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The Role Of The Trask Family In John Steinbeck's East Of Eden

710 Words3 Pages

In East of Eden, by John Steinbeck, the majority of the story focuses on the Trask family. Steinbeck writes about the problems that arise in the Trask family, such as Adam’s problems with Cathy. Besides the Trask family, there is the Hamilton family that is close with the Trasks. In a way, the Hamiltons are the complete opposite from the Trasks. In the novel, the role of the Hamiltons is to be an opposing force that is an outlet of goodness and refuge for the Trasks, especially Adam. A member of the Hamilton family narrates the story, which gives a view of how the Trasks are viewed and how the Hamilton family functions. By giving these two different views, readers can compare and contrast the two families. The Hamiltons are a family full of happiness and kindness. …show more content…

He is attached to her and has not let her go. Samuel debates on whether to tell him the truth about Cathy and says, “‘If I had a medicine that might cure you and also might kill you, should I give it to you? Inspect yourself, man’”(1930-1931). Here, Samuel is unsure on how Adam will react to the news about Cathy. The news could open Adam’s eyes and improve his life, or it could poison him and make the situation with Cathy worse. Adam does get over Cathy and he says, “‘I seemed to come out of a sleep, ” said Adam. “In some strange way my eyes have cleared. A weight is off me’”(2091). As a result of Samuel’s “medicine” Adam is now seeing the world differently. Because of Samuel’s doings, he is a representation of a Christ-figure in this novel. Just like Jesus in the Bible, Samuel opens Adam’s eyes and spreads love and goodness. Even though Samuel helps Adam, people around town still talk about Adam’s problems. For example, Abra talks about Cal and Aron’s mother. Since the narrator is a Hamilton, readers get an insight of the talk that goes around town about the

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