Books I Want To Talk About discussion

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East of Eden
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Sarah
(last edited Jan 24, 2008 05:54PM)
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Jan 23, 2008 10:16PM

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I just posted some discussion questions I found in various places on the internet. But feel free to talk about any aspect of this book!
I think there are many, many references to Cain and Abel specifically. There are a few other Genesis references I believe, but it's mainly Cain and Abel. I'll address these parallels in a different thread to avoid spoilers here.

I've always heard that East of Eden is a quasi-biography of Steinbeck's family. Can anyone verify that?
I also agree that there are some serious Cain and Abel issues in this book. But, it seems to be a theme in most of Steinbeck's works. If you read 'The Grapes of Wrath' with an eye to it, you will discover all sorts of thinly veiled biblical references. Maybe something Steinbeck was trying to work out through his writing...
Jen, that is true. Samuel Hamilton was the name of Steinbeck's grandfather. His mother was Olive Hamilton, who married John Ernst Steinbeck Sr. Olive and "Ernest" appear in chapter 31 as "the narrator's" parents.

I see lots of veiled biblical references in Steinbecks work as well, and like Jen wonder if he was trying to work things out through his writing. In some ways I think that's a real purpose of writing, trying to work things out in our minds.
I believe that religion was one of Steinbeck's many interests. He studied all kinds of things, the Bible, marine biology, mythology, and politics.


I was curious. I'm finding that although Cal is suppose to be the unloveable twin I think he is much more likeable. I'm having trouble liking Aron. I know part of this is due to Steinbeck but, it is a curious to note how the darker characters can be the more intresting ones.

I also like it that Cal is willingly to face the hard truths while Aron runs away from them. In a way Aron is like Raoul in The Man in the Iron Mask trilogy. So good but, also so weak that they end up chew up by the world without making a stand in their own defense. Having have to be a fighter I find this character hard to take.
Cal has what it takes to survive in the world. Aron does not. From Cal you can learn to survive. That is why I perfer Cal and find it hard to like Aron.
I think that is the central theme of the novel: that Aron gets all the love and Cal gets none, and it does such a beautiful job of examining how one might turn out if they never received any affection.

Another question. In chapter 34 on page 372 Steinbeck describes three men. I was trying to figure out who they could be. I think the frist might be Andrew Cargine (the library bulider), the second J Edgar Hoover, and the thrid FDR or maybe Lincoln. Then again maybe they are not real people. Any opinons?

I need to go to sleep, but I will be checking in to read and to respond to this thread soon.

