John Steinbecks East of Eden - A Study in Human Development Essay

East of Eden A study in human development The characteristics of people are create by multiple factors. In many situations, children are raised under similar conditions, however, their later characteristics and life choices are very different. In the book, East of Eden, source can Steinbeck explores the development of humans, from childhood, to adulthood, and eventually, to death. East of Eden, by John Steinbeck, is a genealogical novel about the lives of the Trasks, particularly the main character in the book, Adam Trask. on the way, the Hamiltons, Ames, and many other characters are introduced. Steinbeck makes a point of showing the continually changing nature of some characters, while describing the ceaseless staticness of others. In East of Eden, John Steinbeck presents his views on the construction of human behavior and the components that are incorporated in it. Setting is an important element in East of Eden. Described are beautiful, panoramical views of the border lands capes of the Salinas Valley, California. The Salinas Valley . . . is a swale between two ranges of mountains. . . . . On the wide level acres of the valley, the topsoil lays deep and fertile. . . . . Under the live oaks, shaded and dusky, the maidenhair flourished and gave a trusty smell, and under the mossy banks of the watercourses whole clumps of five-fingered ferns and goldy-backs hung down (Steinbeck p. 480). Steinbeck then goes on to describe the human history of these areas. The groups of peoples that lived thither are described in sweeping generalizations. send-off there were Indians, an inferior breed without energy, inventiveness, or culture . . . their warfare was a weary pantomime. Then the hard, dry Spaniards came explor... ...dies the original Hebrew text and finds that the verb used there is timshel. Timshels literal English translation is thou mayest. During the course of the book, Steinbeck transforms the word into a metaphor for a style of living. It comes to de scribe the freedom of choice in ones life. Steinbeck recognizes the fact that ones environment can affect them. However, he also recognizes one can work with what they are given and make the outdo of it. Steinbeck best sums up these views in a dialog between Samuel and Adam. You cant make a racehorse of a pig, said Adam. No, said Samuel, and you can make a very fast pig (659). Works CitedSteinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath, The Moon is Down, Cannery Row, East of Eden, Of Mice and Men. New York Heinemann/Octopus, 1979. pp.475 - 896. Steinbeck, John. East of Eden. New York Viking, 1952.