instances the story of Cain and Abel was refrenced to. When Cain asks God for forgiveness for killing Abel, God replys "Thou Mayest". I interpreted this to mean that Cain is forgiven but should respect others for the rest of his life with the respect that God should have given him in the first place.
By bringing this story up in East of Eden, Steinbeck clearly makes a connection between the brother pairings of Cain/Abel, Adam/Charles, and Aron/Cal. During the story each brother tries to kill off the other because they believe they are not respected by their father. When Cal asks Adam for forgiveness at the end of the book, Adam replys, "Thou Mayest", meaning Cal is forgiven. Essentially this rids of the feelings of jealousy and contempt that Cal had towards his brother and releases Cal back into the world a "cleansed" human being. This event clearly solidifies forgiveness as the central theme of East of Eden.
Eric L
personally i enjoyed this book, but thought it was way too long. it was a nice read, but took a little bit to get into, and then fell in and out between being "can't put it down" interesting and "can't wait til its over" boring, but mostly interesting.
in response to your curiosity about the hamiltons dropping away at the end of the story, i kind of felt it was for the best. the characters i personally felt weren't as intersting as the family of adam, charles, aron, cal. i felt that there were too many kids, and all too similar that i couldn't differentiate between them. but that's just me. i really liked how it turned solely to adam's family because his life stories i found were most interesting and dramatic.
what intersted me most in this story was cathy's deceipt over everyone, fooling with men and stringing them along like puppets. cahty made men fall in love with her, and then broke their hearts.
the idea of cathy also ties in to eric l's idea of the story being about forgiveness. even though cathy caused so much harm to the trask family, adam within himself could forgive her. like adam, his boys too were able to forgive others for their actions, including adam and for the lies he lead them to believe.
When Cathy killed herself, do you think that she had any sort of forgiveness? Did she forgive others for what they had done? Did she at all come to terms with herself? When she committed suicide was one of the only times I truly felt for her- as if in a way she was frozen in a twisted child-like mentality. SO many of the characters were lake wounded children. I guess the joys and especially pains of childhood become ingrained in our psyches.
-Ms. Coppens
East of Eden was a whole new reading experience for me. It was one of the more challenging books I've read, and I found that I liked it a great deal. The biblical references dealing with the two extremes of good and evil were discussed often by characters, and I noticed that most of the characters were one of the two extremes, not really a mix.
Also, there was this constant reminder that some people are stronger than others. Some of those stronger seemed to think that they had thought to be greater understanding of the world, but they were ignorant to other major things, like Kate with her understanding and control of weaker people, but her lack of knowledge when it came to loving another person.
-Steph H
I agree with Ms. Coppens about the “disappearance” of the Hamilton family. There were many characters of that family that I feel weren't given due attention, and who faded into the distance towards the end of the novel. I believed that the Hamilton family was a great group of different and complex characters, and would have appreciated if they were allotted more time in the story to provide more insight into their thoughts and personalities.
That said, I did really enjoy this book. I was wary of it when I heard we had to read 600 pages of Steinbeck. I remembered The Pearl, and not fondly. However, I thought East of Eden was captivating and well written and was pleasantly surprised.
I agree with Eric about forgiveness being one of the central themes of the novel. I believe another one, possibly an even more prevalent one, was the internal struggle between the best and darkest sides of the human psyche. Adam, Charles, Tom, Will, Aron, Cal and Abra, especially, were plagued with self-doubt and -loathing for emotions and mistakes they experienced, feeling that their faults and "negative", but wholly human, characteristics outweighed all the good in them.
Looking back to East of Eden as a whole, I really liked how Steinbeck developed his characters. Cal's behavior was very realistic and I could imagine his emotions well. Steinbeck captured human nature truthfully.
The idea of Cathy being a "monster" was also interesting. I could never relate to her character because I have never met anyone like her. Lee's words of wisdom helped me better understand Cathy, for instance when he said, "You can only understand people if you feel them in yourself(448)." One may not be able to understand another person if he does not share the person's traits.
Zenya M.
I think that when Cathy committed suicide, it was due to the fact that she lacked compassion, Not that she forgave people and felt sorry for what she had done. All through the book she did not believe that she lacked something that most humans had. Then, at the end of the book, Cal convinces her otherwise and this is too much for her to handle.
To me the meaning of the word timshel in relation to the book is that Adam finally realized that he had control over his own life, as opposed to being forced to obey the whims of other people. He only went into the Army because his dad made him. He wandered because his fights with Charles drove him out. Then Cathy dominated his life and he lived for months in misery after being shot. A the end of his life he realized that he was strong, he could make decisions, and most of all he was in control of his own destiny. This was made apparent when he overcame his love, fear, and hatred of Cathy by confronting her.
- Cameron Duquette
I'm not really sure how I felt about this novel. The whole idea that the plot is based on - the retelling of the book of genisis as in a modern time - was interesting, and has the potential to be awesome. However, I feel that Steinback's excessive descriptions were too long to hold my interest. I found the book very hard to get into, and very dry at times. It's true, the points throughout the novel when two stories collided, like when Cathy ended up on the steps to the Trask farm, I got excited, but after that, it would return to dragging descriptions.
I did find way that the Cain and Abel's rivalry wound it's way into the plot line twice. I especailly enjoyed how the "evil" brother's name always started with a "C" (Charles and Cal) like Cain's did, and then how the "good" brother's name always started with an "A" (Adam and Aron).
I'm not really sure how I felt about this novel. The whole idea that the plot is based on - the retelling of the book of genisis as in a modern time - was interesting, and has the potential to be awesome. However, I feel that Steinback's excessive descriptions were too long to hold my interest. I found the book very hard to get into, and very dry at times. It's true, the points throughout the novel when two stories collided, like when Cathy ended up on the steps to the Trask farm, I got excited, but after that, it would return to dragging descriptions.
I did find way that the Cain and Abel's rivalry wound it's way into the plot line twice. I especailly enjoyed how the "evil" brother's name always started with a "C" (Charles and Cal) like Cain's did, and then how the "good" brother's name always started with an "A" (Adam and Aron).
~Alyssa Bacon
For myself, the most intriguing part of East of Eden was the optomistic message that people are able to choose how they will live their life. Cal constantly worries that he is destined the be evil like his mother, Cathy/Kate. However, like Cain in the story of Cain and Abel, Cal is taught that he has the ability to choose whether he will be an evil person or a good person. Cal was by far the most interesting character in East of Eden because of his constant inner struggle with issues such as his mother, Abra, and his brother.
-Matt Campbell
I found it very interesting that at the beginning, Charles jealousy of his father's love for Adam. Charles tried so hard to win over his father's love, yet Adam really didn't try that hard. Their father still really favored Adam over Charles. Then, it surprised me to see that Charles tried to kill Adam due to his jealousy.
I was wondering why Adam was favored, and why his father still sent him into the military when Adam didn't want to go?
Also, why does Charles doubt the source of his father's income, while Adam doesn't doubt it at all?
~Jenna Williams
In response to Jenna's last question, I think "Charles doubts the source of his father's income, while Adam doesn't doubt it at all" comes down to their different investments in the complex father-son relationship. For Charles to acknowledge that his father was a dishonest cheat means that a god has fallen, because he loved Cyrus so much, despite not be favored. Adam reacts differently. When he finally is told the truth the narration says "In his chest, like beating fists, was a surge of joy. He shook his head almost in disbelief" (66). For Adam, a massive weight was lifted. His father's immorality made him carefree...I think he no longer had anything to live up to, and this released him.
-Ms. Coppens
I really struggled with this book in the beginning. The slow stories that began the book were really hard to get into. As the novel progressed, the plot line really emerged and kind of sucked me in.
I liked the concept of timeshell (I forgot the book, so I may spell that wrong). It stuck out as a major theme for the novel and I loved how Lee figured out that one isn't born evil or good but has the choice to be either. I thought Steinbeck made a very cliche ending by having Adam's last words be "timeshell". I thought Cathy was a great character to portray the devil. Especially since Steinbeck made her a woman, which wasn't what most people think of when they think devil. At least I imagine him being a man. But she was an interesting character to follow but I wish her disturbed personality was explained more in her childhood.
I thought East Of Eden was just another summer reading book and i would just have to read it to read it. But I really enjoyed it.
Sorry that last comment was by Kelsey L. I forgot to sign it.
Before actually beginning reading East of Eden, I was completely intimidated by its length. Six hundred and one pages appeared far too long for me to read, especially over the summer. However, once I finally settled down with it at the start of a long plane ride, I truly began to enjoy it. I feel that the beginning got off to a slow start, however the middle and end of the book was highly enjoyable for me to read. The character's personalities took on new dimensions that portrayed intense human emotion. Perhaps that is what intrigued me most.
My favorite part about reading this book was how quote worthy it was. Although I was required to mark quotes for my quote journal, it did not stop me from appreciating Steinbeck's unique and inspirational writing style. He seems to be able to portray any emotion he chooses... from jealousy, rejection, and evil, all the way to happiness and love. I also enjoyed reading a story that is based upon the themes of the biblical story Cain and Abel. Sometimes the Bible can feel difficult to relate to because often the stories appear too cut and dry. However, the characters of East of Eden, especially Cal and Aron, created a more life like demonstration of such important themes.
--Laura Hundley
I was a little confused at first when the two story lines of the Trask and Hamilton families were introduced. I was glad though that they ended up connecting because it made the story more cohesive.
I enjoyed East of Eden, even more than Steinbeck's other novel Of Mice and Men. I noticed that their writing styles were similar and they had parallel characters.
The majority of the book I hated the character of Cathy. But at the same time, she was the one that made the book intriguing. She caused most of the drama and tension of the Trask family. She also had a negative effect on the Hamilton family. Simply put, she breathed evil.
East of Eden was supposed to be a correlation between the story of Cain and Abel as well as Adam and Eve. While there are direct representations of Cain and Abel, were there any of Adam and Eve?
- Katie Campbell
I loved reading East of Eden! In the beginning it was a bit of a drag but once Cal discovered who his mother was, it was hard for me to put down the book without further thought of what may happen next. My absolutey favorite part of the book was when Lee, Samuel Hamilton, and Adamn Trask were discussing the difference between the last events of the "Cain and Abel" story from the bible. My favorite quote was "...the word timshel-'Thou mayest'-that gives a choice..for if 'Thou mayest'-is it aslo true that 'Thou mayest not.'" (303). This for me summarized the entire basis of every event in this novel. In the story of "Cain and Abel", Cain had the choice whether or not to kill his brother. He didn't have to do commit murder, but he did; just like the choices of all the other Cain and Abel similarities. For instance the childhood of Charlie and Adam. During their young ages, Adam didn't love his father-he more admired him as a person than loved him as a father, while on the other hand Charlie loved his father with all of his heart and would try to impress him enough to love him just as much as he clearly loved Adam. This jealousy is directly related to the one Cain had of Abel. Charlie would beat and once tried to kill Adam. Fortunately, Adam was able to hide from Charlie before he had the chance to kill him. I thought that John Steinbeck did a wonderful job of compairing the story from the bible with his own plot to create a masterpiece.
I just all around found all the twists between the characters intriging, and it was hard for me to put the book down! I would definately say that this is one of my favorite books.
-Krystle Doucette
I was a little at one the length of the book for one thing but that doesn't really matter. Also the first part of the book was spent talking about Samuel and how he got the way he was, and spent a good deal of time talking about the Samuels kids and how they turned out. And they seemed to disappeared from the last part of the book.I was also surprised at how raw the book was as a whole. I was not expecting to read a book where the characters all seemingly die, the amount of prostitution took me by surprise. But it was these things that made the book interesting and some what disturbing to read.
Will
When I first started reading East of Eden, I thought I was going to be bored out of my mind. Between the description of the Salinas Valley and the Hamilton family, I was not sure what to think. As things started to come together, and I learned more about the Trask family, I enjoyed the book more and more. I had a feeling from the start both of the families would come together in the end.
Steinbeck did many interesting things that I enjoyed including his own twist with Abra in the story. I also liked how Steinbeck included his narrative as a primary source because his mother was Olive Hamilton.
Even though I despised Cathy/Kate, I thought she was the most interesting character in the story. She effected many characters in the story, including Adam, and was a great example of evil in Steinbeck's theme of good vs. evil. I thought the way Steinbeck portrayed Kate as a decieving selfish person was interesting. Personally I enjoyed this book, and am hoping to read more Steinbeck classics in the future.
-eric h
I thiknk that Steinback is a very clever author who incorporated a ton of different themes into one novel. His descriptive writing was in depth and I could picture the different places. However, I found the descriptive parts of the book to be less enjoyable than the parts of conversation between the charactors. I found myself trying to see how long it would take until the book would go back to a certain plot line. I particularly enjoyed reading about Cal and Aron because I liked making the connections between the bible stories and this one.
A big part of Cal and Aron's relationship with eachother was the jelousy Cal had for Aron. I feel that Aron got all of the attention from his father because he was so smart but Cal's talents and interests were overlooked. For example Cal was so excited to give Adam all of that money he had earned and Adam barely even thanked him for the thought and the hard work that Cal must have put in to make all of that money. Throughout the book I felt bad for Cal becasue just like in Cain and Abel, Cal was overlooked.
-Lauren Bowker
I thought this book was pretty good. However, the lengthy descriptions of characters and scenery made it pretty heavy for a beach read. The book was very deep and left me with a lot of questions to ponder, even after I read it.
First, I would like to respond to Jenna's question about the discrepancy between the reactions of Adam and Charles upon discovering their father's fortune. I believe that Charles was an innately bad and jealous human being. As such, he believed that his father was capable of theft and other crimes. Because he was able to believe that his father was evil, he was able to see his father in himself. Because his father was demoted from godly status and was more human, Charles was able to love him more because he believed that they had more in common. On the other hand, Adam chooses to believe that his father was truthful because those are the values that Adam himself typically reflected. Adam had much respect for his father and was very loyal. Another sign of Adam's fierce loyalty was his love for Cathy. He chose her over his own brother and continued to love her although she did not feel the same way.
Throughout the novel, I felt just awful for Cathy. I'm not sure if this is how you were supposed to feel about her but I had a hard time buying into her pure evilness. It is hard to believe that somebody could be so rotten by nature.
-Kelley S.
i really enjoyed this novel. my one complaint is that the text is hard to get through--not necessarily difficult to read or understand, but i found it just took me a long time to get through.
however, the entire plot was very intriguing to me. obviously, from the description of the book on the back, or the inside cover, or wherever, it explains to the reader that the two families in the book will eventually meet and become involved, and in the early chapters, i found myself really anticipating how, when and where they were going to meet, and how they were going to become involved.
also fascinating was the biblical subtext throughout the book, especially the story of Cain and Abel and how it manifests not once, but twice, first in Adam and Charles and then in Aron and Cal. out of those two relationships i found the one between Aron and Cal to be most interesting because of Cal's remorse at playing the figurative "Cain".
Lee's entire explanation of "timshel", or "thou mayest", was really thought-provoking. the concept that one has a choice to overcome sin is intriguing in itself--and is also a huge part of the book. it is Lee's explanation that convinces Cal to try to overcome the evil's of his past.
Jill Pellegrini
I thought that this novel was a surprisingly good read. The length of the book didn't make me to enthusiastic about it in the beginning, but it was worth it in the end. It was interesting how Steinbeck developed his characters throughout the book and when I read books, there is always a character that makes me very angry; in this book it was Cathy/Kate. Her personailty was just evil and when she first showed up on Adam and Charles doorstep, the two guys did not know what they were getting themselves into. I felt especially bad for Adam because he literally became addicted to her and she just ended up shooting him and leaving. It made me mad that no one told Adam about her and her past life...but i guess that's just part of reading books and it only made me want to read further.
Also, the constant jealously between Cal and Aron was interesting to follow and it seemed similar to Adam and Charles's relationship in the beginning of the book. I also thought that Adam and his father, Cyrus, were similar in that they both favored one son over the other.
I wish that the Hamilton family stayed involved longer because they were an interesting group of people. A lot of them did die, but if Steinbeck kept them involved then maybe the book would have had a different direction to it...
Overall, I would definitely recommend others to read East of Eden.
~Maryam S
Well first off, I’m sorry Ms.Coppens but I wouldn’t say this book was Amazing, but it wasn’t bad to say the least. Along with what Laura said along with some other students, when I first took a glance at this what looked like a never ending book I was overwhelmed and was not eager what so ever to start this journey which seemed like it would take forever.
What I really enjoyed about east of Eden was the comparisons to good and evil. I love reading about how you aren’t born evil but certain actions and decisions as you grow up can point you in different directions some for good or some for bad.
I was more interested in the evil like how Cathy/Kate when she was young murdered her parents. Use of drugs frequently, and how she goes to a life of prostitution. This part was very interesting to me and this is what I think got me through the book.
Overall it was a good summer reading book, hard a times to understand of comprehend but very eye catching at times.
- Kristen S
After reading the responses so far, another thing I've started thinking about is the deaths, both literal and metaphorical. This book has so much to do with generations, blood lines, and inherance vs. personal empowerment. Of course, many people die, but think about the many metaphorical deaths (and a few rebirths): Abra's need to "kill" the false goddess that Aron has created of her, Cathy killing Adam's spirit, Cathy/Kate being killed by Aron's reaction and her subsequent realization that she has less not more than other humans, Lee letting his stereotypical mask die, Aron being forced to acknowledge the truth of his mother leading to his decision to abandon his life as he knew it...
Like many of the other commenters, I believe East of Eden was a surprisingly good book. Full of deception and lies, our main character is completely different from those of other books. Cathy almost had this inhuman personality, for she had no conscience, no care for others, and no heart. I believe this is what so many of us enjoyed about this book: the way Cathy completely manipulates everyone she meets so easily it become habit.
Steinbeck's writing style completes the quirkiness of the story outline. His references to biblical texts and relations through characters is what keeps people interested. From Cain and Abel to Cal and Aron, these brothers are similiar with no only the first letters of their names but their personalities, words spoken, and events as well.
Although Cathy seems to be the most popular character in this story, I enjoyed reading about Cal. He has an innumerable amount of personalites, ranging from random jealously towards his brother, so much so he almost kills him, to helping Aron raise money for college. As well as his pure intention to keep his brother safe from knowing about their mother to later introducing him to her. Cal can be the sweetest character, the most jealous, the angriest or the best-intentioned all in one chapter, and that's why I found him so fascinating.
As odd as this book is, it's definately one of the most intriguing books.
Gwendolyn Ngai
Post a Comment