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

eastmost of Eden A study in human development The characteristics of people atomic number 18 formed by ninefold factors. In many situations, children are raised under similar conditions, however, their later on characteristics and life choices are very different. In the book, East of Eden, author prat Steinbeck explores the development of humans, from childhood, to adulthood, and eventually, to death. East of Eden, by John Steinbeck, is a genealogical new(a) about the populates of the Trasks, particularly the main character in the book, Adam Trask. along 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 comp unmatchednts that are merged in it. Setting is an important element in East of Eden. describe are beautiful, panor amical views of the surrounding landscapes 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 good smell, and under the mossy banks of the watercourses whole clumps of five-fingered ferns and goldy-backs hung gobble up (Steinbeck p. 480). Steinbeck then goes on to describe the human history of these areas. The groups of peoples that lived there are described in sweeping generalizations. First there were Indians, an inferior nervous strain without energy, inventiveness, or culture . . . their warfare was a weary pantomime. Then the hard, ironic Spaniards came explor... ...dies the original Hebrew text and finds that the verb used there is timshel. Timshels true(a) English translation is thou mayest. During the course of the book, Steinbeck transforms the word into a simile for a style of living. It comes to describe the freedom of choice in ones life. Steinbeck recognizes the fact that ones environment push aside affect them. However, he to a fault recognizes one can work with what they are given and make the best of it. Steinbeck best sums up these views in a dialog between Samuel and Adam. You cant make a racehorse of a slob, verbalize Adam. No, said Samuel, but 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.