East of Eden Part Two

9. During the discussion of the story of Cain and Abel the suggestion Lee makes when he says "The greatest terror a child can have is that he is not loved...and with crime guilt." applies to Adam because he felt as if he was rejected by Cathy and that gave him remorse against his sons because they were part of her though she really didn't care for them. In his heart Adam felt the guilt because he was condemning the pure souls of his sons who were also part of him.Therefore the vengeance he wanted to imply would end up hurting him as well which wouldn't change his pain.

10. Samuel Hamilton is the Moses figure of part two. He is in a way Adam's guidance. Samuel's leadership is seen everywhere, for example when he helps Adam look for a place to buy, also when Cathy leaves him and he tells him to imagine full happiness and eventually happiness will be real. In addition Samuel's guidance and leadership is seen when he gets mad at Adam for repressing his sons do to what Cathy did and helps him realize that things will get better over time, then he takes the naming of the children personal and helps Adam choose biblical names for the babies.

East of Eden Part Two

4. Cathy has various characteristics that depict her as an arrogant character who's words and attitudes are always cold. Samuel notices this when he was talking to her because she refers to people distantly and her cold expression overcomes her character. (pg.173) Cathy hasn't change to this point she is still the monster from the beginning and Lee notices that too, him and Samuel always suspect of her as a strange inhuman kind. In the other hand Charles identified himself with Cathy from the beginning because they had many characteristics in common, they hypocritical with the people around them.

8. I believe Cathy's abandonment brought grief to Adams life because he doesn't obtain an explanation to what he did wrong or why she left him. Also the fact that she even shoots him in order to leave is sort of traumatic. The fact that he didn't take care of the children suggest how his depression over came him because his grief was mainly to himself and the kids for making Cathy leave. Thus he is a good character Adams vulnerability makes his grief appealing to his case because his goodness makes him a victim as well.

East of Eden Part Two

GOOD & EVIL

Good and evil is the main debate of part two in East of Eden characters debate each other between good and bad. At the beginning of the story Cathy is depicted as a monster who was born "evil". (pg.72) Following the abortion she attempted against the unborn babies which she didn't show sympathy to when she  left them to their luck. A mom is a figured who is in a way condemned to love her children just like Olive Hamilton who pleased her kids by taking the trip in the airplane, this shows her unconditional love to her children because she puts her fears aside to make them happy. (ch.14) Also the "good" is found in Samuel Hamilton who's character bleeds purity because he was a noble man who even helped Adam out of his depression do to Cathy's abandonment. (ch.22)

2. Adam's forgetfulness of his past is not convincing at all, by moving to the Salinas Valley he tries to hide his re-mournful memories stating that he had forgotten and forgiven but he really hasn't. One doesn't forget easily the rejection of a loved one and therefore has a wreck havoc towards the "aggressor". Later while discussing the story of Cain and Abel with Samuel and Lee he confesses the anger he felt when he knew of gods unfairness to Cain but he failed to realize that he lives that citation with his father and brother during his childhood. (pg.269) Do to this he does not notice how he is inclining his favoritism to one of his sons too following Cyrus path, his father.

3. In chapter 14 when Olive Hamilton is introduced she is described a pure heart woman who has four children who she teaches principles but mostly unconditional love. Olive's appearance strikes to the point because she is an example of the good in the evil. This shows the derivative in the novel because since Steinbeck's ambition is to write a honest novel for his sons this would be the best motherly symbol contrary to Cathy Ames.