ipl-logo

The Relationship Between Good And Evil In John Steinbeck's East Of Eden

1744 Words7 Pages

How can two people be so different, yet so alike? It is possible, with Cathy and Cal at least. In East of Eden by John Steinbeck, the author presents multiple stories within one about the relationship between good and evil. The author intends to have an effect on the readers as they process the story by altering, through rhetorical strategies, the perception of the characters, more specifically Cathy Ames and Cal Trask. Steinbeck’s purpose was to demonstrate how doubles are possible in the same person, and if people are opposite, they will attract and pass on their good or evil qualities with each other. Also, the author suggests that good cannot exist without evil because there would be no spectrum of one’s personality. Caleb Trask is a risky guy, but through John Steinbeck’s use of Genesis, positive connotations, and diction surrounding his name, readers already have an image of him being a weak, pure, and too contrasting to other …show more content…

John Steinbeck creates an illusion in these two characters, and because they are so alike, his writing affects the reader’s perception of Cal and Cathy. This is mainly through diction, connotations, and parallelism because they really showcase how double-sided people can be. All of the characters in East of Eden have direct and hidden personalities, so if Steinbeck didn’t include the rhetorical strategies used to create his manipulative tactics, everyone would be seen as their essentially true self. He convinces the readers that his knowledge of the characters plays to his advantage because he can just casually insert a certain type of connotational word to shift the reader’s attention from what the character is actually doing to how it contributes to them being good or evil. So is it resemblance or

Show More
Related
147 Words | 1 Pages

In the novel “East ofela Eden,” the author John Steinbeck uses a biblical reference forshadowing the fate of each charicter. Notably, the reacurring names that starts with “A” and “C”, referring to Cain and Abel from the bible, the sons of Adam and Eve. Additionallt, Cain out of spite kills Abel because God accepts Abel’s offering rather than Cains. In the novel the charicters who are sinful have names that begin with C-Caleb, Cathy, Charles, and Cyrus and the “good” charicaters have names start start with A such as Adam, Aron, and Abra. Furthermore the relationship bewteen Cain and Abel is quite similar to Charles and Adam becuase Charles once tries to kill Adam.

Read More
2078 Words | 9 Pages

In the novel, East of Eden by John Steinbeck, rhetorical devices are used to illustrate the characters throughout the book to be either be good or evil by the usage of diction, connotation and denotation as well as other rhetorical devices. By using rhetorical devices it allows the audience to gain a better deeper comprehension of the book. The rhetorical devices allow Steinbeck to describe the characteristics of each character to define them as either good or evil which allows the reader to analyze the parallels between one another. In addition, rhetorical devices for example metaphor, tone, diction, simile, imagery, analogy, allegory, and paradox contribute to the author’s style which creates an image for readers to comprehend. Steinbeck uses word choice, tone, anaphora to highlight the juxtaposition between Cathy Ames and Abra Bacon to illustrate how evil and goodness change the perspective about their inherent point.

Read More
932 Words | 4 Pages

It is far better to know, to see than to be blind. Yet, ignorance is bliss right? In East of Eden, John Steinbeck explores the attributes that result from personal blindness, compared to personal awareness. Written in 1951, East of Eden is jam packed with examples of these two conditions. However, none illustrated in more depth than in the characters of Cal and Aron.

Read More
471 Words | 2 Pages

Even though she is depicted as a murderous monster who worked to destroy her own children through abortion and the revelation of her true identity to Aron, in reality, Cathy solely worked against what she didn’t understand –goodness. This highlights how Cathy also followed the idea of timshel, but she could only follow what she knew –human nature. Not only did Cathy serve as the novel’s main adversary Steinbeck utilizes the evil within her to show how evil could be defeated by goodness. Opposing viewpoints state East of Eden contains underdeveloped, stereotypical female characters argue that Steinbeck categorizes women into two, extreme types: caring mother or heinous villains.

Read More
529 Words | 3 Pages

In East of Eden Steinbeck turns back to the ideals of the bible through some of his characters. A Lot of the bible ideas come with Adam Trask and the timshel he carries throughout the story. Adam's virtue comes into to help free his son Cal. In the story the Men view themselves as part of the natural world. Cal, felt since his mother was bad he had to follow her steps.

Read More
631 Words | 3 Pages

Daniel Moreland Mrs. Miller AP Literature I attest that the following work is solely my own, and that I have not borrowed, copied, cheated, or plagiarized. East of Eden Character Analysis: In John Steinbeck’s novel, East of Eden, many characters are used and developed throughout the story. Similar to the plot, many characters fall into similarity with biblical characters. Catherine Ames is a main character who is considered to be evil and shows similarities to the Serpent from the book of Genesis and Satan himself.

Read More
905 Words | 4 Pages

East of Eden, by John Steinbeck, reflects the complexities in father/son relationships. The connection between a father and his son is vital to their development. The novel explores the impact of these relations is immense. The central allusion of the novel is comparing several characters to Cain and Abel, who were formed through their attempted relationship with their father-like figure, God. They struggled and vied for the attention, love, and respect of God, which subconsciously influenced their actions and thoughts.

Read More
999 Words | 4 Pages

East of Eden is considered by its author, John Steinbeck, as his masterpiece, a culmination of all his previous writings. The novel details the lives and interactions of the members of two families: the Trasks and the Hamiltons. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck uses characters and setting to convey the theme of good versus evil. In John Steinbeck: An Introduction and Interpretation, Fontenrose argues that the reader of East of Eden is “never clear about the relation of good to evil in this novel” (Fontenrose) because the theme of good and evil is presented inconsistently. Fontenrose is correct in his assertion that good and evil are not portrayed consistently in East of Eden, but Steinbeck’s purpose for this inconsistent presentation is to

Read More
1402 Words | 6 Pages

“The line between good and evil is permeable and almost anyone can be induced to cross it when pressured by situational forces.” (Phillip Zombardo) William Golding, the author of a well known book, “Lord of the Flies”, beliefs what Phillip Zombardo said about good and evil. According to the book he wrote, he thinks that humans can very easily cross the line between good and evil.

Read More
835 Words | 4 Pages

Once upon a time, there were a set of twins born into a corrupt household. One of the twins was secretly jealous of the other, which resulted him taking his own brother’s life. This tragedy occurs in the novel, East of Eden, written by John Steinbeck. East of Eden is about several families being brought together and having love-hate relationships. The characters in the novel are separated into two different name groups, C and A.

Read More
373 Words | 2 Pages

The setting of the movie in a classic suburban community around the 1950’s. The community aims for perfection in a way, that nothing odd is okay. That is why the mansion, where Edward Scissorhands has got residence, is a spot of dirt of the picture of perfection the community is trying to show. The color scheme makes the good versus evil theme very clear in the movie, in the way there is a clear contrast between good and evil. For example, the ‘good’ of the movie is shown, when we see the colors of the characters and the surrounding area.

Read More
653 Words | 3 Pages

John Steinbeck’s renown allegory East of Eden explores the characteristics of human nature, including the potent principle of free will. Steinbeck’s use of rhetorical strategies throughout the passage enables him to illustrate his message, emphasizing the significance of creativity in the essence of humanity and the threats against it. Steinbeck utilizes various elements of vivid language, rhetorical appeal, and style to elucidate his argument, urging individuals to fight for their free will and to assert their individuality. Steinbeck’s use of metaphor in the first paragraph depicts the extent of the significance of free will through his vivid comparison of individuality to the “glory [that] lights up the mind of a man.” (Steinbeck 1)

Read More
248 Words | 1 Pages

To give one’s evil side continuing hold indicates that there is a possibility the person in question would continue to make poor choices inasmuch as he feels he is limited to the label of evil awarded to him. In other words, forgiveness should be granted to a sinner in order to give him the opportunity to change, to ensure his wellbeing in the future. What if, however, the deed has been so enmeshed in the past that the future has already been altered forever? What if the situation has reached beyond the point of repair? The Jewish nation could have progressed into something so much bigger and greater had these families not been eradicated.

Read More
1036 Words | 5 Pages

In the fifth century BC, Gautama Buddha quoted that, “It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.” Two and a half thousand years later, humanity still is still faced with its own evil. Buddha was correct in his monitions for mankind because he knew that evil is always set in motion by human nature. In the novels, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Animal Farm by George Orwell, and Night by Elie Wiesel, authors reveal humanity’s true evils through literary devices such as characterization, psychology, and setting, to connect to the darkness that is present in the real world.

Read More
1515 Words | 7 Pages

“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). John Steinbeck’s work, East of Eden, is the one he considered to be his greatest, with all novels before leading up to it. Indeed, it grandly recounts the stories of the human race as told by the Bible, including Adam and Eve, but most prominently that of Cain and Abel. It touches upon both Steinbeck’s own family and a fictional family in a depiction of “man 's capacity for both good and evil” (Fontenrose). Joseph Fontenrose, however, criticizes Steinbeck’s message as contradictory and convoluted, with no clear relationship between good and evil.

Read More

More about The Relationship Between Good And Evil In John Steinbeck's East Of Eden

Related Topics

Open Document