Social Criticism Of John Steinbeck's East Of Eden

Family is Family

John Steinbeck states, “Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen” (Steinbeck). This statement works because it is showing his determination and that he can do small things and make them great. Steinbeck’s writings are often depressing and may not come with a good outcome. The Depression era of literature was often blunt and direct in its social criticism, this lasted roughly between 1929 to 1939. Steinbeck’s writing is taking place around/ during The Great Depression, and so most of his writing is depressing and blunt like was stated earlier about this writing era. He is an inspired writer who bases most everything off first hand, and likes to have a relationship

John Steinbeck said himself that this was going to be “The book” (Steinbeck). The critic states that it is “clumsy in structure and defaced by excessive melodramatics and cheap sensationalism though East of Eden on the whole successful effort to grapple with a major theme” (Critical). They think Steinbeck is a moralist. His portrayal of good and evil are oversimplified and exaggerated. The critic also says although it has compositional failings, the novel does continue to affect people today. In 1952, New York Times said, East of Eden is a “strange work of art” (“Steinbeck”). However, the storyline is great, although some may disagree. It is kind of out there, but still good. It does have a point and it is family. If Cathy would have remained with her boys, there would have been no storyline at all. Stay with your family. Yes, it is blunt and depressing, but that is how the writing era was. A few quotes to support these statements are, “Some of our guilt is absorbed in our ancestry. What chance did we have? We are children of our father” (Steinbeck). This theme is based on the Bible’s theme of Cain and Abel. In it, the character, Cal, asks the Lord to “let me be like Aron. Don’t make me mean. I don’t want to” (Steinbeck). If Cathy would have stayed, she could have gained more love for the boys and helped Cal through his trials. Also, if the housekeeper would have told the