Biblical Allusions In John Steinbeck's East Of Eden

In John Steinbeck’s novel, East of Eden, the author explores mankind’s endeavor to overcome internal and worldly evil by utilizing biblical allusions and circular prose. One can infer that the novel is a great biblical allusion with the story of Cain and Abel from the Book of Genesis being a reoccurring insinuation. Steinbeck applies these biblical allusions to specify the moral and immoral characters in his novel. For example, Charles Trask receives a “long and crinkled scar” on his forehead that “turns dark brown” while he is filled with a malevolent rage (46). Later on in the story, Cathy Ames is also marked with a scar during a grisly altercation with the pimp she was exploiting. Both characters are self-conscious about their marks with Charles feeling “a shame for his scar” and Cathy being afraid that her “scar […] isn’t going to go

The reader can infer that Aron has inherited Adam’s righteousness and innocence. However, Aron’s sheltered environment molds his identity into one that highly sensitive to morality and easily aggrieved. For example, even after Caleb discovers that their mother is still alive, he tells Aron that their “Father is going to send a wreath to [their mother’s]” grave (377). With the notion that his mother died and that his father never lies, Aron struggles to grow mentally. He surrounds himself in a childish, ideal world where there is no evil and all is pure. This viewpoint becomes disastrous when the ugliness of the real world seeps into Aron’s life, such as Adam’s failed business attempt, and the realization that his mother is not only alive but is a prostitute. Aron becomes distraught because, not only is his mother alive and committing immoral acts, his father is a liar. When faced with the evilness of the world, Aron is unable to cope and make sane decisions, because his entire world and identity is a