East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Characters
Trask	Hamilton	Others
Cyrus – father Alice – second wife Adam – first son, born to first wife Charles – second son Cathy Ames – married Adam Caleb (Cal) Aaron Fraternal twins	Samuel – father Liza – mother George Will – second son, successful business man in Salinas, CA Tom Joseph – favored son Una Lizzie Dessie – never married, owned dress shop in Salinas Olive – mother of narrator Mollie	Mr. Edwards – whoremaster Faye – madam, killed by Cathy/Kate Joe Valery – Cathy/Kate’s assistant Mr. and Mrs. Bacon – county supervisor Abra – daughter, father wanted a son Lee – Chinese cook for Trasks in Salinas, CA

For discussion:

1. Think about the characters. 
1. What were their motivations?
2. How did their life experiences form their adult personalities?
3. Who did you like, not like?  Why?

2. Discuss Lee.  He was highly educated yet spoke pidgin.  Why?

3. Lee said of Samuel Hamilton that he was, “one of the rare people who can separate your observation from your preconception.  You see what is, where most people see what they expect.”  What examples can you think of where people see only what they expect?  How can we counter this natural human trait?

4. Discuss the relationship between Charles and Adam compared to Cal and Aron.  What similarities and differences did you observe?

5. When Cal gave Adam the gift of $15,000, were you surprised at Adam’s reaction?  Why did he react that way?  Why then did Cal react the way he did. 
1. What did you think when Cal burnt the money. 

6. In chapter 47, section 3, Aron reflected that he had made a mistake sexually. What was it?  Why did he do it?

7. Discuss the end where Cal took Aron to Kate’s.  Why did he do that?  Were you surprised that he did so? 
1. Discuss Aron’s reaction.  Why did he enlist in the military?
8. Were you surprised at the end when Cal ended up with Abra?  Why do you think Abra loved Aron first? 

9. Discuss the word timshel, thou mayest.   What was the importance of this word?  How does it pertain to the novel and characters?
1. Lee said, “that word carried a man’s greatness if he wanted to take advantage of it.”
2. Timshel was the second to last sentence in the novel and the word Adam spoke to Cal when he confessed to taking Aron to Kate’s.

10. Think about your reading experience.  Was it enjoyable?  Why or why not?

11. Do you think John Steinbeck had a message he wanted the reader to understand after reading this novel?  What message or understanding did you take away from your reading?