When you finish a great book, you are almost compelled to say it is the greatest book you’ve ever read. There is some sort of subjectivity that takes over and it is hard to fight this thought. I am fully aware of this phenomenon since I’ve experienced it on numerous occasions. That being said, I will go out on a limb and say that East of Eden is (one of) the greatest book(s) I have ever read! Steinbeck stated: "It has everything in it I have been able to learn about my craft or profession in all these years," and later said: "I think everything else I have written has been, in a sense, practice for this." He regarded it as his magnum opus, and with good reason – it is truly a masterpiece. The whole novel is saturated with quality. Pure quality.
We get a whiff of the Salinas Valley. You can almost smell this landscape. The way you are catapulted into this breathtaking scenery from the get-go is phenomenal. He wrote in Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters, his book would be "the story of my country and the story of me." He called East of Eden “a sort of autobiography of the Salinas Valley." He captures the landscape in such a convincing way that you feel like you’re walking among these sharp contrasts, which is symbolic of the main theme of the book – the relationship between good and evil. The land is safe and dangerous, light and dark, inviting and unfriendly.
It is the age-old story of the co-existence of good and evil. The book is often referred to as the “modern retelling of the Genesis story of Cain and Abel”. We see two generations of brothers - Charles/Adam and Cal/Aron, where the names are allusions to Cain and Abel, and there are some references to the Genesis story, but it would be too simplistic to confine it to this story. The main theme is the yearning for love. To love and be loved and how this powerful desire can yield unimaginable consequences.
“We have only one story. All novels, all poetry, are built on the never-ending contest in ourselves of good and evil. And it occurs to me that evil must constantly respawn, while good, while virtue, is immortal. Vice has always a new fresh young face, while virtue is venerable as nothing else in the world is.”
Steinbeck does such an impressive job with the character building, where we peek into their souls, hearts and minds with a powerful magnifying glass! Some of them are forever carved into us. Samuel Hamilton, for example. This was Steinbeck’s maternal grandfather. A dreamer, an inventor, a real-life hero who is revered and respected by all. A sharp and inquisitive mind that reminds me of my father in a way. A figure that was full of life and laughter, which was for Steinbeck an essential quality of human experience. There is also Lee – the Chinese-American servant that wins our hearts. His depth and humility are instantly recognized. His intelligence and thoughtfulness permeate throughout the latter part of the novel, and he is the epitome of an even-keeled person. The glue that keeps the family together, even though the circumstances are stacked against them. The last pages really drive this home.
“But the Hebrew word, the word timshel—‘Thou mayest’— that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if ‘Thou mayest’—it is also true that ‘Thou mayest not.”
The book evokes some really strong emotions. The way it meandered through my psyche, continually opening up vaults that were shut and not expected to be inspected. The characters became so real, and their stories were so palpable. You know it’s a great novel when you are in the epicenter, sharing space and air with these people. Seeing them, feeling them, understanding them. There is something profound in that. It takes a special person to bring you along. John Steinbeck proves to be one of those people.
“In uncertainty I am certain that underneath their topmost layer of frailty men want to be good and want be loved. Indeed, most of their vices are attempted short cuts to love.”
The meshing of each character’s yearning for acceptance and love is so relatable and I think that’s one of the reasons why this book resonates so well. The way these characters deal with this emotion is so complex and multilayered; the reader has no choice but to be a part of this rollercoaster. We can all relate. How can we not? I read Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath a long time ago, but this novel is on a different plane. It cuts like a knife! All great works of art do that. This one is no exception. I could feel my heart beating in my chest while reading the last chapter. It was an intense experience! I am certain that I will read this masterpiece again. At least once. It is deserving of that.
Timshel!
KEYWORDS/KEYPHRASES
-go out on a limb: they do something they strongly believe in even though it is risky or extreme, and is likely to fail or be criticized by other people
-magnum opus: the most important piece of work done by a writer or artist
-get a whiff: smell strongly and intensely
-to be catapulted: to throw someone or something with great force
-from the get-go: from the very beginning
-to win someone’s heart: to gain the love, affection, or admiration of someone
-be stacked against someone: be unfair and likely to cause failure
-drive something home: to say something clearly and with a lot of force so that you are certain people understand it
-cut like a knife: used to say that something is very strong or intense
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