Allusions In East Of Eden

EAST OF EDEN In the book, East of Eden, by John Steinbeck has many allusions to the bible throughout the story. There are Charles and Adam, Aron and Cal, who relate closely to the bible characters Cain and Abel. Steinbeck has many allusions to the story, but he also strays away from the bible story. In the book, Charles becomes jealous of Adam because their dad favored Adam the most. Mr. Trask liked Adam gift that was a puppy over Charles gift, an expensive knife. John Steinbeck is following the bible story of Cain and Abel only with different gifts. Charles is more closely related to Cain from the bible because Cain was jealous of his brother Abel because God favored Abel’s gift of a lamb over his gift of grain. Steinbeck strays away from the bible story because Charles did not kill his brother, but left him ten thousand dollars.
Adam has twin sons, Cal and Aron.
They become the “Cain and Abel” throughout the story. As relating to Cain, Cal takes on his role, while Aron is Abel. Cal is jealous of his brother Aron because he is seemingly perfect. Cal does not directly kill Aron, but Aron gets killed because of Cal. Adam asks Cal where Aron has gone, and Cal’s response was, “Am I supposed to look out for him?” After murdering Abel, God questions Cain about where Abel is, and Cain answered, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Steinbeck strays away from the biblical story because Cal tells Aron that their mother is still alive and is living as a prostitute. Hearing this destroys Aron causing him to enlist into the Army during World War 1. Aron dies in France. In the bible Cain physically kills his brother, and Cal indirectly kills him. God sent Cain to live in Nod, East of Eden and he cursed him. In the book, Cal realizes that he can overcome his sin, and he is forgiven by his
father. Charles loses his temper and cuts his head with the crowbar he was using. After the wound heals it leaves an ugly scar where the skin is darker than his skin. Steinbeck relates his scar to the “mark of Cain.” God banishes Cain to East of Eden and puts a mark on him causing no one to kill him. Steinbeck keeps it different because the scar is not really a curse, just a form of protection. John Steinbeck made many allusions to the bible; the most used allusion is Cain and Abel. He started by using Adam and Charles Trask as Cain and Abel, and by the end of the story it is Adams sons Cal and Aron. Steinbeck kept the stories closely related, but there were instances where he changed the story up, and made it his.