The Character of Caleb Trask in East of Eden
Cal Trask is one of the most complex characters in John Steinbeck's East of Eden. Through Cal's childhood experiences, his personal motives, and his internal conflict, Steinbeck shows the development of Cal's character.
First of all, the most important childhood experience which affects Cal's life is Adam's 12 year abandonment of his sons. Since Cathy ran away, the twins have no mother figure to give them tenderness as they grow up. This absence of open affection leaves Cal unable to express his needs for love and attention. Only Lee, the Chinese servant, is there to guide Cal and Aron. Since Cal is the more dominant of the two brothers, he learns to manipulate Aron and others around him. He takes this role because, while "no one liked Cal very much... Aron drew love from every side"(Steinbeck 551). Lee observes that "he's [Cal] fighting for his life and his brother doesn't have to fight [for his father's love and affection]"(386).
Cal's well-intentioned motives are mostly aimed at winning his father's love. He sacrifices his pride and asks Will Hamilton to help him raise money to replace the money Adam lost in the lettuce adventure. When Adam rejects the money, he in effect rejects Cal, which is "brutal, and unfeeling, and this after he had begun a cordial relationship with his son"(Fontenrose 375). Cal is so distraught that he lashes out at Aron, his father's favorite son, by telling him the truth about their mother. This act is a contrast to a similar crossroad earlier in the novel when Cal doesn't tell Aron the truth about his mother because "he didn't think Aron could handle it at all" (586). Cal also withholds the information in an effort to be "good," and because Cal knows that the revelation of his knowledge of this secret would bring pain to Adam, the man he loves the most.
Finally, Cal is faced with his internal struggle of good versus evil. This struggle is partly caused by his traumatic child experiences. He struggles with the question of whether his evil actions are the result of his own evilness or his mother's wickedness. He tries to combat this wickedness that he sees within himself by trying to acquire affection, especially his father's, through good deeds and being more pleasant towards other. However, he strikes out at others whenever he feels rejected by Adam, and he fights the urge to strike out at Aron, who Cal believes is Adam's favorite son, by using his most devastating weapon---the truth about their mother.
Cal is a character who has to deal with other peoples' problems while having to deal with his own problems. Cal has to deal with his father losing his job and his father doesn't support Cal when it comes to sports. Wanting his dad to go to some of his games, Cal discusses with his mom about his dad coming to the games. "Do you think you and Dad might come?" "No... not tonight, you know your is going through a lot right now." I zipped my gym bag shut. "Yeah, I know, but I wish he'd see me play sometime" (West 16). Helping out Cal, Peggy brings up Cal's last football game at the dinner table, trying to gain her fathers' attention on the subject. "I didn't say anything about the game at dinner that night! like I'd be begging my dad to come, I mean a lot of kids
The struggle of sibling rivalry over ability and temperament has taken East of Eden in a whole new perspective. Steinbeck’s portrait on sibling rivalry shows the good vs. evil of each character in the story. The nature of good vs. evil as natural selection is also seen in siblings, as a compete for something physical, mental, or something emotional. The sibling rivalry from the biblical characters embraced Steinbeck’s characters throughout every concept in the novel, the good vs. evil confines the characters personality in every idea of Steinbeck’s novel. From the biblical story of Cain and Abel to Adam and Charles to Cal and Aaron the story continues through out every generation.
In two differing stories of departure, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and The Road by Cormac McCarthy, Steinbeck’s standard for a writer is met by the raw human emotions exhibited in the main characters’ success and defeat.
One of the key elements of tourism is the quality of the environment, both natural and man-made. Tourism however, can have a negative effect on the environment due to people not caring for the environment because it is not an area where they normally reside, so they do not consider what long-term effects that their temporary actions may have. Tourism that is not regulated or controlled can lead to negative environmental impacts on air, water, soil, vegetation, and wildlife quality and sustainability.
Architecture, like many things, can also be made for the use of or inspired by the symbols people believe in. Therefore, art and architecture in Ancient Mesoamerica can be stated to be made for the use of religious symbols. Making architecture and art forms takes effort, dedication, and patience. Architecture can take years to make, as was s...
When a boy’s father dies, the impact of this can be very traumatic. When a death happens, a very large piece of one’s life dies with it. Adam Cooper’s father is a very important character in this novel. The presence of Adam’s father, Moses, shows how Adam is still a boy under the thumb of an adult, yet, when Moses is killed on the common, his absence propels Adam into a new phase of his life. At Moses Cooper’s death, the men of the village are lined up in formation on the common. Not one man in that group expected to fight the British. However, the British opened fire upon the column of villagers. The first to perish is Moses Cooper. Adam sees this, but he does not have time to mourn just yet. Adam runs from the common, away from the Redcoats, and to the first refuge he can find. The first shelter he finds is the smokehouse. It is at this point after the massacre on the common that Adam finally has time to think about what happens. The reality finally sets in, and Adam lets out his emotions.
John Steinbeck (1902-1968) was an award winning American author who published novels, short stories, screenplays, and travel narratives. Steinbeck’s highly detailed and in-depth writing style contributed to him producing emotionally moving works of literature. Focusing on the cruelty and hopelessness of the world, Steinbeck can be accredited as a naturalistic writer as he exemplified these ideas in many of his works. Growing up in a fertile valley, Steinbeck “developed a deep appreciation for the environment” (Shillinglaw); fueling his desire to accurately portray the struggles of everyday life. John Steinbeck’s Tortilla Flat uses naturalistic literary philosophy to examine how heredity, environment, and circumstance influence the lives of human beings.
The English-only movement, also known as the Official English Movement, refers to a political movement whose principle goal is ratify a constitutional amendment declaring the English language as the only official language in the U.S. government. Its policies would pervade through operations at all levels of government. Once such an amendment comes into effect, all bilingual programs and translation services provided by federal, state, and local governments will be outlawed. Official government business will be conducted solely in English. This includes all public documents, records, legislation and regulations, as well as hearings, official ceremonies and public meetings ("What is Official English?" 1).
Calvin, Conrad's father tries to be helpful to everyone. He is very caring to his son, and tries very hard with his wife Beth. It seems that Cal gives himself away to everyone, making sure his family is ok, but never worried about himself.
One major issue that affects the US today is the use of illegal drugs. One of the fastest growing illegal drugs is methamphetamine. Methamphetamine, also known commonly as meth, is "the label given to a homemade substance that is manufactured (typically) in rural labs using fertilizers, cold tablets, and household acids" (Armstrong, 2007, p. 427). When it is manufactured, it is commonly seen as a powder or crystal that is white in color, has no distinguishable odor, and is pungent to the taste (McKinley & Fink III, 2006). There are several means by which meth can be consumed. This can include the product being smoked, inhaled, swallowed, or injected by needles (McKinley & Fink III, 2006 & O’Connor, Chriqui, & McBride, 2006).
Toni Morrison's novel “Song of Solomon" is an evident example of literary work that utilizes the plight of the African-American community to develop an in-depth and complex storyline and plot. Not only does Toni Morrison use specific historical figures as references for her own characters, she also makes use of biblical figures, and mythological Greek gods and goddesses. When evaluating Toni Morrison’s “Song of Solomon” you can relate each and every character to a specific historical figure or mythological being in history. But to focus on a specific character you would look towards one of the protagonists. Guitar and Milkman can serve as main individuals that can be symbolic of other political and civil rights activist involved in history.
The idea of good versus evil is illustrated in several ways in John Steinbeck's East of Eden. This is seen through the external conflicts in the novel, the internal conflicts of the characters, and a universal understanding of the battle between good and evil.
The main conflict Connor was afflicted with is society desiring to get rid of the “problem child” by having him unwound. Besides Ariana-Connor’s girlfriend, Sonia, and the Admiral, everyone wants Connor dead due to his intolerable behavior, resulting in a man verse society conflict. For instance, Ariana’s parents remark about their disapproval of Connor by saying, “We always knew he’d be an Unwind, you should have stayed away from that Lassiter boy” (Shusterman 5). Connor only had two options. He could have run from the Juvey Cops, his parents, and the reality that he’d probably end up being unwound or he had the option to give society their way by giving them exactly what they desired; to have one less problem in the world. Obviously, Connor faced his conflict head on and decided he was going to fight past everything to remain alive. This depth of society’s desire to dispose of Connor rapidly grew early on when the narrator recalls, “Connor makes a split-second decision and bolts, pushing the officer against the truck and racing across the busy highway.” (Shusterman 18). Connor’s action of assaulting an officer and rapidly escaping made the Juvey cops view him as a threat and want to try even harder to get him unwound. Understanding Connor’s conflict to survive when society wants him dead, helps us better understand the choices he made.
The decision of Adam and Cal Trask to overcome their struggles and Cathy’s decision to succumb to evil prove that the choice of what to do with one’s life is completely up to the individual. John Steinbeck’s use of the biblical story of Cain and Abel builds on the idea that a person is completely responsible for choosing what becomes of them in result of a word, an action and a memory. Undoubtedly everyone has the choice whether or not they wish to triumph over the pain and the sins they are struggling with. After all, look at Ghandi he witnessed children burdened with evil inheritance walk away surmounted because of their strength to rein over evil.
Choi, J., Gilbert, M., & Green, D. (2013). Patterns of victim marginalization in victim-offender mediation: some lessons learned. Crime, Law and Social Change, 59(1), 113-132