Tuesday Tidbit: East of Eden by John Steinbeck
East of Eden is a classic by John Steinbeck that I would highly recommend because of its character development and exciting plot.
By Emma Bartley
“And this I believe: that 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.”
East of Eden is set around the turn of the 20th century and focuses on the lives of two different families: the Hamiltons and the Trasks.
The Hamiltons are a large family with nine children on one farm. The children in the family lead very different lives and have very different personalities that compare and contrast to each other. One of my favorites in the family is the father, Samuel, who is known for his insightful wisdom and true happiness and joy. Samuel was a very funny character that always brightened the mood of the story.
“We have only one story. All novels, all poetry, are built on the never-ending contest in ourselves of good and evil. And it occurs to me that evil must constantly respawn, while good, while virtue, is immortal.”
The Trasks had two boys: Adam and Charles. Their story is very similar to the story of Cain and Abel; similarly, the characters with the letter C at the beginning of their name are “evil,” while those whose name starts with A are “good.” The story continues to follow Adam’s life very closely.
I would highly recommend this book because of how exciting it is. Although a few of the chapters can be a bit boring and too descriptive, most of the 600 page novel is fast-paced and leaves you wanting to turn the page. The book is filled with murder, deaths, family problems, and so much more. I could not stop reading it!
“Monsters are variations from the accepted normal to a greater or a less degree. As a child may be born without an arm, so one may be born without kindness or the potential of conscience.”
I also loved East of Eden because of the characters. Each character is so developed and complex, and they each seem very relatable. Although it is implied which characters are good and evil, you are truly free to decide who is good and who is bad. This book helped me to realize the complexity of people and how hard it is to label someone as one or the other.
This book also has so many amazing lessons to learn from it. Lee is a character in the novel and probably one of my favorites. He is a very wise man that continually blew my mind with how he thinks. He taught me so much about choice and living your life to the fullest, and I felt like the book left a lasting impression on me, especially because of him.
“But the Hebrew word, the word timshel—’Thou mayest’—that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if “Thou mayest’—it is also true that ‘Thou mayest not.'”
If you are looking for a complex story with dynamic characters and lots of action, I would recommend East of Eden! It is my favorite classic that I have ever read.