East of Eden: Chapters 1-9

1. East of Eden: Chapters 1-9 Jen Andre Katelyn Cannarozzi Kevin Conklyn

2. Do Now: Complete the "Contrasts in Brothers" worksheet. Can you think of any similarities between Adam and Charles?

3. Vocabulary • Niggardly (page 40) - grudgingly mean about spending or granting; stingy • This word is not often used today due to its similarity to the slur, “nigger”. However, the two words are not actually etymologically related. • Theosophy (page 15) - religious philosophy; teaching about God and the world based on mystical insight • Could be an interesting topic for the Philosophy of Life paper to discuss how religious beliefs influence personal philosophy. • Inimical (page 35) - adverse in tendency or effect; unfriendly; hostile. • Thousands of actions that occur around the world today are considered inimical, such as terrorist bombings.

4. Vocabulary • Pernicious (page 38) - causing insidious harm or ruin; deadly; fatal • Many terrorist groups commit pernicious acts of violence such as the bombing in Boston. • Ubiquitous - (page 17) - present, appearing, or found everywhere • It's describing a presence of being everywhere at the same time; like an influence.

5. Allegorical Connections

6. Story of Cain and Abel • Sons of Adam and Eve • Cain = farmer, Abel = shepherd • Both present gifts to God, who greatly favors Abel's gift • Cain murders Abel out of jealousy • God's punishment for Cain: • Cursed to live as a "fugitive and vagabond" • Sent to live in the land of Nod, which is east of Eden • Given a "mark" that would prevent others from killing him • forced to live out his life with guilt and unfruitful work Bible.com, Genesis 4.1-16

7. Cain and Abel Video http://www.60secondrecap.com/library/east-of-eden/3/

8. Cain & Abel = Charles & Adam • Similarities • Brothers - Sibling rivalry • Give gifts to "father" • What were the two gifts given to Cyrus? • "Father" favors Abel/Adam • Cain/Charles are jealous and attack their brother • Charles later gets a "mark of Cain" on his forehead • Differences • Charles does not kill Adam as Cain killed Abel • God sent Cain to wander the Earth, but in the novel it is Adam who wanders • Where have we seen this kind of father-son favoritism before?

9. Biblical Names • Names that start with C • Characters similar to Cain - Cathy, Charles, Cyrus • Evil, dishonest, mean, sinful • Names that start with A • Characters similar to Abel - Adam, Alice • Good, kind, gentle • Adam - Hebrew for "Man" • The first human; tempted by Eve in the Garden of Eden • Will we see Adam take on a more biblical "Adam" role? • Samuel - Hebrew for "God has heard" • Leader of Israel, well known prophet • Samuel Hamilton - kind, selfless, intelligent leader of Hamilton family • Will we see Samuel take on a "prophetic" role? (Barnett)

10. "East of Eden" • Adam and Eve were kicked out of Eden for disobeying God and creating Original Sin • God sent Cain to wander "east of Eden" in the land of Nod • Land of Nod = Salinas Valley • Land outside of Eden is full of good, evil, sin, and temptation • Characters must live their lives with these forces around them and must make the right choices (Genesis 3.1-19) (Genesis 4.1-16)

11. Cathy • Cathy as Eve • Introduces evil into the world • Sinfulness • Important difference between Cathy & Eve • Eve was tricked into committing sin by the snake in the Garden of Eden • Cathy freely chooses to be evil and commit sins • Cathy as the Devil • No conscience; tempts others to sin • Lacks an essential human quality • Cathy as Lilith of Jewish Myth • First wife of Adam who refused to be subservient • Cathy does not place herself below anyone (Pelaia).

12. Cathy • "Moral Monster" • "I believe there are monsters born in the world to human parents...The face and body may be perfect, but if a twisted gene or a malformed egg can produce physical monsters, may not the same process produce a malformed soul" (Steinbeck 72). • EVIL • Kills parents • Lies all the time • Manipulates Mr. Edwards

13. Themes & Symbols

14. Theme: Good vs. Evil • HUGE theme in the novel! • Right vs. Wrong, Light vs. Dark, Truth vs. Dishonesty • Steinbeck wanted to teach his sons about their family and about right and wrong • Can be personal or interpersonal struggle • Examples • Charles vs. Adam • Cyrus vs. Alice • Dishonest Cyrus - stolen fortune • Evil, manipulative Cathy • Good, kindhearted Samuel • What are some other examples? (Shillinglaw)

15. Symbol: The Salinas Valley • Symbolizes land "East of Eden" - Land of Nod • Full of evil, sin, and temptation • Humans must make the right choices to overcome evil and original sin • Physical symbol of Good vs. Evil • Gabilan Mountains - bright, sunny, happy • Santa Lucia Mountains - dark, and brooding • Light vs. Dark, Good vs. Evil • Video • http://www.60secondrecap.com/library/east-of-eden/10/ ("East of Eden: Metaphor Analysis")

17. Theme: Inheritance and Fortune • Inheritance = Symbol of Original Sin • Suspicious Trask fortune, apparently earned by Cyrus in a dishonest manner • Original sin - Inherent sin passed down to all humans due to Adam and Eve's wrongful actions in the Garden of Eden • The dishonest fortune that Cyrus made is literally passed down to his sons like an "original sin" • Humans must bear the burden of original sin, and the Trasks must bear the burden of this fortune ("East of Eden - Steinbeck")

18. Theme: Family • Different types of families • Hamiltons • Loving, honest, selfless, though never truly wealthy • Trasks • Full of conflict, tension, rejection, abandonment, and yet they become wealthy • Characteristics of these families will likely affect future events in the novel • Why does Steinbeck place himself as the narrator? • Video: http://www.60secondrecap.com/library/east-of-eden/5/

19. Theme: Loneliness/Isolation • Charles lives by himself on the farm • Lives in the shed • Not visited by anyone • Rarely goes into town • Adam fears loneliness and craves human connection • Used to the feeling of being surrounded in foxhole during war • Goes to bar to feel comforted by human presence • "One evening he felt a crippling loneliness for the close men in barracks and tent. His impulse was to rush into a crowd for warmth, any crowd. The first crowded place he could find was a little bar" (Steinbeck 48). • Cyrus is always on the move, has no "home"

20. Theme: Rejection • Charles was rejected by Adam when Adam was supposed to visit him • Cyrus rejected Charles by favoring Adam over him (as seen with the gift-giving) • Alice rejects Adam as the 'gift-giver' by assuming it was Charles ("East of Eden: Metaphor Analysis")

21. Symbol: Charles's Scar • Charles gets injured while trying to move rocks with a crowbar • "I don't know why it bothers me. I got plenty other scars. It just seems like I was marked. And when I go into town, like to the inn, why, people are always looking at it" (Steinbeck 47). • Scar = mark of Cain • Punishment for his treatment of Adam just as God punished Cain • Charles is ashamed, rarely goes into town • The scar serves to separate Charles from society just as God sent Cain to wander the land (Barnett)

22. Archetypes

23. The Hero • Adam • Generally good character that the reader can sympathize with • Very likeable • Goes on a quest in the Cavalry (even though he does not want to) • Continues quest as a wanderer • Later sticks up for Cyrus (says he believes the fortune was earned honestly) despite admitting that he never loved him

24. The Loner / Outcast • Charles • Left on the farm alone, without his family • Not truly loved by his father • Voluntarily leaves society • Feels like he does not fit in • Gets weird looks due to his scar • Spends most of his time on the farm • Adam • Has nowhere to go after the Army for a brief period • Becomes a vagabond, drifting from place to place • Does not want to return home • Does not really belong anywhere

25. The Villain / Temptress • Cathy • Truly evil to the core • Easy to hate • Evil for the sake of being evil • Temptation - like the Devil • Appealing and tempting on the outside, but her soul is truly malicious • She is cunning, clever, and meticulous in her actions • Do you think she has any redeeming qualities?

26. Caught in the Middle? • Charles - is he truly a "villain"? • He does do bad things, but it is quite easy to sympathize with him • Relatable - easy to understand sibling rivalry and jealousy due to parental favoritism • Very violent - Cyrus does not want Charles to join Army b/c it will bring out his worst nature • He has many recurring internal conflicts • Still bitter about the gift issue • Wonders if he truly loves his dad • What are some redeeming qualities that keep Charles from being truly "evil"?

27. Redeeming Qualities... • "He protected Adam from his father's harshness with lies and even with blame-taking. Charles felt for his brother the affection one has for helpless things, for blind puppies and new babies" (Steinbeck 20). • Continued to send letters to Adam • Truly missed having Adam around

28. Weak/Obedient Women • Most women in the novel fit this archetype • Liza Hamilton, Mrs. Trask, Alice Trask • All are obedient, dutiful, and quiet • Talented wives and mothers • Cathy Ames breaks this mold • Only woman who is not obedient to a man • She makes her own decisions and chooses her own actions • This shows similarity to Lilith - unwilling to be subservient to man

29. The Quest • "The Quest" is a journey usually taken by the "Hero" to somehow find himself • Adam's Quest • Joins the Cavalry, but never really fits in due to his peaceful nature • Leaves and becomes a drifter • Needs to find himself and where he belongs • Eventually makes the decision to head back home • His quest will continue! • Charles and Adam's Quest • To find out where their inheritance really came from • Will this play a large part in the next chapters of the novel?

30. Conflicts

31. Good vs. Evil • Continuously repeats itself • Good "A" people vs. Bad "C" people • Good people vs. sin • Sin in the form of emotions - jealousy • Sin in actions - accepting a dishonest fortune • Do you think that any of the characters are truly inherently good or evil? For example, is Cathy evil to the core? Or can she display goodness, but instead actively chooses to be evil?

32. Man vs. Himself • Many of the characters struggle internally • Mrs. Trask struggles to reconcile suicide and her religion • Adam struggles to return home and leave his wandering life • Charles struggles with jealousy and tries to truly love his brother and father

33. Sibling Rivalry • Progresses over time • Childhood - worst • Charles is bigger, more violent, more moody • Jealousy leads to violent conflict • Young Adulthood - somewhat better • Distance helps them • Many letters, Charles even wishes for Adam to return • Adam and Charles are _______ - they are very different and highlight certain qualities in each other.

34. Sibling Rivalry • Adam's return - strained, but calm • Adam does not want to return home because of his bad past • The brothers disagree over the issue of the dishonest fortune • Adam no longer feels threatened because the jealousy is gone "Adam knew that his brother was no longer dangerous. There was no jealousy to drive him. The whole weight of his father was on him, but it was his father and no one could take his father away from him" (Steinbeck 70).

35. Conflict Examples • Adam decides to enlist in the army • Shows conflict throughout society as they were at war with Indians • Cyrus and Adam • Argue on where and what Adam should do with his military career • Adam and Charles • Become distant and irritated by each other's actions • Charles is jealous of Adam • Mrs. Trask has conflict with her religion • cannot reconcile suicide with her theosophy • Internal struggle within Adam and Charles • Unsure of how Cyrus earned money

36. Final Conflict • Final conflict between Mr. Edwards and Cathy • Tries to kill her, but leaves her unconscious and broken • She crawls up to the door of a house • Do you have any predictions? "Wanting to live forced her to drag herself along the dark road, looking for help. She turned in at a gate and almost made the steps of the house before she fainted. The roosters were crowing in the chickenhouse and a gray rim of dawn lay on the east" (Steinbeck 99).

37. Works Cited Barnett, Dana. "Sibling Rivalry: Biblical Echoes in John Steinbeck's East of Eden." Yahoo! Voices. Yahoo! Inc., 24 July 2007. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. Bible.com. LifeChurch.tv, 2013. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. "East of Eden: Metaphor Analysis." Novelguide. 2013. Web. 28 Apr. 2013. "Inimical." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, 2013. Web. 01 May 2013. "Niggardly." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2013. Web. 28 April 2013. Pelaia, Ariela. "Where Does the Legend of Lilith Come From?" About.com. About.com, 2013. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. "Pernicious." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, 2013. Web. 01 May 2013. Shillinglaw, Susan. "Writing East of Eden." Oprah.com. Harpo Productions, Inc., 18 June 2003. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. Steinbeck, John. East of Eden. New York: Penguin Classics, 1992. Print. "Theosophy." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2013. Web. 28 April 2013. "Ubiquitous." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, 2013. Web. 01 May 2013.